From real estate to red carpets: How Melissa Gigliotti’s passion for makeup led to a dream career

Calderwood woman Melissa Gigliotti traded a well-paid career in real estate to step into cosmetics, never anticipating that one day it would lead her to doing the makeup of Olivia Newton-John, working at The Logies and being flown to Spain and Portugal for weddings.

It was a trip to Melbourne with her best friend that sparked the career shift 20 years ago, after offering to do her hair and makeup.

“I loved it and got addicted to it and seeing them feel good about themselves made me feel good about myself,” Melissa said.

“I even took to the peroxide and did a set of foils for her. I nearly burnt her hair off,” she said, laughing.

“But it ended up a really nice set of foils that she absolutely loved.

“At that time, I thought, OK, so maybe I need to look into this further.”

Feeling stressed working in real estate, having progressed from strata management to business development, she decided to do a small makeup course in Sydney.

She said the course covered everything from magazines to bridal – and reinforced that makeup was what she should be doing.

“It was one of the best times of my life. It’s when you feel like you’re really where you’re meant to be,” she said.

“After I finished that, I said to my husband, ‘I’ve spent about $4-5000 on makeup and the course’, and he’s like, ‘You’re never going to make that back’.

“I thought, ‘OK, challenge accepted’. I actually made that all back in the year.”

Melissa did makeovers and grew her bridal business by working in a Warrawong salon, booking herself out a year in advance within 12 months.

She said it was her husband who supported her through the transition, including the long hours to establish herself as a freelance makeup artist.

“I was able to forge this amazing career because I had support from my husband, even though he thought I was losing my mind,” she said, laughing.

“It was also important to show my teenage girls that women can strive for anything they put their minds to and having the support from a partner that respects your work as much as theirs.”

After 10 years working in bridal, she sought out her next challenge – entering the TV world.

But it wasn’t easy.

Melissa spent more than two years reaching out to Channel Nine, before spending another 18 months pitching herself to Channel Seven without success.

It wasn’t until a Wollongong stylist she worked with, who was a regular guest on Channel Seven shows, became a reference for her and finally opened the door.

“It wasn’t easy, but I got the job,” she said.

Melissa said it wasn’t long before Channel Nine then came calling, resulting in her now working for Channel Nine, Channel Seven and in her Calderwood salon.

“I have the salon for the ladies of the Illawarra on the weekends and then during the week I’m in the city and I absolutely love it,” she said.

Looking over her career, she said her highlight was looking after Olivia Newton-John.

“She asked for my number and I was so nervous as I grew up watching the movie Grease,” she said.

Aside from that, she also looked forward to The Logie Awards, where she’s styled different personalities for the annual televised TV event.

“We get to come up with some amazing looks and collaborate with the wardrobe department to create their vision,” she said.

“Kylie Gillies is one of the main talents I look after on The Morning Show with Larry Emdur. Kylie is so much fun and the duo combined are absolutely hilarious. So many laughs on set.”

She said other shows included Sunrise, Dancing With The Stars, LEGO Masters with Hamish Blake and Ryan “Brickman” McNaught, Celebrity Big Brother with Sonia Kruger and Farmer Wants a Wife, along with her work also featured in magazines like Vogue Bridal Australia.

With COVID hitting the bridal industry hard, it was a lesson in diversity resulting in her founding a self-funded cosmetics brand focused on “high-quality ingredients that deliver exceptional results at an affordable price”.

“With over 20 years of experience working with women, I’ve thoroughly tested a wide range of products in the market,” she said.

“This extensive research has equipped me with a deep understanding of quality and the preferences of my customers, including which colours resonate most and what type of products enhance your appearance, not mask it.”

Melissa said nude lipstick shades were her favourite, which was the inspiration for starting her first collection of eight lipsticks for the Melissa Gigliotti Cosmetics brand.

She said she began promoting the line, hoping her years building a following through Wollongong and her salon would work.

“I launched on 21 March 2021, after the first COVID, and sold out of all my stock that night. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

Now having grown the range, she said her goals were to continue expanding it and shifting production from Canada to Australia, while her media goals were to one day work on films.

“My mum would be so proud, especially because they are immigrants,” she said.

“Because of their hard work, it gave me an opportunity to create a successful life.

“It has been hard work with all the hours I’ve put in but equally rewarding, because my career has paid off.”

In fact, her advice to others was not to listen to anyone that tells you you’re doing too much.

“If you’re happy doing it and working hard towards your goal, keep going,” she said.

“People have said this to me over the years and to be honest it drove me more. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I listened.”

Visit her website to learn more about Melissa Gigliotti Cosmetics.