How Momoi Supe built his beauty brands around confidence and self-expression

In the local beauty industry, if there is one name synonymous with “kilay is life” and impeccably groomed brows, it is Momoi Supe. Hailing from Koronadal, South Cotabato, Momoi built a name as one of the country’s pioneering master brow artists and among the early advocates of permanent eyebrow makeup in the Philippines. For younger beauty enthusiasts, however, he may be more recognizable as the CEO behind cult-favorite beauty labels Strokes Beauty and Strokes Eye Beauty Studio. But beyond the polished image, celebrity clientele, and thriving beauty brands lies a story shaped by reinvention, resilience, and purpose. Love for makeup at a young age Long before he became known as a brow authority, Momoi came to love makeup in high school. “I discovered my knack for makeup in my second year of high school, often spending my breaks and school events styling my classmates,” he tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “Even in my downtime, I was perfecting my technique, mostly by making sure my own eyebrows were always plucked to perfection.” Ironically, beauty was not his first profession. Before fully entering the industry, Momoi spent a decade working as a freelance interior designer. But despite having an established career, he eventually found himself longing for a creative reset. “After a decade as a freelance interior designer, I found myself reaching a point of creative exhaustion,” he shares. “Seeking a fresh perspective, I enrolled in makeup school, a decision that instantly reignited my passion for artistry.” The transition was neither immediate nor glamorous. Momoi spent years refining his craft through pro bono projects and test shoots before eventually forming a bridal makeup team with fellow brow artist and now business partner Keighty Wong. His portfolio later expanded into celebrity male grooming after director Jay Pacena introduced him to rapper Gloc-9, whom he...