I am so passionate about makeup.

I have Celtic heritage (75% Irish) & growing up in South Africa, I stood out like a sore thumb. As an insecure child, and teenager all I wanted was to blend into the crowd and not stand out or be stared at for the wrong reasons.  From about the age of 12 years old, I knew I wanted to be a makeup artist.  That was the age that I started experimenting with makeup & the transformation that I saw in the mirror was mind-blowing.

I fall into the 1% of the worlds population that has a translucent skin tone, with strawberry blonde hair, which comes with blonde eyelashes and blonde eyebrows. So all you could see when i wasn’t wearing makeup was my big blue eyes. So my features never stood out, so I used to ‘fade into the background’ and go unnoticed.  That was until l I gave my face the colour it was missing, then all of a sudden, I transformed into an ‘attractive enough’ young woman. By the ‘Western World’s standard’ of beauty, that is.  I became more confident and less insecure.

After Immigrating to Australia in 1998 that was when I started my makeup course in 1998 - 1999. It was in the year 2000 that I started working in the makeup industry transforming women, I was in my element! Throughout my career a few ladies have actually cried (happy tears of course) because they were so blown away by how beautiful they looked and felt, sometimes for the first time in their lives, it was and always will be so heartwarming for me. It only fuelled my passion for makeup even more.
I love making women see their unique beauty, because we are all beautiful in our own way & beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Every time I do someone’s makeup it’s just as important to me as it was in 1998 to make someone look and feel beautiful, even after 26 years. It’s not about the money for me, it’s about helping women.

What a blessing it is to help women everywhere I go. I am making a difference in people’s lives, and I love people. I’m definitely a people person.

WINNER of the ABIA QUEENSLAND BRIDAL MAKEUP ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2014 [see her bridal portfolio here],

Jessica has been doing makeup for 26 years. She is an experienced makeup artist working on the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Queensland. Jessica started her makeup course in 1998 finishing in 1999 in Sydney at Sydney College of Makeup Art.

Jessica started hairdressing in South Africa in 1995 when she was only 15 years old and by 1998 she became a qualified hairdresser. When Jessica emigrated to Australia in 1998 she then went on to complete a make-up artistry course in 1999 and started working in the photographic industry as a makeup artist & hairstylist from 2000. She has also worked as a freelancer from 2000 – Present.

During the course of Jessica’s makeup career she has worked in all areas of make-up including, TV – Channel 10 (Brisbane Sep 2009 - 2011) 

SBS    (Sydney - Nov 2005) During the World Cup

Her makeup was published in an International French Magazine Malvie - January 2023

Hey Hey it’s Saturday Promo Shoot for Channel 9 on the Gold Coast in 2010.

Makeup and Hair for Erin Brockovich while she was out working for Shine Lawyers, in February 2015,  August 2016 & April 2017 & September 2018 her interview was aired on Channel 9.

Editorials, Beauty Shoots, Fashion Shoots, Weddings, Formals, Special Occasions.

She assisted Debbie Monday at the first M.T.V Music Video Awards in Sydney in 2005,

In September 2022 Jessica did makeup for the TV show Boy Swallows Universe

Teaching makeup & hairstyling Macquarie Community College (May 2004 - Oct 2005)

Australasian College of Natural Therapies (May 2005 - Nov 2005)

Professional Beauty College of Australia (Sep 2008 - June 2009)

MEEE School of Health & Beauty (June 2008 - Oct 2008)

Jessica was a freelance makeup artist/hairdresser for SBS TV in Sydney during the World Cup in 2000. She also worked at the first MTV Music Video Awards in 2005 doing make-up on Missy Higgins and Chingy. Jessica did make-up and hair on Kyle Sandilands & Bianca Dye’s hair on the award night.

She did makeup for South African actress Rosie Motene. Her makeup work has appeared in South African Magazines.
From 2000 onwards, Jessica has run her own successful freelance business doing makeup and hair for weddings and other special events. In addition to freelancing and running her own business, Jessica does private lessons in make-up and hair. After completing a Certificate 4 in Workplace Training and Assessment in 2004, Jessica taught makeup at privately owned schools covering the following skills;

– Make-Up Certificate II
– Design and Apply Basic Make-up
– Design and Apply Make-up for photography
– Design and Apply Make-up for Remedial Camouflage
– Stage and Performance Make-up

Jessica Cagney, Brisbane & Gold Coast Makeup Artist & hairstylist worked in London in 2008-2009 whilst there, she did makeup for London’s largest dance studio in Covent Gardens “Pineapple Studio’s”. Whilst in London, she was signed up by 2 wedding makeup agencies.

On returning to Australia from having worked in London, Jessica Freelanced as a Makeup Artist and Hairdresser for Channel 10 in Brisbane from September 2009 - February 2011 her role was makeup & hairstyling for the news presenters & reporters.
Jessica Cagney, Brisbane & Gold Coast Makeup Artist & hairstylist recently worked on a kids television show called “Wild But True” hosted by Robert Irwin & Isabel Yamazaki & it’s been aired on the Discovery Channel. Jessica now works mostly in Queensland areas of the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Tweed. Interstate conditions apply.

Campaigns

Urban Collective - EOS Footwear, Kennedy Footwear, Loscaboss Shoes.

Pia Du Pradal Fashions

Cape Capri

Boomshankar Clothing

Aegeanloom

Babes In The Shade

Thirsty Swimwear

Nooz Womens Clothing Store NZ Boutique

Ox And Palm

City Fertility

Commercial & Celebrity Clients

• Erin Brockovich

• Heloise Pratt & Fiona Geminder

• Robert Irwin

• James Matherson BUFTA ( Bond University Film, Television Awards

• Channel 9 - Promo Shoot for "Hey Hey It's Saturday"

• Channel 10 News Crew - Georgina Lewis, Bill McDonald, Lexi Hamilton-Smith, Jonathan Williams, Max Futcher.

• Effie Zahos (Money Magazine)

• SBS World Cup - Karla Grant, Anton Enus, Lee Lin Chin

• M.T.V Music Video Awards - Missy Higgins and Chingy (rehearsals)

• Kyle Sandilands (award night)

• Bianca Dye hair (award night)

• Tash Lockhart - The Voice Australia Finalist 2016 (Promo University 2016)

• South African actress Rosie Motene,

• Cricket Australia

• Covent Gardens “Pineapple Studio’s, London UK (2007 -2008)

• Viviens Models,

• Dallys Models,

• Que Models,

• Weddings,

• Education, (Teaching private schools & private 1 on 1 lessons.)

• Private Clients.

Other resources

Jessica’s Facebook Fan Page – facebook.com/JessicaCagneyMakeupArtist