From rags to beauty

From a mere assistant makeup artist, Jude Gabato can already be considered a brand when it comes to hair and beauty makeover.

Jude “Judie” Gabato, who was forced to work at a young age, started as an assistant makeup artist - which, she said, had honed her skills and talent on the art.

But before that, Judie said she was already enterprising  since she was eight, selling almost anything she could lay her hands on just so she could support her education and provide for her family. She was already the sole breadwinner at 14, even sacrificed her own education so her younger siblings could go to school.

With hardwork and perseverant, things slowly went north for her. Her job as an assistant makeup artist – which made her close to people , her clients who later became her friends, had paved the way to open up better opportunities for her.

Judie said she believes it was her friendly and professional approach that made her dear to her clients. From there, she invested on expensive makeup to better her craft.

With more and more people wanting to get the Judie Gabato touch, in June last year she opened the first Jude Gabato Salon at Upper Don Bosco, Apas in Cebu IT Park.

And just months after she opened that shop, she was already thinking of expanding the business by opening another branch due to the increasing demand. Last month, Judie opened her second shop in Englis V. Rama Avenue.

“This could prove that hardwork, dedication and self-perseverance can take you anywhere in the world, literally,” she said.