Sonia Mwathi, the founder of Malkia Africa, embarked on her journey in August 2011, when a spark of inspiration and determination led her to transition from a potential career in communication to the world of makeup. To build her confidence and gain experience, she began by working with fashion photographers and specializing in bridal makeup for just over a year. This invaluable experience opened the door to her next opportunity—working as the head makeup artist for a television network in her home country, Kenya.

As Sonia’s career progressed, she decided to combine her expertise with her passion for teaching others about makeup. This passion culminated in her writing her first book, The Cabin Crew Makeup Guide, specifically created for flight attendants. She followed this with her second book, The Flight Attendant Student Makeup Guide, designed to be used as a curriculum for aviation colleges, guiding students pursuing careers as cabin crew.

Through her company, Malkia Africa, Sonia’s mission is to train individuals from diverse industries using her makeup guidebooks and upcoming online courses. She is a certified makeup artist from the International Association of Professions Career College and a member of the IAPO International Association of Professional Makeup Artists.