For over three decades makeup magician Mickey Contractor has been wielding his magic wand on Bollywood’s brightest beauties for dozens of hit films and advertising campaigns. Gender discrimination in the film industry forced him from hair into makeup, where he felt frustrated with archaic beauty ideals and lighting technology that required egregious amounts of makeup.

Though change has been slow to come in India, he’s proud to have been a driving force behind altering mindsets to embrace different kinds of makeup and lighter applications. I caught up with this seasoned pro during the 2011 IIFA Awards Weekend to chat about his new partnership with MAC Cosmetics, his passion for Viva Glam, his trajectory through film and advertising, and the beautiful life lessons he’s learned along the way.

Read the full article on The Huffington Post.

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