Eluru, Andhra Pradesh
It’s a humid morning in Eluru. Inside a small home that smells faintly of jasmine oil and pressed silk, freelance makeup artist Vasa Lalitha Siva Jyothi is helping a college girl get ready for her farewell day. The girl requests a mermaid-style saree draping inspired by Dolly Jain reels on Instagram. Lalitha smiles and neatly tucks in the saree pleats, fixing each fold with patient precision.
“Don’t worry,” Lalitha says, her voice calm and sure. “You’ll walk in like a movie star.”
She finishes the look with a light touch of kajal, a streak of lipstick, and a shy smile from her client.
“There,” she grins. “Now you look like yourself, just a little brighter.”
That’s Lalitha’s magic. What began years ago as a small skill helping neighbours with saree draping has now grown into a full-time career as a freelance makeup artist. It gives her both identity and independence.
“Saree draping is an art,” she says. “These days, young women love wearing them but don’t always know how. I enjoy helping them rediscover that grace.”
The Beginning, And the Son Who Keeps Her Going
Lalitha, a 45-year-old saree draping artist and freelance makeup artist, carries herself with quiet resilience. After her husband passed away, she moved in with her mother. Together with her son, who works at a local Xerox shop while pursuing his degree, she manages her household, expenses, and dreams.
“He’s my strength,” she says. “He has a hearing issue, but he never gives up. When I see him working hard, I feel I should work harder too.”
Her world is simple: early mornings, housework, then freelance calls. Clients come from word of mouth, nearby neighbourhoods, or her social circle. Over time, her saree draping gigs turned into something bigger: her second act as a freelance makeup artist.
From Saree Draping to Makeup, A Natural Transition
Her clients began asking her to “add a little makeup too.” That gentle nudge opened a new door. She started practising different looks at home, observing YouTube makeup tutorials, and experimenting with colours and shades.
Soon, she was doing bridal touch-ups, festive looks, and farewell makeovers. Her reputation as a freelance makeup artist grew quietly, built on trust, warmth, and skill.
“When a woman looks in the mirror and smiles at her own reflection, that’s my reward,” Lalitha says. “It doesn’t feel like work. It feels like a celebration.”
Today, she earns up to ₹20,000 a month as a freelance makeup artist, with half her payments now coming through online transfers.
Decision to Upskill, The Airblack Chapter
Even after 15 years in the beauty world, Lalitha knew she needed to stay current. Trends were changing fast: airbrush techniques, HD makeup, bridal contouring, and advanced hairstyling.
When she came across Airblack Academy’s professional makeup artist course, she saw a way to grow. Through Mahila Money’s upskilling loan, she enrolled in a 12-month program to refine her craft and become a certified freelance makeup artist.
“I saw the Airblack ads and thought, why not me?” she says. “Clients want new looks, and I want to give them the best. Learning never stops.”
Her goal is to increase her income by ₹10,000–₹15,000 after completing the professional makeup artist course, and eventually open her own beauty studio.
Growth, Vision, and Independence
Lalitha dreams of a small but lively studio, bright mirrors, soft lights, sarees lined on one side, and makeup kits on the other. She wants to create a space where women feel beautiful and at ease, where she can teach younger girls the art she’s mastered.
“I want to offer everything, saree draping, bridal makeup, hairstyling,” she says. “A full beauty experience. And maybe someday, I’ll train others too.”
On a lighter note, she laughs while adjusting the pleats on a mannequin:
“People think makeup is enough, but when you know how to drape a saree too, that’s your superpower! The whole look depends on it.”
Lalitha draws inspiration from Dolly Jain’s saree draping styles and dreams of offering the same grace through her work. “Dolly Jain turned a simple art into a full-time career. That’s what I want women to see, every small skill has power if you take it seriously,” she says.
Her dream now? To open a studio that celebrates both the art of saree draping and the skill of being a freelance makeup artist, where women can learn, earn, and walk out with confidence.
Financial Learnings, Strength in Small Steps
Money wasn’t always easy to manage, but Lalitha learned to make every rupee count. With help from her son’s income and rent from a small shop, she balances home expenses and business growth with care.
Taking a loan for upskilling was a turning point.
“I wasn’t scared,” she says. “The Mahila Money team explained everything clearly. I knew I could repay it slowly, with what I earn.”
Each month, she pays her EMIs on time, a small act that’s now steadily building her credit history. “Earlier, I didn’t even know about credit scores,” she admits. “Now, I track my payments like I track my savings. It feels good to see it improving.”
She knows this discipline will open more doors later, whether that’s expanding her beauty business for women, setting up her studio, or applying for a bigger loan.
“Today it’s a makeup artist course,” she smiles. “Tomorrow, it could be my own beauty parlour. A good financial record helps you dream a little bigger.”
Vasa’s Advice to Aspiring Freelance Makeup Artists and Saree Drapers – “Keep Learning, Keep Shining”
Ask Lalitha what she’d tell other women dreaming of becoming freelance makeup artists or learning saree draping, and she lights up.
“Start where you are,” she says. “Even if you have one brush or one saree, begin. Learn, practice, and don’t wait for perfect conditions.”
She often tells women to save a little from every booking. “It’s not about how much you earn, but how much you keep and grow.”
Her mantra? Invest in your skills the same way you invest in your family- with consistency and care.
A Journey Draped in Capital and Courage
“I will forever be grateful to Mahila Money and Airblack Beauty Academy. When I got the loan approval message, I felt proud,” she recalls. “Someone trusted my work, and that makes me want to do even better.”
From the folds of a silk saree to the sweep of a makeup brush, Lalitha’s story is woven with care, courage, and quiet ambition. She found her second act not in reinvention but in continuity, the belief that growth never stops.
“Just keep learning,” she says. “When you learn, you move forward. And when you move forward, life gets beautiful again.”
Read more success story:
How This Delhi Woman Built a ₹12 Lakh/Year Home-Based Art and Craft Business from Her Living Room
How a Teacher Turned Fashion Entrepreneur Grew Her Small Business with Mahila Money
How a Single Mother Entrepreneur Found Her Calling as Dr. Mital, the Skin Doctor
If you are a woman entrepreneur who wants to take your business to new heights and is in need of working capital and entrepreneurship resources, come speak to us on Mahila Money. For more such #JiyoApneDumPe live conversations, download the Mahila Money App on Play Store or visit us on www.mahila.money
