Delhi-based ‘soft glam specialist’ Momina, who has spent five years in the luxury bridal space, shared a candid Instagram video on September 9 breaking down exactly how she earned ₹ 4.5 lakh in a single week’. If you’ve ever scrolled past a makeup artist’ s income reveal and thought, ‘must be nice’, this one’s for you. Also read | Indian mother of the bride steals hearts with ‘mind-blowing’ glow up: Watch ‘magical’ before and after transformation
And while the number is impressive, her caption is what really hit: “People see the numbers, but they don’t see the years of hustle behind it. A fully booked calendar doesn’t just magically happen.” ⦿ Monday: the international client Momina started with Pooja Jain, a client from Singapore. Think jet-lag-friendly glam that has to last through functions and photos. ⦿ Mid-week: the loyal bride
Charge for three looks: ₹ 63,000.
In her caption, Momina reminded everyone that this wasn’t an overnight success story. The Instagram version shows soft glam and perfect lehengas. The backend is last-minute cancellations, and proving your worth for free until someone finally pays. For aspiring MUAs (makeup artists), Momina’s transparency shows that luxury pricing isn’t just about makeup – it’s about the years you invested when no one was watching, the skill to deliver under pressure, and the stamina to do it for days in a row in different cities. Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them. This article is for informational purposes only.
Also read | Sonam Kapoor’s makeup artist on fight against a 59-year-old union that banned women from doing makeup on Bollywood sets It is a reality check for anyone dreaming of entering the beauty industry. Yes, she earned ₹ 4.5 lakh in a week – but she earned the right to charge that over five years.
“Every single booking I have today is the result of not giving up, constantly learning, and giving my 100 percent to every single face I touch,” she wrote.
Before the premium brides and the Kasauli views, there were years of free collaborations just to build a portfolio.
For wedding makeup in the hills, Momina charged ₹ 55,000. ⦿ The big one: the family booking Back to Delhi for Saloni Nahar and her family: this is where luxury MUA math gets real. Total charge: ₹ 2.2 lakh. It’s not just one face; it’s managing different skin types, outfits, and timelines. ⦿ Weekend: one more bride Momina closed the week with a final bridal booking for ₹ 37,500. Total: ₹ 4.5 lakh.
Because brides don’t always get married where they live, charge: ₹ 73,000. ⦿ Then: a hill station dash From Delhi to Kasauli:. Next up was Surbhi Grover, a returning client. Three looks for the bride, plus three party makeups for her sister and mom. Seven days. Five clients. Countless touch-ups, cab rides, and ring lights.
Momina had done Surbhi’s engagement glam last year; now it was the wedding.
