Our very own Karen Betts (Permanent Cosmetics Artist, Educator and Director of Nouveau Contour) flew to Moscow, Russia this morning to present at the ultra-prestigious event – VIII International Conference on Permanent Make-up, on a subject very close to her heart…
Promoting medical-related charity work, using Permanent Cosmetics for the benefit of others.
The scope of Karen’s involvement with charities in the UK is perhaps little known. She juggles her busy life running Nouveau Contour with being one of the UK’s most prominent trainers and practicing Permanent Cosmetics and Medical Tattooing Artists (BUPA-registered). Karen works in a number of hospitals alongside NHS and private medical staff to offer treatments to cancer patients on the road to recovery. This has led to Karen consulting to many professional and charitable bodies such as The Haven, Breast Friends, Alopecia Society and since 2012 The Katie Piper Foundation.
Karen explains, “I feel privileged everyday that I have a skill that can help rebuild so many people’s confidence and nothing I have achieved beats the look on a clients face when I have restored a feature that they have lost through illness or an accident.” Karen actually uses income from her businesses, to finance her charity work.
So when Karen was invited to speak at the conference in Moscow, she booked her tickets, applied for a visa and jumped on a flight shortly after Professional Beauty with the intension to inspire successful Permanent Cosmetic Artists from across the World to do the same, “giving something back” as she put it. Karen is a key speaker, presenting two workshops: First, she ‘s promoting involvement in medical-related charity work, using permanent cosmetics for the benefit of others. This is to be followed by a demonstration workshop, showing delegates how to improve the appearance of cleft-lips, giving confidence to people who have lacked it most of their lives.
Over 150 delegates have applied to attend Karen’s workshops. “If only one of those delegates decides to undertake charity work like I have, then the number of people that it could benefit, could run into the hundreds. And that would make the frantic trip worth while for me” said Karen.