By Shadine Ménard
Performer Tifane likes to keep people guessing when it comes to her look, but now she’s sharing some of her beauty secrets and feelings on her native Haiti’s state of affairs with SBC.
Perhaps unknown to Americans, but in the Haitian music industry Tifane’s stardom has been rising pretty fast and she’s been showcasing her craft internationally. Her greatest career moments so far: hearing people requesting her first song Se Kom Si on You Tube, and on radio stations in Haiti and “seeing huge billboards of my pictures in Nis, Serbia. My band and I brought Haitian music (and) Creole to a people who never heard it before.” To make sure her skin is at its best when it’s time showtime, the singer preps her face with masks and aloe during the day.
“Because of all the photo shoots, TV appearances and such my face … I deal with few brake outs. My biggest secret is aloe. My other secrets are diluted lavender oil and tea tree oil. Just two drops on a wet cotton ball, apply, do not rinse,” says the singing sensation.
Known for her ever-changing looks, she shares that her mood is her only inspiration: “It depends on how I feel; exotic or playful, wise, sexy, or free just as long as it’s natural. I’ve been cutting my hair shorter and shorter. I realized it never really had much to do with how pretty I can be. It’s really just hair. I must say: the shorter the hair the more men compliment me, women think I’m bold. I just think natural hair means you are confident in your beauty with your own hair.”
Tifane to wear a minimal amount of makeup when moving onstage and some days goes without any because “It’s good to give your face a break. I don’t want to look old sooner than I should (lol).” No surprise then that natural make-up is her favorite beauty trend: “I really love the natural look, it’s my favorite. Light pink or champagne lip gloss just enhances my lips and keeps it simple.” Occasionally, the chameleon brings it up a notch with “a little black in the corner of my eyes. I find that eye makeup changes your face from boring to Wow!”
The January release and promotion of her new single was cancelled due to the devasting earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, therefore her next appearances will be in Florida, New York and Martinique for several festivals.
“I was at a grocery store [in the U.S when I heard about the earthquake]. I’ve never felt so much pain, it hurt physically to hear about it.”
“The current state of the country doesn’t have (anything) to do with my decision to leave. I still live in Haiti (a Pétion-Ville resident), it’s just that my career is taking me to many other countries (and) I had already made plans to leave Haiti by September to go back to school.”
Regardless of where her studies and career might lead her, Haiti has not shifted from Tifane’s priorities. Her foundation Kalm, sponsored by Voilà, is focused on educating Haiti’s youth to think green and in the aftermath of the earthquake she has collected medical supplies, performed at relief concerts, promoted Shelter Box and is currently working on bringing comfortable container homes and a school by Idekit from Canada to Haiti to build new cities because “we can’t expect people to live in tents.”
Just as with her knack of trying different looks, it seems that this young lady can go from entertainer to student to humanitarian and concerned citizen.
“I’m staying optimistic, but I’m worried all the time. Who’s really leading us? I also think about what’s going to happen when all those young Haitians who left never come back to help rebuild. I’m not losing faith in my good people though many of us are still working for the good change.” ~Tifane
Tifane shines brightly because her sincere sentiments and willingness allow her actions to work for her. For more information click here >Tifane on her Facebook Fan Page.
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Some of Tifane’s Music:
2007: Bèl Moun
2007: Singing Bob Marley’s Waiting in Vain, live from Nis, Serbia at the Nisville Jazz Festival:
2007: Rhum Barbancourt commercial with BelO and Michael Benjamin
2008: Sekrè a
2008: Singing Se Kom Si, live at Francofolies de Montreal
2008: Singing Tracy Chapman’s Sorry, live at Ayiti Deploge in Haiti
