Tara Fela-Durotoye is a Nigerian makeup artist, lawyer and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of House of Tara International and also the creator of the Tara Orekelewa Beauty range, Inspired Perfume and the H.I.P Beauty range.
Background│Family
Tara Fela-Durotoye was born on the 6th of March 1977 at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos to the polygamous family of John Ejegi Sagay and Felicia Omaghomi. At the time of her birth, her father was the commissioner at the Federal Civil Service, Nigeria. However her parents separated when she was only 8 months, thankfully she had step mothers who stepped in to fill the gap her mother’s absence had created. She was raised by her step mother- Modupe Agnes Sagay.
She had her primary school education at Command Children School, Victoria Island and went on to Nigeria Navy Secondary School, Ojo for her secondary school education. For her university education she went to Lagos State University and graduated with a degree in Law.
Tara Fela-Durotoye is married to Fela Durotoye who us a business strategist, corporate activator and CEO of Visible Impact. Together they have three sons- Mobolurin, Demilade and Morolaoluwa.
Tara’s family
Rise to Prominence
Although Tara had already started working on make-up she only fully established her company- House of Tara International after graduating from the university.
Today the company has grown to become one of the most trusted and also expensive make-up brands in Nigeria with three major lines- the Make-up Studio, the Makeup School and the Tara product line which consists of beauty products and professional make-up kits.
Tara is indeed one who is not afraid to try new waters. This innovative and daring part of her person has pushed her to have pioneered almost every traditional act in the make-up industry today. She launched the first bridal directory in Nigeria in 1999. She facilitated the first series of bridal seminars in 2000 which had in attendance Nigeria’s recognized professionals in the bridal industry. She started the first make-up school in Nigeria in 2004. She also organized the Makeup in Nigeria Conference which was the first ever congregation of makeup professionals in Nigeria.
She also launched the Tara product line in 2004. The company today has stretched out to other West African countries like Benin, Ghana and Senegal.
Tara has risen to even global recognition. She was nominated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and was also named one of Forbes ’20 Young Power African Women’ in 2013. She has been featured on several international platforms like New York Forum Africa (NYFA), France 24, Africa 24 by Reuters, Bloomberg and on CNN.
Read Also: Folorunsho Alakija
Accolades
- Best Makeup Artist from Fashion and Style Magazine
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year from Lagos Enterprise Award.
- Entrepreneur of the year from The Future Awards
- 1st lady Award for Women empowerment.
- Pioneer Award for Beauty 2006 from Fashion and Style Award.
Under her tutelage her company- House of Tara International has also bagged some awards which include:
- Right Vision Movement Award Creativity & Productivity Make over Outlet of the year 2006.
- The Africa SMME Award presented in South Africa and the Entrepreneur of the Year award.2007
- Creative business award of the year, success digest 2008
