An internationally renowned role model Kaniz Ali has sealed her position as a life longtrendsetter in the beauty scene. She is one of the most influential and inspiring make upartists and beauty editors of our time. Passionate and focused she has redefined what it means to be a beauty expert. The British Bangladeshi celebrity make up artist was born and raised in the heart of London, UK. She has gone from strength to strength in her 15 years of entering a cut throat industry making her a game changer in the world of glitz and glam. Her portfolio holds several international awards and a whooping 50 international magazine front covers working with a list of high profile celebrities across the globe, including making up and styling Kareena Kapoor Khan, Parineeti Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Urvashi Rautela, FaryalMakhdoom Amy Jackson, Armeena Khan, Nina Wadia, Laila Rouass, singer Raghav Mathur, Naughty Boy, Imran Abbass, Nitin Ganatra, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Former Prime Minister of Scotland – Humza Yousaf and the list goes on – yet Kaniz remains incredibly down to earth and very humble.

Kaniz’s skills not only include glamming up stars in the world of celebrities but it also includes glamming up real brides on there big day.
“I absolutely love getting my brides ready for there big day, it’s an exciting time and a real honour for me to be a part of there special day”.
Kaniz also runs a prestigious make up academy in London teaching aspiring make up artists and in her spare time Kaniz spends time in war torn countries working in refugee camps providing emergency aid and working on sustainable long term projects such as building water wells, boreholes, schools and mosque. Her 13 year humanitarian aid work portfolio includes working on long term projects in Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Rohingya, Bangladesh and Ghana

Dedicated to beautifying celebrities, brides and writing on beauty for multiple publications around the world, Kaniz has earned her reputation from her drive, ambitious nature, dedication and creativity. Her biggest admiration from her endless list celebrity clients comes from her down to earth and humble nature along with her skill set of working fast and delivering impeccable and stunning work which is loved by all.
Grazia: What are your favourite beauty products that you adore?
Kaniz:- Aaaah that’s a hard one as I have so many I love!! It would be probably be
Huda Beauty’s Full Coverage Concealer, it gives excellent full coverage.
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation fantastic for building and creating different coverages from medium to heavy depending what you are feeling like on the day.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Setting Spray is my absolute favourite, it’s long lasting and gives an excellent glow and doesn’t leave a drying tight affect on the skin.

Clinique’s Chubby Contour Stick fantastic to blend and amazing to create soft looks and intense looks.
Grazia: What are the pros and cons in working in the beauty industry?
Kaniz: For me there are definitely more pros than cons, one of the pros for myself is definitely being my own boss. The management side is great, you have complete control of your direction and company ethos. Even something as simple as being able to choose which shoots I would like to take part in and working around my own timetable is extremely liberating.
The beauty of being an international make up artist is that you can branch off into different fields which I have. I have the blessed opportunity to make up celebrities from all around the world, glam up real brides for there wedding day as well as write for multiple publications as a beauty editor. I also creatively direct and style front cover magazine shoots and inside celebrity feature shoots as well interview stars.
One day I might be working on a front cover shoot styling and glamming a Bollywood actress and the next day I would be getting my stunning bride ready for her big day, the following day I could be teaching my aspiring artists at my training school. It definitely doeskeep my week interesting and no one day is ever the same as the next. The beauty of is it that you are working with different people, different cultures, different religions and I love that, you always learning.
The downside can be there is no routine and the danger of taking on too much can mean you hardly get any time to yourself.

Grazia:- You are a woman who has her hand in every pie as the saying goes! What inspired you try other things?
Kaniz: Being a make up artist and a beauty editor for multiple different publications is definitely a huge part of my life but I’ve always been a believer your only young once you should do what you love and there’s no harm in trying different things. For me aside from the beauty industry, I love volunteering in war torn countries providing aid on the ground to the most needy. I believe in giving back and using my platform to raise awareness of what is happening in the world. I think it’s important to be true to yourself first and foremost and I believe giving back is so important.
Being a volunteer humanitarian aid worker keeps me grounded and most importantly really makes me appreciate and love the life that I have. It’s a nice balance between the two. One week I can be making up a celebrities in a palace the next week I can be on the ground in a refugee camp in Palestine or Lebanon providing emergency aid. It really is one extreme to the other.
Grazia: – If Kaniz Ali could be someone else for a day who would she be?
(Kaniz laughs)
Kaniz: I’d still be me. I love my life Alhamdullilah. I’ve always been a believer from a young age, work hard and make the life that you want to live – make it fun and amazing that way you never want to be anyone else! Allah SWT (God) has blessed us all with a gift we just need time to figure out what it is. Embrace in your own uniqueness and fall in love in love with it every day. Enjoy being you and the right things and people will find you.
Grazia: What’s your favourite holiday destination and why?
Kaniz: Aaah that’s a hard one as I’m a globe trotter and love most places ! In Europe it has tobe Santorini, its a stunning island, scenic atmosphere is amazing, it’s calm and I love being near water. City wise I would have to say Istanbul, I’ve lost count how many times I’ve been it’s been that many times. I love the Turkish culture, I love the Islamic history there, there’s a mosque in every corner which is great if you are out and it’s prayer time, you’ll find a mosque very easily. I have huge love for mosques. People are amazing. I love travelling to the UAE every year, Dubai & Abu Dhabi is like home to me. I also love travelling to Bangladesh I love the hustle bustle, the food is super delicious and the atmosphere is great.
My absolute favourite place is Mecca, Saudi Arabia – it’s my absolute must! I love absolutely love my spiritual trips. I love sitting in front of the Ka’bah and just taking timeout. It’s one of the most peaceful places in the world and I highly recommed it to everyone. It’s a total must! My other absolute favourite place is Jerusalem, Palestine. Masjid Al Aqsa is my favourite and again it’s so peaceful. The people are incredible, the Palestinians are so friendly, warm and very kind. I love the hustle bustle of the streets and the food is amazing. The history of and beauty of Jerusalem is just WOW! Ive been so many times I’ve lost count. It’s always my yearly trip – my timeout.

Grazia: What’s your favourite type of food?
Kaniz: Anything with spice in it. I love spicy food, with chillies in. If there’s no chillies I can’t eat it. You’ll literally see me asking for my food to always be extra spicy. It’s the Bengali in me I say.
Your best friend is…?
Kaniz: “Caffeine – because my brain does not function without it and my Surah Book because it’s easy, compact and I’m a huge believer of keeping the Duniya / Akhirah balance. I love keeping the Qur’an around me and reading or listening to it at every opportunity.

Grazia: What’s the best advice you would give to someone who inspired to become a make up artist?
Kaniz: Work hard, don’t give up if you get rejected from any projects remember rejection does not mean you are not good enough, so do not be disheartened. It means you’ve been saved for any even better opportunity.
We now live in an era where social media has taken over so really make the most of social media – It’s free advertising, put your work on there.
And my last advice would be remember dreams happen when you never give up on yourself, so do not give up easily. If one door closes try the next one and the next one until it works for you.