Shabana
“Women are the most strong human beings on this earth - many have been through so much pain that no one will know until their stories are heard.”
Shabana's parents both abandoned her when she was just five years old. Her upbringing was lacking in compassion, and she was raised to believe that she was never enough. Shabana was moved from place to place, stranger to stranger, but she was determined to survive. She’s now the owner of the highly-rated STF Mobile Hair Makeup & Beauty Services, which she also operates. Through her business she is committed to helping other women feel their best. She is a truly a self-made woman and though she’s seen it all, she's come out on top. Shabana is a successful businesswoman who has learned to believe in herself first. She is a person who navigates life with empathy, learns by listening, and recognises the importance of sharing our stories. Meet Shabana. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
S: I am Shabana Flaherty. I am a self-employed Makeup Artist and Beauty Therapist. I’m the founder and owner of STF Mobile Hair Makeup & Beauty Services. I have a home-based studio. My service is only for women. I enjoy seeing a smile on their face when I enhance their beauty. I still have long way to go as I would love to have pass on my knowledge to someone in need!
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
S: I was born in Fiji and came to Australia in 2007. I have seen it all when it comes to life and hardship and that’s why I have become what I am today.
Growing up was not easy when you have no one to love and care for. That’s when I started learning from people and their behaviours. I have learned not to give up when you fall and not to be sad if something bad happens to you because sometimes good is on the way.
I used to be ashamed of being less educated but then I realised it wasn’t me it was the situation that I was in. Now I have a Diploma in Beauty Therapy and certificates in other parts of my work that I have been doing for last 20 plus years. Achieving all of this made me realise that I am a very practical person, rather than someone who learns through theory. I’m thankful for the technology that helped me in my theory work. Now I let my work speak for me by having people write a review of me and my work. I have learned that I can multitask to do anything if I put my mind and soul into it. I love helping woman in need but hate those who take advantage of my kindness.
I have worked in many fields before becoming a Makeup Artist and Beauty Therapist. I was 19 years old when I stoped working for other companies and became self-employed. One of my biggest lessons from life is that nothing is free in this world. I have done many volunteer work that I don’t keep records of. I like moving forward not looking back on what I have done in the past. I learn from my mistakes and never make that same mistake again. Life experience has taught me so much that today I try to help for those in need.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
S: My favourite thing about myself is that I like chatting with people around the world and I self educate myself in many ways, and at the same time I teach what I know the best. I have come to know that education is not something that you only receive in schools. It’s also from people you talk to.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
S: I was 5 years old when my parents went their own ways - they didn’t care about me. My mother hates me and went many ways to try to destroy me. When I think about it I don’t really know how I became this strong. I just kept fighting, but I didn’t know how far I would go. I lived with strangers who were not family, and then when I came to live with family I was not treated as family. I left those family to be on my own and that’s when I got to see life outside the world and learned every step by experiencing it. I made my rules to discipline myself.
Remember what goes up will come down and what’s down will go up. The most important thing here is to be kind to others, and be true yourself and don’t fake it to get it because that will not last. We need food, shelter and clothing to live…the rest is wants.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
S: Always trust your inner self and don’t go for anything that looks too good to be true.
Don’t try to have what others have. Have what you can achieve because it’s yours. You know the value of your hard work and the process of getting to your achievements.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
S: Being a women means understanding all the women around the world. You never know what they have gone through so please don’t judge them. Women are the most strong human beings on this earth - many went through so much pain that no one will know until their stories are heard.
Every woman is born with one talent.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to them if they were here now?
S: This to me is a tricky question but I would say my grandmother who cared for and loved me. Sadly she couldn’t look after me but I have seen how she went with life. Even when we were far away from each other we were closer in hearts. Even in her dementia she could still remember me.