It’s not easy explaining exactly how Daisy Hsiang spends her days. Even Daisy can’t pinpoint the precise focus of her entrepreneurial adventures. She’s a fashion Makeup Artist. She’s a photographer and art director. She’s a writer. She’s a skincare entrepreneur. It all falls within the domain of the brand this Makeup Co-op program graduate created and continues to run, DaisyCode.
“I’m a creative person,” she explains from her home in Taiwan. “I want to create new things. I can’t even tell you what my future plans are. I love trying new things and combining them with Makeup.”
Why limit yourself?
Why limit yourself? That’s the ethos that’s defined the Blanche Macdonald Makeup Co-op graduate’s journey from Taiwan to Vancouver and back again. She’s been featured in Italian Vogue and Marie Claire Taiwan, and already has an agent helping her grow her unique personal brand. Not that Daisy is career-minded. Far from it. For her, it’s all about the creativity.
“I love art,” she continues. “I actually started to study Industrial Management at university in Taiwan, which is when I started playing with makeup for the first time. I wanted to know more about beauty makeup so I took a basic photography and professional makeup class while I was in university. That class made me so happy. I took some design classes at same time, drawing fashion sketches and learning the basics of graphic and interior design. I didn’t understand the purpose of learning design but I loved it! I progressively cultivated my aesthetic at that time. That really helped me when I came to Blanche Macdonald. Everything is connected to everything else!
“That’s how I decided that was what I needed to do with my life! I’m lucky that my parents always support me when I want to do something different. When I told my Mom that I wanted to move and didn’t want to stay in Taiwan, she said, ‘Fine, but you have to move to Vancouver because we had a house there.’ Blanche Macdonald is very famous. It’s the best makeup school in Canada, right? I wanted to learn from the best so I came to Blanche!
“At first it was hard to learn English. Language is about logic, culture and how people live life. So learning languages can help expand the mindset. Understanding a new culture is really helpful when doing creative work. My next goal is Learning French! Everything about the culture and the food seemed so different when I arrived in Vancouver. Although the sushi there is very good!
Jon Hennessey was my instructor for fashion makeup. He’s the best instructor I’ve ever had. When we were in class and I was struggling, he sat me down and said, ‘Daisy, you can do great makeup. I can see it and you can explain it. That’s how you can practice your English’.
“Jon Hennessey was my instructor for fashion makeup. He’s the best instructor I’ve ever had. When we were in class and I was struggling, he sat me down and said, ‘Daisy, you can do great makeup. I can see it and you can explain it. That’s how you can practice your English.”
Daisy came to Blanche Macdonald as a Makeup Co-op program student, meaning that she repeatedly had the opportunity to put everything she was learning in the classroom into action in real world situations.
“I volunteered a lot when I was at Makeup School. Volunteering really helped me to identify what I did and didn’t want. At one point I thought I would focus doing Special Effects for TV and Film. By the time I graduated I was on the different path. It was so good for me to meet other people, work on my portfolio and be inspired. Heather Sosa and Jen Brown in the Career Department always supported the students and did everything they could to help us find jobs we wanted. There are so many places they can connect you where your volunteer work can be used in your portfolio. That helps you get other jobs you want. They know some amazing artists around Vancouver. Heather has helped me a lot over the past few years.”
Daisy has learned to be forgiving when people question her unique journey. She’s the kind of young woman that rarely declines an opportunity. Every step of her adventures in beauty has been inspired by this willingness to open new doors and see where they lead.
“Lifestyle and mindset are the ways to find your own aesthetic. Makeup School can teach you the skills and the Makeup Co-op program can give you a great introduction to work experience in Canada, but you have to spend time studying and exploring your style to make yourself special among the thousands of artists out there.
Heather Sosa and Jen Brown in the Career Department always supported the students and did everything they could to help us find jobs we wanted. There are so many places they can connect you where your volunteer work can be used in your portfolio. That helps you get other jobs you want.
“I really encourage students to volunteer for different kinds of opportunities. Don’t only think about money. You do collaborations to grow your portfolio and build up your connections! I was the first makeup artist represented by LiKuang. They were interested in me as a Makeup co-op program graduate from an internationally recognized Makeup School. One of the project managers of Marie Claire Taiwan worked with my agent in the past. That’s how I made my first connection. The Marie Claire feature led to a shoot for Italian Vogue. That was good but so hard! Vogue wants things that are perfect. That can be stressful but also a lot of fun.”
Shoots with some of the World’s most prestigious magazines would be enough for some Makeup Artists. For Daisy, it’s just the beginning. She’s also found time to launch her own range of skincare products, although DaisyCode’s Flora Facial Mask and Tea Tree Hand Gel are only available in Taiwan at the time of writing (“I created the skin care line for my sensitive skin. I put the skin care knowledge into my products that I learned at Blanche”). Prada invited her to Milan to document her Fashion Week experiences in 2019. She has a book documenting her travels in France pending, and if it weren’t for the Coronavirus crisis, this spring she would have hosted her first art exhibition in Vancouver.
What may seem unconventional at first glance makes perfect sense for Daisy. Every day is a creative adventure and she actively encourages other to follow her example.
“I established DaisyCode Inc. in Canada in 2019. Our first project was to exhibit my journey and my photography at Art Vancouver. Although that was postponed due to COVID-19, we are so ready for it in 2021. We already have a plan to publish a book about travel across France focussing on lifestyle, art, travel and beauty.
“I’m also a Art director for LiKuang. We’re doing some fun photoshoots and building up the LiKuang Online shop.”
What may seem unconventional at first glance makes perfect sense for Daisy. Every day is a creative adventure and she actively encourages other to follow her example.
“I don’t think Makeup Artists should only do makeup,” she insists. “Doing art direction and photography helps me develop my aesthetic, which is more than helpful for creating makeup.
I don’t think Makeup Artists should only do makeup,” she insists. “Doing art direction and photography helps me develop my aesthetic, which is more than helpful for creating makeup.
“I put a lot of effort into achieve my goals. The meaning of life is the stuff we can’t really touch. Things like love and family. I don’t work hard because I want to have power, money or to be influencer. I put the effort in for freedom. Freedom lets you live the life you want to have. So keep going and pursue your dreams!”
