MANILA, Philippines – Solenn Heussaff is a model, actress, and singer – but before all that, she tried her hand and did well at a number of other things, too, including makeup artistry and fashion.   

Solenn studied fashion design at the Studio Bercot in Paris. But aside from fashion, Solenn decided to go further by taking makeup studies at the Ecole Fleurimon, also in Paris, and at the Make Up Forever Academy to get a minor in prosthetics and body painting. She’s even done magazine covers and makeup for her friends in and out of showbiz. 

Here’s a behind-the-scenes video from a cover shoot starring Solenn’s friend Belle Daza, for the May 2012 cover of Rogue. Instead of being front and center, Solenn did the prosthetics for the beauty-queen-with-a-twist shoot. 

Although she rarely does makeup assignments now due to her busy schedule, Solenn said she would love to practice again.

“Kasi ngayon naglalagay ako ng makeup sa sarili ko. I know my face. I’ve learned a lot from seeing how other makeup artists do yung mga ibang styles nila. Pero it’s different if nag-papractice ka sa ibang tao. Baka if I enter the industry again, I’ll have to practice again because I have to do different faces,” she said at the launch of her book Besties, a project with pal Georgina Wilson

(Right now I put makeup on myself. I know my face. I’ve learned a lot from seeing how other makeup artists do the other styles. But it’s different if you practice on other people. If I do enter the industry again, I’ll have to practice because I have to do different faces.)

Was doing make up for some lucky Colgate Optic white winners. Who is about to get married?? You can be even more lucky and have Pat Dy and Jason Magbanua capture your wedding by sending you bridal nightmare videos to Colgate Optic White facebook. You dream wedding awaits you! #ColgateOpticWhite #OpticWhite #DreamWedding

A photo posted by @solennheussaff on Nov 4, 2014 at 11:38pm PST

“Dati sobrang galing ko. Ngayon, I haven’t tried it in a while. Pag may mga kasal ‘yung mga friends ko, I do the makeup,” Solenn shared.

(Back then I got pretty good, but I haven’t tried in a while. But when my friends have their weddings, I do the makeup.)

Of all the techniques she learned, Solenn said she loves prosthetics and still does it when she can.

“Yes I  still do (prosthetics) pag may shoot or interesting, gagawin ko sa mga friends [ko].”

Was hired by my brother @erwanjheussaff tonight to transform his producer @sephbarretto for his new show on tv. Heres the make up! #SolennMakeUpTutorials #solennmakeup (check out his IG to see his real face lol, free to mingle )

A photo posted by @solennheussaff on Nov 19, 2014 at 5:37am PST

“I love prosthetics because you can get creative: bullet holes, bruises, wounds – the uglier the better, really,” she writes in Besties.

Trying everything

Theses days, Solenn does all sorts of things, including singing, acting, designing, painting, makeup artistry. She’s also a restaurant partner, and most recently wrote Besties with Georgina (READ: Georgina Wilson to fresh grads: Set yourselves apart, give it your all)

Divided into 9 chapters, the book tackles the many questions she and Georgina have been asked on social media, on topics such as fashion, beauty, love, confidence, diet, food and recipes, friendship, and a chapter on finance.

In a recent interview with reporters at the book launch, Solenn said she and Georgina decided to keep quiet about the project first because they feared it wouldn’t push through.

“It’s actually a book that we have been working on a year and more. We kept it a secret because usually when you say you’re doing something, hindi tuloy so we kept it a secret,” she said.

Solenn adds that becoming an author was unexpected for her. 

“Never nag-cross sa mind [about writing]. S’yempre naman if not for this job I have, if not for GMA din, for the people I’ve met and the fans, di ko talaga maisip na magsulat ng libro,” she said.

(It [writing] never crossed my mind. Of course if not for this job I have, if not for GMA also, for the people I’ve met and the fans, i wouldn’t think about writing a book.)

 With so many roles on her plate, Solenn said she wants to try everything.

“Patikman-tikman lang ng mga careers tapos tignan ko kung ano pipiliin ko,” she laughed.

(Just trying all the careers and then I’ll see what I will really choose.)

And as for those who want to follow in her footsteps and try a lot of different things, Solenn has this to say: “Just be content. Know what you’re capable of doing. Don’t listen to people who will say anything negative. And never say you don’t have time because you can make time.” – Rappler.com