After 7 years in Denmark, Syrian Kurdish refugee opens beauty academy

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Amid all the trials and struggles an asylum seeker faces abroad, a Syrian Kurdish refugee took on another challenge as well—learning the art of makeup.

Adam, as he is simply known, arrived in Denmark as a refugee seven years ago. As a motivated young student, he studied at a beauty academy in Copenhagen, and after three years received a master’s degree.

Today, he has opened his own school, called Adam Beauty Academy and has since expanded operations into other countries across Europe. According to the Syrian Kurd, his institutions have spread to seven nations.

“Our teams have done a lot of work for television networks in Denmark and Europe. We have also done makeup for European and Arab celebrities. In 2014 and 2016, we did the makeup for Miss Universe Denmark,” he told Kurdistan 24.

“As we expand our project, we also have plans to come to the Kurdistan Region and open beauty academies there.”

The talented group of experienced beauticians who have joined his crew offers specialized courses to share their skill. One of his colleagues is a model named Azir who works closely with him to teach aspiring beauticians.

“I’m his model and makeup advisor here. We are on this Europe tour and meeting all these girls and giving our experience to them,” she told Kurdistan 24.

“It has been an honor to be a part of this team and I’m looking forward to going to the other cities in the Europe tour,” she added. “The next city we are visiting is Hamburg.”

While the art of makeup has been associated as a female-only practice in the past, new barriers are being broken today and it has become a norm practiced by all genders.

Editing by John J. Catherine

(Additional reporting by Kawa Mohammed Amin)