Beautyprenuer Phoina Wambui is known for her love for lavish parties as well as her dramatic make-up transformations. But behind all the glitz and glamour, lies a social media influencer whose actions have sparked debate and divided public opinion. Wambui, popularly Phoina Tosha, was born and raised in Thika town to a single mother.
"I'm the only child of my mother. I come from a humble background. For a long time, it has been me and mum and that's why we are so close," she told The Nairobian.
Phoina attended St Michael's primary and high schools in Thika and later came to Nairobi where she studied mass communication.
"I had a short stint in a community radio station located in Kibera but that didn't last long. I started working for a car tracking company for a few months. That's when I decided to venture into the makeup business. During work breaks, I would go on YouTube to learn new tricks to improve my craft and I started freelancing as a makeup artist," she added.
She worked for 10 years then she decided to launch her makeup line, Phoina Beauty, and a beauty academy.
"I have always been passionate about makeup, and after understanding what the market needed, I felt like there was a gap especially when it comes to lipstick shades. I decided to create shades that I love and use them on my clients and the response was encouraging. That's when I realized I needed to invest in products that are Kenyan-owned and pocket-friendly. At the school, we offer courses on wig making and maintenance, makeup, nail technology, and hairdressing."