‘The Pussycat Dolls are powerhouses and Madonna is so funny’ – Makeup artist Ciara O’Shea on celebrity clients and starting her own brand

I always wanted to be a makeup artist, but back when I was a teenager, it wasn’t really a job anyone would talk about. In fact, I only realised it was a job when I read a magazine. My best friend’s parents owned a newsagent and her mum got the sales agents to give us magazines they weren’t selling.

It was in this English magazine — it wasn’t highbrow or anything — but I remember there was an article in it on, ‘A day in the life of a makeup artist’ and I thought, “That’s it. Thank God I don’t have to be a beautician” because I already knew I only wanted to do the makeup bit..