Yvonne Popplewell ~ The Makeup Legend

KNOW OUR MAKEUP LEGENDS Trinidad and Tobago.

Introducing Mrs. Yvonne Popplewell, Makeup Artist Guru, and master of the game. I had the privilege and honor of having a very candid conversation with this beauty in the BEAUTY EMPOWERMENT zone. Every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. I host REAL BEAUTY TALK, conversations with persons I have met over the years on my pursuit of purpose. You can view the conversation here.

We chatted about our connection, her journey as a makeup artist, and the behind-the-scenes challenges of navigating life, love, marriage, raising sons, coping with the grief, and the recent loss of her beloved husband of 60 years, etc. It was the most dynamic, serious, yet fun conversation.

Yvonne began her makeup journey at the age of 21. She made up her first bride just a few weeks before she also walked down the aisle. She and her bestie, the late Jean Inniss, were both art students. They were introduced to makeup when they were asked to do the makeup for a stage play. At the time, they had no clue about makeup artistry. Yvonne recalls the most empowering lesson passed along by M. P. Aladdin, a Trinidadian artist, poet, writer, and teacher. He said it is simple; once you can draw a face, applying makeup is easy. Apply the foundation and then draw on the character on top.

Switch off your corporate image at the doorstep, come into the home as a loving wife and a loving mother. Bring your love into the home, make it a nice safe, and warm space.

My journey with this beautiful soul began in 1995. I signed up for personalized makeup classes with her bestie, and ever since, they both adopted me. We traveled the length and breadth of Trinidad and Tobago doing weddings and various events. From Queen shows to fashion, television to the theatre. I had a blast. I digress this is not about me, back to the conversation with Yvonne.

Way before the current makeup boom, Yvonne and Jean were known in some circles as the “makeup mafias”, which Yvonne thought was a compliment (an inside joke). At that time, they dominated the industry, as it related to makeup; not many events happened if they were not involved. You probably would not be a part of the team if you were not recommended by one of them. As we continued to chat, it was as though she read my mind; and shared she had trained over 200 makeup artists, including Mrs. Kamla Regrello of Sacha Cosmetics. Not included in that number are the many beauty pageant contestants, queens, models, and everyday women. In 2003, the year Jean made her transition, she made-up over 50 brides. It cannot be easy to summarize the total amount of brides, bridesmaids, beauty queens, and other beauties who sit on her chair during her 61 years in the business.

It feels like it was just the other day when women were way more selective with their image and who they allowed to touch their faces. Brides booked their makeup artists and their hairstylists at the very least a year in advance.

She describes her experiences gained as a makeup artist to be “a very rich, lovely life, filled with memories of beautiful interactions.” I could imagine the rich ones overshadowed the not-so-good ones because we have all had our share of not so good experiences in this business.

My interactions with Jean and Yvonne was an on-and-off one I did not always live in Trinidad. But it did not matter how long I had been away once I was on the island and made a phone call to either one, they happily took me under their wings. Our relationships were beyond that of work I had grown to love them both because of how kind and generous they were to me. My experience with both of them was so rich and fulfilling. The way they embraced me accepted and respected my gift, which, at the time, I had no clue what I was doing, but they saw me. When asked to summarize her makeup journey. She said, “Fabulous!” It helped with her personal growth. She learned a lot about people and their personalities.

It is not very often I get to sit with an 81-year-old who is so vibrant, social, well-humored, that is open to sharing so candidly. Whenever I leave her presence, I always felt so much lighter and full of the wisdom she passed-on through our conversations. I am always fascinated with relationships, especially the ones that survived tragedy and time. Yvonne would have been married for 61 years had her husband survive his health challenge that suddenly took his life. She describes their marriage as one of comfort and him as the best man she had known. When asked about the key ingredient that sustained her marriage, her response, one-word “RESPECT!” And added, “Never bring down your husband in public, never bring him down in front of himself or his children.” If you want a successful relationship, you must be willing to swallow your pride and communicate and be humble enough to apologize when need be. Yvonne’s advice to women who are dominating the corporate world is, “Switch off your corporate image at the doorstep, come into the home as a loving wife and a loving mother. Bring your love into the home, make it a nice safe, and warm space”

One of my biggest take-away from my conversation with this beauty is knowing that a beautiful life is not always a bed of roses it comes with its fair share of challenges and sometimes tragedy behind the scenes. The way couples choose to navigate their challenging seasons behind-the-scene is the thing that makes or breaks their relationship. And oh boy! Before losing her husband, did they had their fair share of those. She is the mother of three sons; she lost the first one at 5 days old, and the 2nd one died in a plane crash at age 30. I remember being around her for the latter, and it was such a difficult season. She is a soldier who continued to march down the path of life with much grace and dignity. Fast forward to September 2020, when her husband checked out, Yvonne shared how lost she felt as she could not wrap her head around her beloved husband never coming home. There are still nights when she would lovingly stretch out to rub his shoulders and hit with the harsh reality that he was no longer there.

Then one day, the switch went on, and as she reflected and reminisced on the good times and the life she had with her husband, her family, her friends, and the gift of taking care of others through makeup.

Grief comes in many stages the first for her was anger. She was angry, angry at her husband for leaving before her, it felt as though she was angry with the entire world. She shared, she had always begged him not to die before her, perhaps for her own selfish reasons. Then one day, the switch went on, and as she reflected and reminisced on the good times and the life she had with her husband, her family, her friends, and the gift of taking care of others through makeup. She was renewed with a sense of peace and gratitude. She was finally filled with peace and was able to embrace the will of God, which is the key to overcoming grief.

“Do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

As I recall my own experience with losing a child, I never got to hold it was easy to imagine what it must have felt like. The scripture I read on the morning of my miscarriage was, “Do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is.” The words “God knows best” became the mantra that got me through my grieving period. I can relate so deeply with her when she shared that she no longer questions the will of God because He knows best.

On the topic of raising sons, which we had briefly discussed before getting in front of the camera, what she shared was so profound I had to include it in the conversation. It was as though my mind was read because it was the one thing that troubled me regarding my own son. I could not keep that revelation to myself, I had to have it shared with more of you. She mentioned a conversation with a psychologist who gave her insight into the transition boys make as they age. She said it is almost typical that there will be moments when you would feel like your son absolutely hates you, and we must give them the space they need to go through their transition. If you are a mother and you are experiencing a strenuous relationship with your son, her advice is; give your relationship time. The truth is we just have to “wait them out”, and they will make that 360.

SPIRITUALITY is a MUST it is the main thing that would help us through difficult times.

SPIRITUALITY is a MUST. It is the main thing that would help us through difficult times. Yvonne is indeed a praying woman as long as I could recall, she vibrated on peaceful frequency. Her calm demeanor reminded me so much of myself (smile). Her favorite place to meditate is on the treadmill. Her preferred gym time is her sacred time. She speaks to everyone, from her mother-in-law whom she loved dearly to her sons, her parents, her ancestors, and now her personal angel, her husband. She credited her secretary Vashti, who she loves and appreciates dearly, not only for her competence as her assistant. But because she demonstrated a special love for others. She expressed that she was very appreciative of the daily readings Vashti had opened on her desk every morning she arrived in her office.

Upon wrapping up our conversation, we exchanged some beautiful sentiments and, although it was evident that her pain was still raw, we laughed through the entire conversation it was light and breezy to the end. I do believe that a good sense of humor is one of the key elements that should be kept alive throughout all stages of our lives.

Life can be so much better if we can make a conscious effort to give each other the best version of ourselves when we can.

We played my game, which is included at the end of every conversation, and her responses were so deeply profound. To the question, what are you most grateful for? Yvonne replied, “My relationship with my husband and the perfect life I had with him.” It was evident in her voice how grateful she was in the moment and, that drove home a revelation I had some years ago.

Life can be so much better if we can make a conscious effort to give each other the best version of ourselves when we can. She said it is a compliment to your partner when you feel safe enough to consider marriage again at some point after divorce or death. Her life is truly a blessed one on the topic of self-confidence; she shared her first level of self-confidence came from her mother when she was a girl. And, as a woman, her husband added the icing on the cake. She adores her family and grandchildren which, sums up the description of how rich her life is.

We both joked about going back in time with the mindset we now have and possibly the body we had at the ages of our 30’s or 40’s. Yvonne jokingly pointed out, we can never have it all; it is usually one or the other. Fortunately for us, on the other side of our life-time experiences, acquired throughout the years, are wisdom, contentment, confidence, and peace. Her favorite age was from her 70s; she felt the most confident and peaceful.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, we ended our conversation on a high note of laughter. I asked how does it feel to be 81? Her response, “You think I thought I would have lived so long… (laughter) it’s not bad at all if I can keep my health and continue being disciplined with the gym, all would be well”. And I added, “A drink a day keeps the doctor away.” We both fell into fits of laughter as she responded with, “ABSOLUTELY”!

Our conversation ended on a remarkably high note, which me feel immensely grateful.