Emirati student excels in creating special effects' tricks

An Emirati young student managed to excel in using make-up she already has in her cosmetics bag to create gruesome and realistic injuries on her body. The 19-years-old young girl, Farah Fakih, from Dubai, inspired by her love of gory films and started experiment with bronzer, blusher and smoky eye shadows in her bedroom at her parents' home.

Her transformation from a pretty teenager into a freaky zombie, using just simple wash-bag items, has meant Farah - a budding geneticist and university student - is now considering a career in special effects.

"I started teaching myself a year ago after watching lots of horror films," Farah said. "I love gruesome movies, but always thought, 'I wonder how they did that.' So, after looking at tutorials on YouTube, I just dug around in my make-up bag and had a go."

The first 'wound' she inflicted on herself, a gash on her arm, was shared by a friend on Twitter and met with shock from others.
"People were saying, 'Oh wow that's amazing,' and some even thought it was real. I couldn't believe it was the first time I'd tried it and it was so realistic," Farah explained.
 
"But I didn't have access to many special effects products, the professional stuff, because they didn't seem to sell them around Dubai and it's really expensive, so I just used the ordinary beauty counter make-up I already had."
 
For bruising, Farah started using the blusher and eye shadows she applied for parties - applying foundation in a way which enabled her to merge the wounds. Then, a homemade wax, made from Vaseline, corn flour and foundation, created the illusion of skin.

'The first time I showed my mum and dad, they were really freaked out, asking me why I was doing it, and I answered that I like to be creative. It is an unusual hobby, but I see it as art.'
For a hand with exposed blood and bones, Farah used cotton bud sticks, home-made scar wax and fake blood.

"She also created a man's back, covered in cuts and gashes, using the same items and for the gruesome image of her finger being amputated she used a plastic knife, baby powder to take away the shine and the all-important fake blood.
She costs around £35 a month to maintain her make-up supply for the looks.
"I started posting my pictures on Instagram, and the reaction has been crazy," Farah said.
"People are asking me to do more. They put in special requests, like the gory cuts on my arms, and ask how to replicate what I've done. It's unbelievable really."

She is studying biotechnology at the University of Sharjah, and she would be open to a career diversion into special effects if her Instagram page keeps getting traction.