Meet the Team
Denise Elliott
Principal Makeup Artist / Hair Stylist & Owner
*On Maternity Leave*
Denise Elliott is an award winning Makeup Artist based out of North Vancouver, B.C., specializing in bridal makeup, fashion, lifestyle and editorial. Her philosophy is all about bringing out a woman’s natural beauty by enhancing their best features to compliment her skin, style and personality.
After finishing her training at the renowned Blanche Macdonald Centre in 2005, Denise began applying her skills with top cosmetic lines, including Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Stila, YSL, NARS and Giorgio Armani. In 2011 Denise struck out on her own, creating Denise Elliott Makeup Artistry, a mobile makeup and hair company. She has since been recognized as one of B.C’s top Makeup Artists at the BC Wedding Awards, winning the Best Wedding Makeup Artist in 2013 and again in 2016, while her team was honoured as finalists for Best Wedding Hair also in 2016. She has also worked with ABC’s Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe and actress Katie Cassidy.
In January 2017, Denise opened Denise Elliott Beauty Co., a boutique makeup and hair studio in North Vancouver. We are a full salon and makeup studio offering cut, colour, makeup application and lessons!
You can find Denise’s work featured in Vanity Fair, WedLuxe, BCLiving, Real Wedding Magazine, Magnolia Rouge, BC Business Magazine along with many blogs and other publications.
To check out Denise and the team’s work head over to Instagram: @deniseelliottbeautyco
Kayla Konechny
Master Makeup Artist & Studio Manager (In Studio Team)
Kayla is our Studio Manager & Master Makeup Artist at Denise Elliott Beauty Co. She has been in the beauty industry for 12 years. After graduating from the makeup artistry diploma program at John Casablanca, she started her career in beauty working at a retail Beauty Boutique in North Vancouver working with high prestige cosmetic brands such as Lancôme, Clinique and Guerlain. Kayla is now excited to be a part of the team as it gives her a chance to meet people, build connections, and do what she loves best: working with makeup! It also allows her to share her passion of makeup with every client she works with making them feel and look beautiful!
Sarah Milsted
Master Makeup Artist (In Studio Team)
Sarah is a makeup artist at Denise Elliott Beauty Co. She has been doing makeup professionally for over 7 years. She spent a few years doing freelance work for weddings, private shoots and music videos. Sarah graduated from Blanche Macdonald with honours and is now happy to be a part of the Denise Elliott Team! While her passion is in SFX makeup she also loves to help people feel as beautiful in their skin as possible.
Simran Chima
Senior Makeup Artist (In-Studio Team)
Simran is a professional makeup artist dedicated to enhancing client’s natural beauty and creating radiant, tailored looks. Her love for makeup started at a young age when she would go through her mom’s makeup bag, fascinated by all the colours and products. That early curiosity turned into a lifelong passion. She graduated from John Casablancas Institute with a diploma in makeup artistry, where she developed her skills and refined her artistry. Since then, she has worked with a wide range of clients, focusing on creating looks that make them feel confident and beautiful. Her attention to detail and love for artistry shine through in every look she creates.
Michelle Lai
Senior Makeup Artist (In-Studio Team)
Michelle is a passionate makeup artist specializing in glam, natural, and photoshoot-ready looks. Her love for makeup began as a child after watching Michelle Phan’s “Bad Romance” tutorial on YouTube. In 2022, she earned her certificate in Freelance & Bridal Makeup Artistry from John Casablancas Institute. Michelle blends Western and Asian techniques to enhance natural beauty, striving to make every client feel their most confident!
Szilvia Pearson
Master Hairstylist & Colourist (In Studio Team)
Szilvia has over 15 years experience in styling women’s, men’s and children’s hair.
Originally from Budapest, Hungary she relocated to China in 2012. The move was supposed to be temporary… but due to extensive demand for her service, she was compelled to stay until recently when she decided to move to Vancouver, Canada. Szilvia’s extensive experience stretches across European, Western and Asian hair colouring and styling.
She has worked on numerous hair shows and events both in Europe and China escalating her to a creative stylist status. She can add wedding styling and show styling to her portfolio. Szilvia has a strong passion for colouring, highlights and any funky style requests she gets. Szilvia has worked wonders on client’s that have needed colour correction, always having them leave with a smile. Szilvia is excited to relocate to North Vancouver and be a part of the Denise Elliott Beauty Co.
Melissa
Senior Hair Stylist & Colourist (In Studio Team)
With over 8 years experience in the hair industry & a licensed hairstylist, Melissa started her career in Ireland before bringing her expertise to Canada. She specializes in hair styling & making people feel great – her top priority! She has a passion for colour, particularly blonding services. She is excited to elevate her career at Denise Elliott Beauty Co. and looks forward to welcoming new clients!
Aafreen Gill
Senior Hair Stylist & Colourist (In Studio Team)
Aafreen has been in the beauty industry for 6+ years. She went to John Casablancas Institute for hair styling where she graduated with distinction and fell in love with styling hair. Aafreen believes that well styled hair can bring every cut and colour service to life! She has gathered her skills as a stylist working at various blow dry bars and as a freelance artist at weddings. She is an expert in taming and styling all hair types whether it be thick, coarse and coily or fine and flat. She is a blowout expert, and her blow dry skills are second to none.
She is excited to bring her skillset to Denise Elliott Beauty Co. and can’t wait to make all your hair dreams come true!
Chelsea
Intermediate Hair Stylist & Colourist (In Studio Team)
Chelsea started her hairdressing career right after high-school in 2005. She went to London School of hairdressing and worked in a few salons along the way. She came to Denise Elliott beauty co just after opening back in 2017, worked with Denise until she wanted to spend some extra time with her newborn son but now she is back and excited for the busy spring/summer season!
Andrea
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Andrea was born and raised in Lima, Peru and moved to Vancouver 10 years ago to pursue her dream career. She has been inspired by makeup art and beauty for as long as she can remember. After working in different fields including fashion she decided to start a career in makeup artistry to follow her true passion. She’s a graduate from the renowned John Casablanca’s Institute of Applied Arts where she’s now an Instructor for their Makeup department. Her skills range from Bridal, Fashion, Runway, Photography, Commercial, Avant-garde to Hairstyling, Special Fx and Sculpting. Andrea has expanded her experience working in bridal and has worked with MAC Cosmetics and the Charlotte Tilbury team in Canada helping her to always be on top of trends and mastering divers looks for every skin tone and face shape.
Emma Rasmussen
Hair Stylist
Having ignited her passion for the hairstylist industry almost 17 years ago, Emma started her career in Queensland, Australia, and she has since always had the desire to expand and share her knowledge in this artistically creative and ever-evolving industry.
Christina Robson
Hair Stylist
Christina has had a passion for the beauty industry since her high school days. She was lucky to be able to take a hair styling program throughout grade 10 to grade 12, which Christina graduated on the honour role. From there she went to John Casablanca’s and that lead to her license from Beauty Council of Western Canada. After she got her license she immediately started a 2 year stay at Suki’s where she both worked and studied. Through her education she became aware that her main focus would be on hair styling, her true passion. Along with following the latest styles and trends in the industry, her work has been featured in magazines showcasing her skill and devotion to the art.
Jessica
Makeup Artist
Jessica has always had a deep love for make-up. Even as a young girl, getting dressed up for dance competitions and shows, playing with all the make-up was just as exciting as the performance itself! Now, an accomplished and diverse make-up artist, she has successfully managed to turn that excitement and love into an incredible career spanning more than 10 years in roles such as Make-up Artist and Business Manager working with top brands such as Chanel and Christian Dior both in Vancouver and Internationally. A graduate of Blanche MacDonald Centre in Vancouver, BC in 2007, Jessica has utilized her education and training to grow into a Freelance Artist. She has had the privilege of meeting and working with many fantastic people and has been a part of so many wonderful bridal parties locally and abroad. She truly loves helping women of all backgrounds look and feel their very best by bringing out their natural beauty.
Maddy
Makeup Artist
Maddy is a Vancouver based makeup artist with over 4 years experience. After graduating Blanche Macdonald, she started working in television and film in the special fx department but quickly fell in love with the connections she builds through beauty and bridal makeup. She is passionate about all things makeup and finds pleasure in bringing joy to people faces everyday. She loves being able to make people feel the best about themselves as they can.
Molly
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
With 20yrs experience as a makeup artist, Molly has worked in most fields of the makeup industry and continues to pursue all types of makeup on the journey of following her passion. A graduate of John Casablancas in 2001, some most notable jobs included working for MAC Selfridges in London U.K., makeup assist for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic opening & closing ceremonies, and 10yrs working for Global TV. Another passion and mainstay in her freelance career has always been makeup & Hair for brides, bridal parties, and glamorous events alike. Helping people look and feel their most beautiful is what she loves to do!!
Farrah
Makeup Artist
Shauna
Makeup Artist
Shauna is a makeup artist at Denise Elliott Beauty and passionate about using her skills to enhance the natural beauty of all clients that attend the salon whether it’s a natural finish or a full glam look!
She trained in the beauty industry back in her home country Ireland in 2019 and has done lots of freelance work since for weddings and events as well as having worked in a beauty salon in Ireland too.
Dwija
Hair & Makeup Artist
She is diligent, punctual and has a very amicable personality that bodes well with her confidence in her skills and providing an amazing experience to her clients. She is well-versed with in-trend hairstyles and is an expert on skin tones and makeup applications.
She goes an extra mile to exceed her client’s expectations and ensures the overall experience is delightful and stress-free. She duly ensures a clean and sanitized work environment for her clients.
Charlene
Makeup Artist
Bio coming soon.
Maneet
Hair & Makeup Artist
Sarwat
Hair & Makeup Artist
After graduating from Blanche Macdonald in 2021, she worked on photoshoots, fashion shows and weddings. Her focus in makeup is achieving flawless skin by using minimal products. She always tries to achieve a makeup look that enhances the beauty of facial features without masking them. She listens attentively to client’s needs and always puts a smile on their faces.
Daniella
Makeup Artist
Daniella is a certified makeup artist that specializes in soft glam that enhances your features. She is proud to offer a calm and relaxing space for each client. From dramatic to natural and fashion to bridal, she uses only high-end quality products that will last all day and look flawless in photos. She graduated from Blanche Macdonald and continues to educate myself and learn from the best in the industry. She is dedicated to ensure each client looks and feels their best while enhancing their beauty.
Hailey Besse
Makeup Artist
Hailey is a Blanche Macdonald Graduate. Her passion for makeup started at a young age, when her mom took me to an in-store beauty counter to have her makeup done properly for the very first time. She completely fell in love with the process and techniques of makeup, and have been passionate about it ever since!
She loves being a part of helping someone feel beautiful and confident in their own skin, whether that’s a natural look or a full glam; she loves to do it all! Her goal is to make you feel like she has helped to enhance your beauty, not cover it up.
Celina
Makeup Artist
Arina
Hair & Makeup Artist
Arina is a professional hairstylist and makeup artist with over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry. She specializes in hairstyling, haircuts, color services, and bridal hair and makeup. Arina previously worked with Sephora for two years, where she strengthened her expertise in makeup artistry and client care.
She is passionate about continuing education and updates her skills every year by attending advanced beauty trainings in Dubai and Turkey. Arina also received her professional diploma from Blanche Macdonald Centre and completed advanced haircutting training with Suki’s.
Her goal is to create beautiful, personalized looks while making every client feel confident and cared for.
Valeriia
Hair Stylist
With over 18 years of experience in the beauty industry, she specializes in bridal hairstyling, modern colour techniques, and keratin bond hair extensions. Her work includes styling for large weddings, destination events, photoshoots, and creative projects.
She has also prepared athletes for fitness bikini competitions, participated in hairstyling competitions in Ukraine, and worked on editorial shoots.
She enjoys creating elegant bridal styles, beautiful blondes, dimensional colour, and seamless hair extensions that enhance each client’s natural beauty while maintaining healthy hair.
Aso - Photo Coming Soon
Makeup Artist
Aso Kamangar started her career as a makeup artist over 10 years ago and has built extensive experience in the beauty industry. She began her professional journey in Tehran, where she worked as a makeup artist, brow artist, and later became a team leader. Aso also worked as a makeup artist at Sephora, specializing in personalized beauty consultations, product expertise, and creating looks tailored to each client’s features and style. In addition, she has served as the Lead Makeup Artist for Miss Vancouver, bringing her creativity and professionalism to the pageant stage. Aso is passionate about enhancing natural beauty, building confidence in her clients, and staying up to date with the latest trends and techniques in the beauty industry.