Meg Kwan: Reaching goals with sweat

Photos by Levina Sung

By Lilian Goh

Beauty is not skin deep.

Marriage is not necessarily a blessing. Unlike other women, website owner Meg Kwan is not fearful of ageing or being single.

The 28-year-old website owner said that she is optimistic enough to embrace her 30s with a splendid birthday party.

Meg had never anticipated a make-up career. In her 20s, she switched from being a language information science university student to an art director’s assistant to eventually an owner of a web development company.

Finally, her mission stopped with the establishment of a beauty web site, Meg-i.com. She is both the owner and the chief editor.

After graduating from secondary school, Meg initially planned to enter The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

However, acceding to her mother’s opposition, she chose to study Language Information Science at City University of Hong Kong.

“What I like is art and drama,” she said. “What’s the use of Language Information Science? There is no demand for it in Hong Kong.”

At university, she often skipped classes and spent much time on activities organised by the dance society, drama society and rowing team.

Said she: “Like many young people, I don’t like studying, but playing.

“In the craziest period, I danced about four hours per day. I even danced the whole day on weekends,” she said.

Later Meg thought she was not physically strong enough for prolonged exercise, so she began to exercise in gymnasiums.

Though Meg was deprived of the chance to study arts, she thought she could embrace art in daily life.

Thus, Meg decided to participate in stage performances. She was most interested in lighting at first.

However, due to the shortage of backstage staff, she often had to do make-up.

She soon discovered her interest in stage make-up. After graduation, one of Meg’s friends introduced her to work for Edward Lam Dance Theatre. She then was the assistant of Edward Lam, the dramatic artist, in Hong Kong.

She was so eager to improve her knowledge in make-up that she would borrow library cards from friends in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to enter its library.

In 1996, Meg joined a make-up competition sponsored by Yves Saint Laurent, the famous fashion and cosmetics brand.

But on the day of final contest, she sat on a sofa at home wondering whether to go or not.

“I didn’t have the confidence to pass the first round. I just meant to have a trial,” she said.

But, encouraged by her mother, Meg eventually went. After an eight-hour contest, she got the first prize.

“This was a milestone in my life,” said she. “It increased my confidence a lot.”

Later, when Meg joined Yves Saint Laurent’s regional make-up competition, she met many make-up professionals and learned much from them.

Meanwhile, Meg also began to write articles in a women’s magazine, Marie Claire.

“I met the publisher of Marie Claire just by chance at a funeral,” said she.

“That day, I brought a makeup book written by the famous cosmetician Kevyon Aucoin, so she found that I was interested in make-up.”

Continued she: “We had a chat and exchanged telephone numbers. Soon, she called me and asked me to write an article for her magazine.” Her first article was appreciated by the magazine. Not long later, the magazine opened a new section for her.

Success does not come from pure luck.

Meg continually searches for the right career path. While being a columnist, she also started a new business with her friends at the same time. Her company is designed to set up web sites for other institutions and companies.

“I had already planned to spend two years to find my direction after graduation,” said she. “I told myself that I could change jobs freely in this period.”

At the beginning, they did not have much capital and not even an office. Their assets were comprised of a personal computer and a Macintosh.

Said she: “We had to share $200 for a week. But I was not frustrated because the spirit of sports tells me that if your legs are willing to run, you will reach the destination one day.”

In fact, Meg does not stop in one spot.

At the same time, Meg often surfed for relevant information and read newsgroups. Sometimes, she would also respond to people’s questions, too.

Gradually, she had collected a considerable amount of information and decided to set up a beauty web site, Meg-i.com.

The first version only has answers to questions on make-up and her articles, some of which have been uploaded.

But Meg aspires for perfection.

When the number of visitors increased, Meg decided to present a better design and set up a system of membership.

“Some companies wanted to buy the web site,” said she. “But I personally regard it as my hobby rather than a business. I just want to share something with other Internet users.

“I am not really an expert.”

Meg hopes Meg-i.com will become better known, but she admits that she is getting tired of writing articles on make-up.

Asked about her feelings about turning 30, she responded rather easily.

“If I am still single without a boyfriend at that time, I will have a great birthday party,” said she. “I really enjoy being single and I think it is worth celebrating.

“I don’t mind getting older because I always think that people of greater ages are wiser.”