Owner of Ile Beauty Salon, Esline is an advocate for empowering rural women to learn spa and beauty treatments by providing workshops in the outer islands. She also believes in buying locally made jewelry to support local women and is proud to celebrate black beauty, whether it’s a Melanesian dress or African Ankara dress. Esline strives to harnesses the power of #BlackGirlMagic, not only for herself, but also in other women.
Name:
Esline Felix
Age:
I am 36 years old
Where are you from?
I am a proud Malekulan woman from Southwest Bay, Toman Island, Malekula.
What do you aspire to do in the future?
My future ambition is to own a bigger Spa and most importantly I hope to train more Ni-Vanuatu women in the spa business. With the Rural Training Center, our main focus is teaching therapeutic massage practices and scheme training of a proper spa setting. Despite the limited spa equipment available, we strive to empower women in tourism business within the rural areas. In saying that, in April this year we have set up a ‘Luganville Mama’s Island Massage Beauty & Therapy’ workshop in Santo with the help and fund of the Skill Partnership. It is my passion to take leadership in these workshops as I started this supportive journey in Malekula during the year 2014, Santo 2015, Aneityum 2016 and currently doing Aneityum and Santo still this year 2018, along with follow up trips back and forth to ensure proper management and organization of the workshops.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love doing gardening and baking during my spare time. Baking helps so as they say ‘when all else fails, bake a cake’ hehe! *wink wink*
What did you study?
I studied at Lycée, Port Vila. After college I worked at the Waterfront restaurant as a part time waitress and then furthered my studies at the APTC Training and Assessments during the year 2015. It’s been an overwhelmed achievement as I am officially the Spa, coach and trainer in TVET for tourism, hence the Skill Partnership running an Island massage & Beauty Therapy workshop in Vila, Santo Malekula and Aneityum. I am also a specialized Health and Beauty consultant.
How would you describe your style?
I love the African style, but I am mostly into New Caledonian dresses or any Melanesian women’s clothing as I feel that it truly represents my identity. I also enjoy wearing hair extensions and locally made jewelry.
Where do you buy your clothes from?
Hay ladies, another fan of second hand clothes here! haha! If it’s any boutique really it would be the good old Carla Boutique and I like to check out some Chinese stores around town as they do have some pretty nice floral dresses. And I would like to add that, I usually buy my jewelry from our local mama’s markets in the rural areas during my workshop trips. You may see in one of my photos for this shoot that I am proudly wearing beautifully crafted earrings from the Futuna women handicrafts.
Who influences your style?
I can clearly remember like it was only yesterday when I first saw my dear African friend with her stunning African wear while working as a waitress at Waterfront restaurant back in early 1996. She was the first woman that introduced me to the African print tops, the Ankara dresses and the African print pants trousers that come with its matching sleeves. Oh it’s like clothes heaven! She even gave me some of her vibrant wears that I kept safely in my wardrobes and I only wear on special occasions as I am very fond of her.
What beauty products do you use?
I mostly use coconut oil for my skin and hair and just Nivea cream for my face, can’t get enough its sweet, soft refreshing smell.
Any fashion advice?
As an Islander, AELAN STYLE IS SUPERIOR ! And keep that beautiful smile, it portrays everything about you.
Creative stylist: Irene Abbock
Photographer: Starlight Photography
Hair, beauty, nails: Body and Soul
This article was originally published in the June edition of the Vanuatu Daily Post Life and Style magazine
