A 26-year-old makeup artist from Sierra Leone, Mary Yongai, has made history by breaking a 19-year-old world record for the most cosmetic makeovers in 24 hours by a single artist.
Mary completed an impressive 111 makeovers, surpassing her own goal of 100 and shattering the previous record of 96, set by Indonesia’s Martha Tilaar in 2005.
To meet the rules for this challenge, each makeover had to include concealer, foundation, blush or bronzer, at least two colors of eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick or lip gloss, lip liner, and a finishing powder.
Her record-breaking feat took place in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, where a large crowd, including celebrities and government officials, gathered to cheer her on. Despite the grueling 24-hour period, she only took a single 20-minute break.
Inspired by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci’s cook-a-thon world record, Mary spent weeks practicing at home with her sisters and friends, gradually speeding up her process. She even completed a trial run, achieving 48 makeovers in eight hours, which boosted her confidence for the real attempt.
Mary’s motivation went beyond personal accomplishment. She aimed to inspire others to chase their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem. “Achieving this record is a dream come true,” she said. “As a young girl, proving that what seems impossible is possible, I’m incredibly proud of myself.”