Dubai 20-year-old celebrates birthday giving makeovers to frontline workers

Arwa Beig wanted to celebrate those in the medical field with a day of pampering

Make-up artist Arwa Beig gave free makeovers to healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus in the UAE. Supplied

Dr Gada Sami Abdel before and after the makeover. Supplied

Nurse Ivy Blanco Hortilano of Aster Clinic Dubai. Supplied

Dr Kadambari Ramani of Aster Clinic Dubai. Supplied

Shirly Varghese, a nurse at Aster Clinic. Supplied

Beig (centre) also treated the healthcare workers to dinner. Supplied

The 20-year-old make-up artist says the beauty initiative has been completely self-funded. Supplied

In the past, Dubai resident Arwa Beig’s birthday used to be a lavish affair.

However, this year, Beig, who turned 20 on Wednesday, September 16, decided to go a very different route and launch a beauty initiative to give back to the community.

The Indian-American discovered her passion for make-up at a young age and is a certified make-up artist as well as a business management student. When her mother Zoha Beig was diagnosed with cervical cancer three years ago, she noticed how much her mother's mood changed for the better simply by applying make-up after chemotherapy sessions. The experience taught her the power cosmetics can have on one's self esteem.

Which is why, for her birthday, Beig decided to give back by making healthcare workers, who have been at the forefront of the battle against the coronavirus, pandemic feel pampered and special for a day. She managed to get in touch with four who she gave complete makeovers, including two new outfits and a pair of shoes each.

“In today’s day and age, doctors and nurses are true living heroes. They work tirelessly and selflessly helping others. I wanted to celebrate them,” says Beig, who got the idea to do this during the quarantine period earlier this year.

“When I was at home all those months, make-up was like an escapism for me. Moreover, I kept reading the news and was wondering how doctors and nurses were doing. I wanted to do something that would make them feel better.”

After the sessions were over Beig treated the healthcare workers to a dinner out as well as an open air ticket to their home country. Beig says the entire initiative has been self-funded with money she has received and saved through her work.

She also says the entire process got rather emotional. “Some of them had tears in their eyes. It was just so lovely seeing how excited they were at the dinner, talking happily and taking selfies. I want to cherish that evening forever.”

The makeovers were clearly much appreciated too.

“The makeover was so gorgeously done that I felt like I jumped right out of a fairy tale,” says Dr Kadambari Ramani of Aster Clinic Dubai.

Meanwhile, nurse Ivy Blanco Hortilano, also of Aster Clinic Dubai, described it as a magical and memorable moment. “This is the first time in four years of being in Dubai, that I felt special and appreciated for what I’m doing as a nurse,” she said.

Now, Beig wants to turn the beauty initiative, which she's calling Arwa's Beauty Beliefs, into a monthly process. Next month, she plans on giving makeovers to patients who have recovered from Covid-19.

“It’s an initiative that allows me to combine my passion for beauty with my love for society. This is a small way to give back to a community that has given me so many benefits that now allow me to live a good and healthy life,” she adds.