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From Makeup Brushes to Medical Scrubs: The Inspiring Journey of a Self-Taught Makeup Artist Turned Nurse

  
BY: Annette Anta Camara -22329017
 
When Ina Njie first began experimenting with makeup tutorials on YouTube and Instagram, she never imagined that her hobby would one day fund her biggest dream of becoming a Bachelor of Science in nursing graduate.

Today, she walks through the brightly lit corridors of the Gambia’s main teaching hospital, proudly wearing her white coat as a licensed nurse in the Pediatric Unit. But her journey from brush to stethoscope is one that speaks to the power of determination, self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

A dream Fueled by Passion and Purpose

Growing up in a modest home in Kanifing, Ina always dreamed of working in healthcare.  “I wanted to help children and give hope to families,” she says with a warm smile. However, the financial challenges of university life threatened to derail her ambitions.

Rather than give up, Ina turned to what she knew best creativity. She began practicing makeup on her fiends and siblings for fun, later taking clients for casual outings, birthdays, graduation ceremonies and the bridal makeup. Word spreading within the neighborhood quickly about how skillful hands and her natural ability to enhance beauty while keeping things simple and elegant

Entrepreneurship as a Lifeline

‘’I didn’t have any formal training’’ Ina recalls. ‘’YouTube was my classroom, and my friends were my first clients.’’ What began as a side hustle soon become a thriving business that paid for her books, tuition and basic needs.

Her story is a powerful example of how entrepreneurship can empower students to pursue education without giving up their dreams. Instead of seeing business and academics as conflicting paths, Ina combined both proving that skills and education can complement each other when guided by discipline and purpose.

From Makeup Artist to Nurse

After years of balancing late night makeup sessions and early morning lectures, Ina finally earned her BSc in Nursing at the American International University. The moment she received her license to practice was a defining one, a reward for years of sleepless nights, resilience and faith.

Now, as part of the Pediatric Unit, Ina provides care to sick children with compassion that comes from lived experience. “Every time I hold a child’s hand, I’m reminded of how far I’ve come and how education and self-employment gave me wings,” she reflects.


A message to Young Dreamers

Ina’s story more than a personal triumph, it’s a message to young Gambians especially women that dreams don’t have to wait for perfect conditions. With creativity, hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, it is possible to rise above obstacles and create one’s own opportunities.

She continues to mentor young girls in the community in beauty entrepreneurship, encouraging them to develop their skill, that can sustain the, to avoid depending on men. “Entrepreneurship is not just about money,” she says. “It’s about independence, innovation, and self-belief.”

From self-taught makeup artist to practicing nurse, Ina’s journey embodies the new face of Gambian resilience one where passion meets purpose, and entrepreneurship fuels education.

 



 

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