English Version | The star makeup artist

Many people know him as Kim Kardashian's makeup artist, but that's only a small part of the inspiring story that shapes Mario Dedivanovic's career. Of Albanian origin, he was born in the Bronx, New York, in the early 1980s and it was through his family that he first came into contact with the world of makeup. His mother worked as a cleaner in the building of a large beauty brand and used to bring home some of the products that arrived at the office. Dedivanovic remembers testing them out, feeling their packaging and being fascinated by the way his sisters, Vicky and Marina, used them. used them. But that fascination was nowhere near what he felt when he walked past the Sephora flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York. He was 17 and certain of his next steps: he wanted to work there, with makeup. And so he did. However, it wasn't long before Mario's talent flew beyond the walls of the store. In 2001, he began to assist the work of other makeup artists, such as Kabuki Starshine, known for his role in Sex and the City, and it was on this path that he continued until 2008, when he met the muse who would revolutionize his career. Kim Kardashian was the cover star of Social Life magazine and Mario Dedivanovic was one of the makeup artists hired for the shoot. It is said that Kardashian liked his work so much that she invited him to join the production team of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which was entering its second season. From there to stardom was a short step. Thanks to his active presence on social media, Dedivanovic and his makeup techniques have become household names in the beauty industry. The popularization of contouring, a way of sculpting the face using bronzer, is one of his biggest contributions to contemporary beauty trends. But even fame hasn't made Mario stop pursuing his dreams. In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, he launched his makeup brand, Makeup by Mario, and it was an instant success. Now that his products are available in Portugal, in Sephora's physical and online stores, we join the group of beauty lovers who proclaim: Mario Dedivanovic is not only the makeup artist to the stars, he is also the makeup artist of the world.

You have been working with makeup for over 20 years. However, your interest in this area dates back even further. What is your first memory related to makeup? My earliest memory would be watching by oldest sister apply her makeup in the morning and seeing firsthand how transformative it could be.

At the beginning of your career, you worked in a Sephora store. How has that experience shaped the way you see makeup today? Starting at Sephora was an incredible experience for me as a young, up-and-coming artist. I learned about different brands and was able to practice on diverse skin types and tones as well as address a variety of different beauty concerns. It was a great entryway into makeup because of this vast exposure which I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. Now you can see you name, and you work in Sephora stores all over the world. Have you always dreamed of having your own makeup brand? I did, but I also understood that level of success wouldn’t come overnight. I knew I’d have to work harder than everyone else and set smaller goals for myself along the way. I possessed both an unmatched desire and work ethic which became my driving forces.

Your makeup brand, Makeup by Mario, was presented during the first months of the pandemic. What were the main challenges behind the launch, and were there any benefits? Truthfully, there were many. Because most of the world was shut down, timelines for everything were doubled, if not tripled, and communication with vendors and retail partners was all virtual. Looking back, as challenging as things were in the moment, launching during the pandemic taught me many valuable lessons - to be prepared, patient, agile, and not take things for granted.

What are your favorite products from your own line? My Master Mattes® Eye Shadow Palette, SurrealSkin™ Foundation and Concealer, and Transforming Skin Enhancer® are a few of my all-time favorite products. Not only are they beautiful formulas, but all are extremely easy to use and versatile.

Social media has played a special role in her career. In 2009, when you posted a video of yourself doing Kim Kardashian's makeup, your name quickly rose to fame. What was it like experiencing those first years of ‘Internet fame’? I didn’t even realize it was happening in the moment because I so busy working. It was years later that I noticed people were recreating my looks and techniques and other brands and agents began approaching me.

Along with your name, your techniques, such as contouring, have become very popular. Do you still use contouring techniques often these days? I do and believe contouring is more popular than ever, the aesthetic is just softer. It’s refreshing to see contouring applied with a lighter hand and for real life instead of bright lights and social media. Products like my SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer® help you achieve this more natural result. I think sculpting will always be popular and will continue to evolve.

Nowadays, we come across dozens of beauty trends at the same time. How do you keep up with this ‘revolution’ (especially on TikTok) in which everyone is talking about makeup and beauty? I love seeing all the social media trends and think they’re fun, inspiring, and give a creative voice to those who may not otherwise have one. I just don’t take them too seriously.

Even after working with so many celebrities, and being a renowned figure yourself, you mentioned in an interview that you see your sisters as a great inspiration. How do they inspire you? They inspire me in many ways. My oldest sister, Vicky, was a second mom to me. I saw firsthand the sacrifices she made to help raise us which was the most profound display of unconditional love. Today she shows the same level of love and concern for her own family. My sister Marina also changed my life. She left her nursing career to help me build the Master Class into the sensation it became. I could never have done it without her and am eternally grateful. Not to mention that both of my sisters served as my early muses so I could practice makeup in the early years, haha.

In the last decade, makeup artists have risen to a new status of fame, almost on the same level as models. Do you think this is the best time to be a makeup artist? The beauty industry has exploded in a way I’d never imagined when I first started over 23 years ago. With social media, innovation, and focus on inclusion, it’s a great time to be an artist. But there’s also a lot more competition, so my best advice is to work hard, always be kind and honest, and focus on competing with yourself versus other people.

Vogue Portugal's October issue is all about fame. Could you reveal one secret behind a celebrity's makeup? I always use my Master Secret Glow for that red carpet, lit from within complexion.

*Originally translated from The Fame Issue, published October 2023. Full credits and stories in the print issue.