Stories you may like
Renju Renjimar - Celebrity Makeup Artist
Renju Renjimar, born in Kollam, Kerala, is a trailblazing transgender celebrity and bridal makeup artist with a career spanning over 26 years. She began her journey with self-taught skills in makeup artistry, specializing in bridal and female makeup. Throughout her career, Renju has collaborated with numerous celebrities, including Bhavana, Priyamani, Asin, Amala Paul, and Madhubala. Her unique approach, particularly her expertise in eye makeup, has garnered widespread recognition.
In addition to her work with celebrities, Renju has made significant contributions to the bridal makeup industry. Notably, her work during the wedding of Arathi, daughter of businessman Ravi Pillai, received widespread appreciation. She also established her beauty studio, Dora Beauty World, in Angamaly, Kerala, further cementing her influence in the beauty industry.
Renju's journey is also marked by her advocacy for the transgender community. She has been vocal about her experiences and challenges, aiming to inspire and uplift others in the community. Her story exemplifies resilience and dedication, making her a prominent figure in both the beauty industry and the fight for transgender rights
Her achievements have not only paved the way for greater acceptance and representation of transgender individuals in various professional fields but have also highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry.
Bravely conquering the heights: Renju Renjimar, Celebrity Makeup Artist
A warrior resides within everyone. Depending on our circumstances, it may or may not materialise. Many notable figures in our culture are working to uplift society in many ways. Renju Renjimar is a powerful icon, overcoming the momentous challenge of perfecting the female soul imprisoned in a male body and igniting the flames of enlightenment for society.
The First Transgender Celebrity Makeup Artist
Renju Renjimar, Kerala’s first transgender “celebrity and bridal” makeup artist, is renowned for her unique makeup looks. Having started her career in the makeup industry 26 years ago with her self-taught makeup skills in female makeup and bridal makeup artistry, she now does makeup for many celebrities, models and brides in India and abroad. She is constantly improving her skills by learning new techniques in the field of makeup art.
Field of Expertise
Renju specialises in Magical Eye Makeup, a complete eye shadow application that allows users to apply eye shadow without the fuss of brushes and pots. She is one of the most sought-after makeup artists by celebrities in the film industry.
Family
Born and bought up in an ordinary village named Punthalathazham in Kollam, Renju was the fourth child of a labourer father and a cashew factory worker mother.
Overcoming Struggles
Renju aspired to a successful academic career. Unfortunately, she was compelled to work in the brick factory following her 10th-class exams because of her financial struggles. Being imprisoned in a male body gave her a difficult childhood. She was treated with poojas and consultations because the society she lived in saw her circumstances as a disability. They never acknowledged that diversity. Even though she was still unsure of how to go, she continued with the hope that one day she would explore her sexuality. Due to work commitments, Renju could not complete her under-graduation from Fatima Mata National College and had to work in a variety of occupations, including timber mills and household chores.
Mother, Her Motivator
Her mother is her supporting pillar, who always understands her. For her, she is nothing without her mother.
To Ernakulam
Renju was brought to Ernakulam on the pretence of working in a law firm. She was, however, intended to serve as a domestic maid. When Renju quit that job and moved out of that house, she became acquainted with many people in her community. She struggled hard to survive on Rs 2 each day and was confused about how to proceed in life.
Discrimination
Gender harassment forced her to abandon the film location once. But, she overcame all the challenges because of her strength, perseverance, and hard work, which helped her establish herself as a well-known celebrity makeup artist. Renju has done a lot to advance the notion that gender identity is not determined by sex.
Making a Turn
Assisting Ambika Pillai at Wills India Fashion Week was one of her defining moments in the makeup industry, which gave her a big start. Additionally, she conducted extensive studies and investigations in the fields of bridal and magical makeup. Since then, she has been working for South Indian personalities.
To Bollywood
Renju made her feature debut in the Bollywood industry with Madhubala’s transformation for her re-entry. She has also completed unique projects for renowned costume designers Harianand and Naushija. During International Fashion Week 2011, she collaborated with famous international costume designer Sanjana Jon.
Perfection of Femininity
In May 2020, Renju underwent sex reassignment surgery after establishing her social position. Renju acquired her identity card as a woman in 2021. Using this identity card, she exercised her right to vote in the 2021 assembly election. She felt relieved that society and the government recognised her as a woman. Although she could not enjoy this hard-won femininity as a mother, she finds happiness as the mother of the naughty kids of her community.
Dora Beauty World
She currently manages Dora Beauty World, Parlour and Academies in Ernakulam, Angamaly, Kollam, and Dubai, and is opening shortly in Kozhikode.
Empowerment For The Society
Dora’s goal is to give many girls a chance to live independently. It empowers a generation with financial stability.
Recognition
Renju Renjimar was given the 2016 Social Welfare Department of Kerala State Award for Most Popular Makeup Artist. She was recognised as the best makeup artist of the year by Pravasi Malayali Association for Bhama’s makeup and was honoured with Malayali Media Women Excellence In Beauty And Makeover Award in 2022.
Renju Renjimar is a role model for society. She has overcome numerous obstacles since coming to terms with who she is and establishing herself as a well-known transgender celebrity makeup artist. After learning her true identity at the age of five, Renju surmounted several challenges to become the managing director and brand ambassador of an international commercial organisation. She was fortunate enough to work for the royal Arackal family, Bollywood celebs, and all, even when her community was perceived as underprivileged. Belonging to the LGBT community, she faced hurdles on her way up. But she prevailed over them fiercely. She is actively involved in community projects and empowering women to succeed financially.
The Aphrodite touch - Renju Renjimar most sought after make-up artist
She has worked on just about every celebrity, creating fresh, glowing women on screen and magazine covers. But Renju Renjimar doesn’t believe in making her clients look beautiful, she wants them ‘to feel’ beautiful. Multimillion weddings, spectacular stage shows, A-list stars - the makeup artist seems to have an uncanny ability to create looks and trends that simply take your breath away. “I have never undergone any professional training but I was obsessed with makeup as long as I can remember. Though I don’t hold any certificate, now I have around 5,000 students across Kerala. I consider makeup an art and it was in my blood,” she says.
Coming from the LGBT community, reaching the top slot was not a cakewalk for her. “There were moments I broke down on film sets. But I stood strong and braved all the hatred. If some random light-boy smirks at me now, I will definitely give him a piece of my mind. But mostly I try to reason with people. There are some extremely talented people among our community, but they are denied a platform to prove their skill,” she says.
Renju is a trendsetter when it comes to bridal makeup and she has girls flying in from Delhi and Kolkata for trials. “My signature is my mixing style, from foundation to lipstick I go for a clever blend of tones,” she says. Be it hair or contouring, the wedding look she created for Ravi Pillai’s daughter Arati was later copied by a volley of others. “After that wedding I could find nearly two dozen Arati clones on social networking sites,” she laughs. Next to makeup it’s ornaments that define a bride’s look, she says. “The wrong choice of ornaments can be a real spoiler at weddings, so I always carry a classy collection with me. In a recent celebrity wedding I asked for kundan sets instead of antique pieces. The bride looked stunning and I received a lot of compliments for the work.” Renju says, despite having a solid celebrity clientele she is affordable to all. “I was born and brought up in Kerala and I know every dad is not a millionaire. So my rates are not monstrous, and I am always willing to work on a reasonable budget.”
Beautiful rapport with celebs
Renju agrees she is on the speed-dial of many celebrities, but she adds her relationship with them is not purely professional. “Mamta brings me bundles of makeup articles from the US. Priyamani, Remya Nambeesan, Lakshmi Menon and Bhavana enjoy my presence, they feel at home with me around. Rimi Tomy is like family and it was Muktha who introduced me to Tamil industry. I share a beautiful rapport with with them all,” she says. Recently, she had to transform Shweta Menon, one of her favourite clients, into a man for a cover shoot. “It was something I had never done and I was a bundle of nerves. But the work came out really well that even Sabaina, Shweta’s daughter, couldn’t recognise her.” At the same time she doesn’t believe in extreme makeovers either. “While giving a star like Prayaga Martin a Bollywood makeover, I make sure to retain her identity. There is no point in creating someone else out of a familiar face.”
The big dream
While she is the go-to artist for all the stars down South, Renju’s biggest dream is to work for Deepika Padukone. “You will find a touch of Deepika in some of my celebrity works, I am totally smitten by her. Then I would love to work for Nayanthara, she is every makeup artist’s dream. It’s the kind of face that will show 100 percent results.” Does that mean she is already heading to Bollywood? “I don’t plan anything in my life. After my class 10 exam I went to work at a brickyard. From there I have reached celebrity makeup suites, so I am more than happy to go by the flow,” she says.
User's Comments
No comments there.