We are very excited to have Lina Hanson, celebrity makeup artist and a well-known blogger as a judge on our Beauty contest panel. We wanted to use this occasion to ask Lina few questions you might be interested to know about:

1. How did you get started in the beauty business?
I started out assisting celebrity makeup artist Jeanine Lobell (creator of Stila Cosmetics) and she trained me to become a makeup artist.

2. With such a successful career as a celebrity makeup artist, what inspired you to start a beauty blog?
I found that while there are many great beauty blogs on the Internet, none were giving tips on makeup techniques, new trends, etc., from an actual working makeup artist.

3. I know your schedule must be grueling, so how do you find time to blog on a consistent basis?
I just make it all work. Writing the blog takes a lot of time, but it's also really rewarding. I often get encouraging emails from loyal readers and their kind words keep my going.

4. What tips for success would you share with aspiring makeup artists and beauty bloggers?
I think to make it as a makeup artist you need to be persistent. You have to keep working towards your goal every day and not give up. At the beginning, you have to be willing to work with photographers for free in order to build your book. Remember, the relationships you build along the way are very important. It's a business with immense competition, but you can make it if you work hard and stay focused.

5. What is the "IT" item in your makeup bag that you can't live without?
Dior Mascara! No woman should be without a really good mascara, and this one is the only one I really like to use.

Read Lina Hanson's beauty blog for more tips and makeup trends - http://beautyblabber.com/