As well as her modelling career, Menh Chanvanda aka Romdoul Lich Tek, uses her spare time to design costumes and hairstyles using local plants, flowers, herbs, animals, food, wild fruit, waste and traditional tools.
Menh Chanvanda's hobby of creating outfits and headdresses from natural materials has made her famous. Her work was featured on Asia's Next Top Model and in the Vietnamese media a few years ago.
This fashion designer, make-up artist and hairdresser has also put her talent and creativity at the service of good causes, from raising awareness of environmental protection to raising funds for charity schools.
Originally from Kampong Speu province, Chanvanda, also known as Romdoul Lich Tek, has worked hard to realise her dreams in the fashion and beauty industry.
Self-taught, Chanvanda then trained with professionals until she was able to perfect her make-up and hairstyling skills.
“I learned how to do make-up on YouTube and gained experience working for professional artists. I was able to learn certain techniques from them. In 2006, I took part in a hairdressing competition at the Chenla cultural theatre in Phnom Penh. I beat 300 competitors and won first place”, says the 35-year-old.
“In 2010, I took part in the Thai Fashion Expo at the Paragon Shopping Mall in Bangkok. I won first place in make-up and second place in nail art. These are just a few of the milestones on my journey that have brought me here today as a recognised make-up artist.”
Chanvanda has been the favourite make-up artist and hairdresser for leading Cambodian artists such as Meas Soksophea and Aok Sokunkanha. She was also chosen to be the special make-up artist for Miss Global 2017 and beauty mentor for Miss Planet International 2019.
In addition to her busy career helping celebrities shine, Chanvanda uses her spare time to design costumes and headdresses using local plants, flowers, herbs, animals, food, wild fruit, waste and traditional tools.
Her first creations to attract the attention of the public and the fashion community were a hat made from 100 riel notes and a dress made from banana leaves. She usually presents her creations herself on social media.
“Most of the time, I don't have a plan or concept for my creations. The idea simply comes to me and I start to create it spontaneously. Whether it's everyday objects or things I see along the way, if something catches my eye, it inspires me.”
“I spend about an hour doing the make-up, then several hours putting on the strange costume and headdress. Then I use my phone to take a few photos and share them on social media. That's it,” explains Chanvanda.
With over 111,000 followers on Facebook, Chanvanda sometimes receives prejudiced comments, but that doesn't stop her from doing what she loves.
“I don't mind hearing criticism about my crazy costumes and style. I never really get angry when people talk about me in a negative way. I also think what I do is crazy stuff, but it's about fashion, humour and a message about where the materials used in my designs come from,” she says.
“I don't know if I'm the first or the last to use elements of nature for fashion costumes and hairstyles. What I am sure of is that I love doing it and am doing my best to promote fashion in Cambodia.”
Her popularity is not without its challenges, as she has made it clear that her costumes must be part of Cambodian culture and identity:
“It's quite a challenge for me, because I've been strict in choosing only local materials. As I receive many requests to design costumes for major events and music videos, my options for sourcing materials are narrowing. Most of the design materials I use are local products or raw materials from Mother Nature. I hope that the Cambodian people will be very supportive of local fashion. For example, I prefer to use roses that are grown in Cambodia, whereas almost all the markets here only sell roses imported from neighbouring countries. Not just roses, all the flowers I use have to be local,” she says.
Her fame as a stylist, make-up artist and hairdresser having improved her life, Chanvanda, who comes from a poor family, devotes part of her free time to attending various provincial charity concerts and raising funds for children who do not attend school.
“When I saw the very poor primary schools in the Sambor district of Kratie province, I was so shocked. It was so touching to see the children in a terrible school. To help, I bring money and books to the children”, she says.
”Even though I'm not rich and I still lack the means, my heart aches when I see Cambodian children in this state. I believe I can help them with the support of my fans and the public.”
Find out more about Chanvanda on its Facebook page (@Romdoullichtek).
With our partner The Phnom Penh Post
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