Skills Switch – For better or worse
Meet Lasalle Lee (formerly known as Lolent), one of the most sought after celebrity make-up artists in Singapore and Asia. A former flight attendant (yes, he flew for 15 years!) before making the switch to make-up, Lasalle shared with Lyfeportal how he copes with the ‘turbulent’ media and entertainment environment, and wise advice for aspiring make-up artists among us.
How long have you been a make-up artist?
Coming to a good 14 years.
Could you name the celebs and influencers whom you ‘beautify’?
They include (gasp… a long list!)
Hong Kong: Linda Chung, Eliza Sam Lai Heung, Sunny Chan Kum Hung, Lawrence Ng Kai Wah, Nancy Wu, Venus Wong
Taiwan: Alien Huang, Chen Ting Ni, Zeng GuoCheng, Cheryl Xie Xin, Kai Ko Zhen Tung, 2moro - Anthony Guo and Angus Guo, Dong Zhi Cheng
Singapore: Guo Mei Mei, Phyllis Quek, Jacqueline Chow, Bryan Wong, Elvin Ng, Romeo Tan, Pierre Png, Fang Rong, Jernelle Oh, Herman Keh, DJ MeiGui, Tasha Low, Yap HuiXin, Benzo
Why did you make the switch from flight attendant to make-up artist?
I injured myself during my SQ days and was bedridden for 6 months and on medical leave for a year, and so I decided eventually to make the switch to become a make-up artist.
How has being a flight attendant in the past helped you in your current career?
The extensive years of flying have sharpened my interpersonal and communication skills. It has helped to pave the way for me to interact and manage my clients better despite their varied backgrounds.
What would you say to aspiring make-up artists out there? Any words of wisdom?
Be diligent, humble, and confident in what you're doing because developing a career as a make-up artist can leave one feeling lost for a start.
Perseverance is key to success in all careers, and there’s no shortcut to becoming a good make-up artist.
What’s the toughest lesson you have learnt in this career?
I've been doing OK so far because I take everything with a pinch of salt.
Any interesting story you can share?
Through the years of being a make-up artist, there have been too many amusing stories to tell and laugh about. One, however, stands out in my memory forever!
The bride and her mother showed me a photo of celebrity Michelle Monique Reis and asked me to make them look like her. (Laughs) But the reality is that they bear absolutely no resemblance to Michelle Reis. Nevertheless, I made them look fabulous on that important day.
Apart from your make-up skills, do you have a hidden talent/ skill that’s unbeknown to many?
If sleeping and eating are also considered as talents, then I am extremely talented! (LOL)
If you could turn back time, would you choose to be a flight attendant or make-up artist? Or something else?
If could turn back time, I would still choose to be a flight attendant and thereafter a make-up artist. But maybe not flying for 15 years - just a good 5 years to see the world is enough.
Use one word to describe the media and entertainment industry.
Exhilarating! This industry is forever exciting and thrilling!
Use one word to describe how one can survive in the media and entertainment industry
Perseverance. We need to ensure and be sure in everything that we do as Rome wasn’t built in a day!