Francis John Karl “King” Padilla is not one to be embarrassed about pursuing his passion that defy stereotypes. He is even loud and proud about his latest achievement of finally earning his degree in Criminology—a feat made possible by his unconventional side hustle as a makeup maven.
The 20-year-old fresh grad of the South East Asian Institute of Technology in Tupi, South Cotabato celebrated his graduation in a Facebook post with photos of himself in his crisp maroon uniform while proudly wielding his makeup brushes.
“Makeup artist na nakapag tapos ng Bachelor of Science in Criminology. Thank you Lord! That’s the first thing that came to my mind because you really are the best, Lord,” he said in his post. He went on to thank his classmates, friends, family, teachers, and clients who trusted his talent.
In an interview with PEP.ph, King revealed that the idea of dabbling in makeup came to him in his second year of college when the pandemic began in 2020, after finding himself scrolling through TikTok’s treasure trove of makeup tutorials and major glow-ups.
With the guidance of his cousin, who is a make-up artist, King started his journey in the field—armed with his drawing skills and experience representing his school during senior high in poster-making contests.
In a society where makeup is often associated with certain genders, King’s unusual side gig has raised eyebrows. “Yung trato nila na, ‘Bakit nagmi-makeup ka, e Criminology student ka?”
Little did they know that being a makeup artist provides endless opportunities for learning, he added.
His simple venture, which lets him earn about Php15,000 a month, eventually became his and his family’s lifeline: he was able to support himself and fund his mother’s stroke treatment and his sibling’s education, among others.
In the last couple of years, he has carved a name for himself as a talented makeup artist in Koronadal, glamming up brides and contestants in beauty pageants, big and small.
King, who was inspired to take up Criminology because his brothers are in the Army and the Marines, is currently reviewing for the board exam. If he passes, he thinks of applying to the Philippine National Police or the Bureau of Fire Protection.
But come what may, he would pursue his thriving side gig and inspire his generation to embrace their passions and challenge stereotypes, one brushstroke at a time.
“To all the students out there, huwag niyong ikakahiya kung ano ang talent niyo…Hindi importante kung ano sasabihin nila, basta ikaw sure ka kung ano yung gusto mo,” he said.
