Mario Dedivanaj

From humble beginnings in the Bronx to celebrity makeup artist, Albanian-American Dedivanaj shot to stardom by beautifying one face at a time.

Mario Dedivanaj has a slew of A-list clients, like Christina Aguilera, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Williams, and Natasha Bedingfield, but the celebrity makeup artist and educator came from humble beginnings in the Bronx.

Born and raised in an Albanian neighborhood with parents who immigrated from Montenegro, Dedivanaj didn’t always know what he’d be when he grew up, but he had the support and love of his family to motivate him to do well in school and work hard to achieve whatever goals he set. At the age of 17, Dedivanaj’s goal became clear to him: He discovered his love for art and beauty, and he decided he wanted to become a makeup artist.