Rose Ntong’ondu: Biography, Career & Relationship
Rose Ntong’ondu is an alpha female, a make-up artist, enterpreneur and one of the most celebrated media personality in Kenya. She is the CEO of Makeup by Rose and in 2015 she was crowned the winner of Business Daily Africa’s Top 40 Under 40.
Biography
Rose Ntong’ondu was born on January 18, 1982 (Age 42). She hails from Meru, a town in eastern Kenya.
Like most families in Meru, Rose Ntong’ondu grew in a home with not so much abundance. Her upbringing in a very humble family shaped her mindset and prepared her for the tough journey of life.
Rose Ntong’ondu lived most of her early years with her Family in Meru. Her elder sister had a salon in the small town and the frequently time spent at the salon made her develop a passion for makeup. After her secondary education, her elder sister was able to relocate to the United States which made her move overseas with her.
While in the united states, Rose Ntong’ondu studied Cosmetology and her affinity to the face and made her concentrated more on makeup.
She came back to Kenya in 2000 after her graduation from the United States. She was also back to he country to look after her dad who was at that time sick and there was no one to take care of him. While in Kenya, Rose dabbled as a makeup artist and a care giver.
Career
Rose Ntong’ondu started her career in make-up career in 2000. Unable to find her footings in the industry as at that time, she connected with Dr Irene Njoroge, a skin care specialist and makeup artist guru who was at the time writing a beauty column in the Nation. Rose became her mentee and was able to learn some inner workings of the make-up industry in a Kenya.
She was under the tutelage of Dr Irene Njoroge for a year, mastering her craft and sharpening her skills. While working under Dr Irene, she got a not-paying gig as a stylist for the Hair and Beauty segment in the Daily Nation and makeup artist for the Saturday Nation cover.
After leaving Dr Irene, she worked for Suzzie Beauty in Nairobi as a salesgirl where she payed Ksh20,000 as a monthly salary. Three months into her job, she was promoted to a retail manager and later made the general manager due to her proficiency and huge profit turnovers.
With the ultimate goal of making her name in the industry, Rose launched her own make-up company. Being a newbie, she struggled to get clients, a challenges he overcame by distributing fliers in salons, who in turn called her when they had brides who needed a makeup artist. For every services rendered, Rose promised the salons and beauty hub a 20% commission for referrals.
Through her various networking, she was able to build a huge list of good paying clients and within the years, she was rendering services for county First Ladies and other top dignitaries.
Cosmetics School
After building a successful makeup brand, Rose launched a makeup school, where she take in aspiring artists, train them and mentor them.
Aside running a very successful cosmetics school, she is also a manufacturer. She manufactures a number of beauty products locally and internationally and offers cosmetics consultation.
Relationship & Family
Rose Ntong’ondu is divorced to husband of 9years. Their marriage was blessed with two beautiful kids.
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