I’m A Guy But I’m Pretty

Being in the spotlight means you have to constantly look good for pictures. CATCH speaks with NOC’s Aiman Haikal to find out if he is just another pretty face

Story by: Hazirah Ismail | Photos by: Aiman Haikal, Night Owl Cinematics

Aiman Haikal, 25, chased his dreams and has stayed true to himself. His tenacity allowed him to place second in a Night Owl Cinematics (NOC) talent competition: kNOCk Out!

HIS JOURNEY WITH NOC

It has not been an easy journey. It first started off when he sent in a “ratchet” interview tape doing nothing else but talking to the camera. He did not expect to be shortlisted. Today, Aiman is in charge of helping create content on NOC’s TikTok account that has gained 15,000 followers in just a few weeks!

MAKE-UP IS NOT TO BOOST CONFIDENCE

Make-up didn’t come naturally for Aiman. In fact, it started off when he was 18 because of his fascination for colours. Back then, he was trying to hide his flaws. However, he could not properly shade match and he would receive awkward expressions from passers-by. As time passed, his fascination grew and he ventured further into working on eyeshadows. 

His purpose of wearing make-up is never to feel confident but to express himself. From his look, you can have an essence of his mood and feelings for that day. Aiman believes that one’s self-esteem is built up from within. “Relying on external sources is superficial,” he said.

As a guy wearing make-up, he often receives criticism. Being born in a conservative family has also hindered him from expressing himself and he would leave the house barefaced. It took some time for his family to be more supportive.

DANCING AS A HOBBY

When Aiman is not on set, he is dancing with his K-POP dance group ‘Double R Squad’. He dances two to three times a week up to four hours per session. “On paper it is only two hours,” he said with a laugh. Aiman sometimes posts his dance covers on his Instagram account.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE

Aiman believes that people should not be too quick to label. “Your image does not encompass who or what you are. No one size fits all,” he said. “I say, life is short, just do whatever you want as long as it is legal and safe.”

Life as a talent is not as glamorous as it is often portrayed. There is a lot of hard work and criticism that many influencers often face. It is important to be confident with who you are and take criticism constructively. 

For make-up fans, he has a tip to share: “If you don’t think your make-up looks pretty, just say it’s a look or it probably just needs more glitter.”

Thanks to Night Owl Cinematics for granting the interview.