Kerala based Makeup Guru becomes the first Indian makeup artist to be nominated to RSA
Lekshmi Menon has been recognised for her work in empowering women to be economically independent by teaching them makeup skills
The prestigious Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) & whose Patron is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has appointed Lekshmi Menon as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Lekshmi joins other leading artists such as James Bond actress Judi Dench FRSA, Musician Alex James FRSA , composer Benson Taylor FRSA amongst others who are fellows of RSA and is the first Indian makeup artist to be nominated to RSA.
Based in London and founded in 1754, the RSA was granted a Royal Charter in 1847 and the right to use the term Royal in its name by King Edward VII in 1908. Fellows of the RSA are entitled to use the post-nominal letters FRSA after their name and must have demonstrated a high level of achievement related to the arts, manufactures and commerce.
Ms.Lekshmi Menon, who won a scholarship to study Master’s in International Business at Robert Gordon University in Scotland, followed her childhood passion for makeup and set about on a mission to work with women so as to develop their makeup skills and enable them to earn a sustainable livelihood. Also, as part of her #MakeOverChangesLife campaign, a movement where lives are transformed and inspiring stories are written, she has been working with women to give them makeovers as she believes that makeovers can give individuals a confidence boost and increase their self esteem. She is currently the creative head at Face Palette Pro Makeup Academy in Kochi, Kerala.
Adanna Shallowe from RSA commented ‘ We are delighted to welcome new prominent Fellows like Lekshmi into our global Fellowship network. We know that this will greatly enrich not just the Fellowship in India but also deeply enhance our global fellowship community as well.
Fellowship is widely regarded as an honour and privilege. Today, the RSA has Fellows from 80 countries worldwide and previous fellows have included Stephen Hawking, Marie Curie, Charles Dickens, Benjamin Franklin and Karl Marx.
On receiving the fellowship, Lekshmi Menon FRSA said:
“I am extremely pleased about my unexpected and successful nomination. It is a privilege to be invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. RSA is committed to enriching the society through ideas and action and I am glad that my values and my work are aligned in that direction. My mission of imparting a makeup skill has not only helped my students, who are from different backgrounds, to generate more business and a sustainable livelihood but has also will helped other women to look their best during some of the most memorable and important days of their lives. I hope to work closely with the RSA huge global fellowship network across various countries so as to leverage the expertise of fellows who work in the areas of women empowerment for the benefit of women in India”.
PS : We thank number of media organisations including Malayalam Manorama, New Indian Express, New Age, Metro Vartha, Essanje, Marunadan Malayali amongst other media outlets in India for featuring the news.