It begins with a gentle breeze sweeping across Yokohama Beach, where a young woman stands in a delicate white lace dress, the light catching the golden hues of her skin. She adjusts her makeup—a skill she’s honed to perfection over countless hours of practice—while a photographer snaps test shots. In that moment, April Fagaragan isn’t just a makeup artist; she is the art itself.
The transition from makeup artist to model was not one April sought deliberately. It was her artistry that spoke first, drawing the attention of a friend and photographer, William Blane, whose encouragement pushed her to step into the spotlight. “I never thought of myself as someone for the limelight,” April recalls. But with each shutter click, the story began to write itself.
From Dreaming to Doing
April’s journey is rooted in a childhood filled with imagination and play. Growing up, she and her younger brother would transform their living room into a makeshift runway. April, draped in old clothes, would pretend she was one of the women gracing the pages of glossy fashion magazines. Her mother, recognizing this spark early, enrolled her in modeling school at 13, where she learned the basics of skincare, makeup, and poise.
While many of her peers might have treated those lessons as fleeting hobbies, April treated them as seeds. Inspired by makeup gurus like Michelle Phan and Dulce Candy, she became self-taught, using YouTube as her classroom and her creativity as her compass. By 2018, her craft had become a language she could share with the world.
“I was submitting my artwork to magazines and putting myself out there,” she says. “It wasn’t just about me—it was about creating and connecting.”
Redefining Beauty
At the heart of April’s career is her drive to make beauty and fashion more inclusive. “I want to see greater diversity—different body types, ethnicities, ages, abilities, and gender identities,” she explains. For her, fashion is not about adhering to narrow standards but about celebrating the boundless spectrum of humanity.
Her unique appearance, vibrant aura, and self-taught ingenuity have positioned April as both a muse and a creator. “I trust the process,” she says, her words carrying the weight of someone who’s faced rejection but kept moving forward. “Even if you fail, at least you tried. One closed door doesn’t mean it’s over.”
The Art of Resilience
April’s work is as much a reflection of her personal experiences as it is an outlet for her emotions. Her children, the moments of joy and pain, and the sheer will to keep going fuel her creativity. “Art is how I process the world,” she says. “Everything I touch turns to gold because I pour my heart into it.”
Collaboration is another cornerstone of her success. For April, it’s about finding others who share her passion and vision, creating something out of nothing, and watching it come to life. A milestone she cherishes deeply is seeing those collaborations published and celebrated globally. “Credits are earned,” she insists. “And sharing that recognition is what makes the work worthwhile.”
Chasing Pure Imagination
As she looks toward the future, April dreams of more collaborations, more art, and more inspiration. “I want to be the art that thrives,” she says. She speaks of her upcoming projects with excitement—a continuation of her journey to turn pure imagination into reality.
Success, for April, isn’t measured in accolades alone but in the ability to bring dreams to life and inspire others to do the same. “It’s about turning lemons into legacy,” she says, her voice steady with conviction.
April Fagaragan’s story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of stepping into the unknown. What started as a passion for makeup has blossomed into a career that redefines what it means to create beauty—and to be beautiful. Through her lens, the world becomes a canvas, and every project, a masterpiece.