Shaniqwa’s Make Up Artist Is Gone…..Rest In Peace,Queen Of Beauty. A Sad,Painful Tribute To The Lady With The Gifted Hands. (Photos)
She was the makeup artist to the stars…Kenya’s Tina Turnbow,a perfectly skilled beautician whose magic hands transformed faces into dazzling spectacles,whose artistry at weaving hair and braiding and styling transformed a woman from a mere soul to a goddess,a Disney-esque Princess,an enchantress.
Annstella Mathenge,or Shiru wa Kenya Cinema,or simply Shee had bestrode the World of beauty like a colossus,she was famed far and wide for her brilliance and expertise at beauty,had clients from all corners of Nairobi,had worked on the hairs and faces of many Kenyan Celebrities leaving remarkable results that would form the conversation for days on end.
For over a decade,nobody encapsulated the essence of beauty like the phenomenal Shee Mathenge.
Starting with a little salon located at the Kenya Cinema,from where she began her stratospheric journey to beauty superstardom,Shee rose to the highest of high peaks when she was finally recruited by leading Television Network KTN to work as the official makeup artist for the actors in the parody sitcom Jameni. And that’s how Shiru met Shaniqwa… And a dazzling marriage of sheer expertise and jaw-dropping excellence was born.
Daily,Shee arrived at KTN as early as 8am in the morning,brilliance at the ready,to work on not just Shaniqwa but also an array of KTN’s Television comic stars brilliantly managing to transform these regular guys into famous Kenyan politicians with outstanding excellence.
Shee was the lady who,armed with the skill of a goddess,transformed a Geoffrey Omondi into Raila Odinga,Harrison Mareka into Retired President Kibaki,Ken Gachie into Ababu Namwamba,Clinton Maina into Moses Kuria,Geoffrey Nyatuga and,unbelievably,George Karuru into Martha Karua etc etc.
Before she’d transform these faces,Shee would first study the political character’s photos keenly on Google Images… Pick out their prominent points,master their faces,study their facial structure,learn their outstanding features and,with the stroke of genius,get her tools of trade after which she’d,like an expert,transform the blandest of faces into the face of any Kenyan – or international – politician you could think of.
Her star shone even brighter after she was assigned as the official Shaniqwa make up artist. Shaniqwa,a boisterous,loud TV character played by a demure young man,Kevin Mwangi,was brought to life by the magnificent competence of Shee’s GIFTED HANDS.
For over an hour,Shiru would work on Kevin’s very manly face ; evening out his sharp beards,trimming his goatee,accentuating his jaws,shaping his eyebrows,bathing his face in a pool of foundation,lightening up his skin,bedazzling his eyes,smoothing out his hands,perfecting his manicure until he’d change from Kevin Mwangi to Shaniqwa ; a spectacular woman with bouncy attitude,luscious locks,wonderful skin and splendid makeup.
Besides KTN,from where her star in the Beauty Industry shone brightest,Shee had also worked on pretty much every famous celebrities’ face. Shee had styled and transformed the faces of numerous media personalities from KTN to Citizen to NTV. She had also been a long stylist and reliable beautician of the glamorous wife of Nairobi’s rowdy Senator Mike Sonko and had been contracted as the Official Bridal Beauty President for hundreds and hundreds of Kenyans weddings many of which made their way into Citizen TV’s The Wedding Show and NTV’s Samantha Bridal show.
Blessed with an equally deft husband,a polite man with the heart of a dove,Shee had steered her young family of three perfectly and brought them up in the most godly way until she gave birth to her last born,Hazel Gathigia,after whose birth she started experiencing some abdominal difficulties. Shee would later be rushed to Kenyatta Hospital for some emergency check ups. Things would later get so bad that Shee would have to be urgently admitted. And within a span of hours,Shee,the bouncy soul with the undaunted spirit of the American eagle would later slip into a coma,slip out of it and then be rushed to the HDU unit for extensive medical attention.
It would later be revealed that Shee was having Liver Complications and that he liver had developed impurities that would hamper it’s full operation and cleansing of her body.
Under intense medical attention,surrounded by numerous family and friends,clients and colleagues,who would jam the Hospital’s Ward and corridors,Shee’s condition would later get a little serious. And everyone was officially into panic mode.
Less than a week after admission to hospital,even after showing signs of recovery,Shee,the famous makeup artist whose Beauty Shop at Reinsurance Plaza was one of the most notable beauty cafes in Nairobi,passed away on the disastrous night of
Shee has left behind a young family of four children the youngest of whom,Hazel,is just 2 months old. Then there is the first born Mariam Wangari alias Husnat,Esther Wanjiku alias Hairun and Henson Waititu,a little brilliant boy in class 3.
This wonderful woman,with the most GIFTED HANDS of any,has gone to be with the Lord. And an outpouring of grief has been launched…
Shee was the kindest soul that walked the Earth. She was timid as a kitten,fun as a child,kind as a nun,benevolent as an angel,caring as a mother,sweet as heaven,industrious as a bee,generous as a lord,skilled as an ant,zealous as an adherent and loving as a canine.
Shee,you’re irreplaceable. Your GIFTED HANDS are unmatched,your kindness is unreplicatable,your skill is legendary,your influence will forever be unbroken,your love unfiltered and your memory eternal.
There was only one YOU. QUEEN OF BEAUTY. Adios,Shiru wa Kenya Cinema. Thou shall be missed.
NEXT PAGE: See photos of Shiru’s amazing make-up transformation of Jameni Actors. Absolutely mind-blowing!
Shaniqwa’s wonderful makeup courtesy of Shiru Mathenge,the late.
Geoffrey Omondi transformed into Raila Odinga.
Ken Gachie transformed into Ababu Namwamba.
Clinton Maina and Romward Ndar transformed into Moses Kuria and Jeff Koinange respectively.
Ben Waititu and Geoffrey Omondi transformed into Presidents Al-Bashir and Bob Mugabe respectively.
Shee with one of KTN actors.
One of Shee’s masterpieces…A brilliant President Moi transformational make-up.
Shee with Shaniqwa at NTV studios early 2015.
You cannot believe that these are two men! Two men! Wow! Shee was the Makeup Queen.
