Make-up artist Samira Olfat spoke to Arab News on the sidelines of Beautyworld Middle East and revealed that she loves motorbikes, champions social media and is a big believer in the power of women...

One of my biggest idols is Oprah. Sometimes people blame the family they were born into for their failure to achieve their dreams — but that’s not the case, and Oprah’s a great example of that. If you read about where she came from, and the things that happened to her, then look at where she is today — the most powerful woman in the world.

I believe you need to have a healthy body to be able to achieve what you want. So I love doing yoga and pilates; I love working out and meditating.

People think that I’m very girly, because I’m always in heels, always wearing dresses. But I have a tomboy side as well. I used to ride a Harley around. It was pretty fun, but pretty scary too. I ordered it customized — full matt-black. I had long braids coming out of my helmet, so it was obvious I was a girl. It was a bit intimidating for people, I think.

Social media is so important right now. It’s as important as the real job. There are (amazing) professionals I’ve known for the past 15 years who, because they don’t have a very strong platform on social media, don’t get credit. Before, people would get to know you through word of mouth, because your work was good. Now, you can be the most amazing makeup artist in the world, but if you don’t have a lot of Instagram followers, then no magazine’s going to come and interview you.

So many women still have to prove themselves to people who don’t believe in them. Honestly? Look around you. Look at these women who are CEOs and mothers, handling several jobs in one day. Looking after a home is a full-time job. Being a mother is a full-time job. Being a CEO — or an employee — is a full-time job. Women can handle several jobs at the same time, and usually they’re only being paid for one. What more do people want?

Women are so often labelled ‘emotional,’ like that’s a negative thing. But if you’re not emotionally smart, then you can’t handle a company as well. If you look at companies where a woman is the boss, the energy is so much better. It’s so much happier.