Khaleesi Dior

To Aaron

By Qaphile Langa

“Makeup has become therapy to me.”

When we talk about the year of execution, Ramona Ramano is in the forefront with all the doers! Having exercised her skill on such a remarkable level, it comes as a shock that she established herself so recently. “I’ve always been a “girly girl”. However, I first discovered my passion for makeup in 2019 when I would just do it for fun and people around me started complementing me, telling me to take it seriously.”

While her work ethic speaks to the sentiment of taking it seriously, her creative process carries a more relaxed tone - going with the flow, as they say. “A lot of the times I don’t know what I’m going to do until I start. My creative process is either one of two things: I have an inspiration picture from other creatives or even themes, or I’m winging it.”

Art is a personal expression, sometimes of parts of ourselves that we fail to voice out in the conventional sense. “I’m inspired by my own emotions and what I could be going through. Makeup has become therapy for me.” When I first met her, I was introduced to a very reserved Ramona, but would soon be struck with a bold second impression by Khaleesi Dior’s elaborate makeup designs and incredible attention to detail.

“It feels nice to be acknowledged and sometimes it’s what drives me to continue when I don’t feel like it. However, it’s not that important...,” she says, about getting reckognized in this saturated industry. There is a plethora of aspiring makeup artists out there offering tutorials and hacks on digital platforms such as YouTube, and it is quite easy for one to be overlooked amongst the millions. But at this point, using her skills as a creative outlet, Khaleesi Dior is not phased by competition nor does she prioritize recognition. “...like I said, makeup has become therapy for me. As much as I enjoy an audience, it’s not a driving force for what I do.”