It’s always a little weird to describe yourself, I mean… where to even start? I like to think that I can’t be described, only explored – but I will try my best to give you a little glimpse of me.
So, who is Nina Yaminah? I’m Norwegian-born and raised but with Iranian roots. A Baluch from Iran, to be exact – an Iranic people who are indigenous to the land, but face oppression by the Iranian government because they are both an ethnic and religious minority. Ever since I was a child, my dad took me along to attend protests fighting for the ongoing injustice towards ethnic minorities in Iran – I understood from very early on that living in Norway comes with privileges. An interest in social injustice sparked, and I could be seen at protests against the Israeli occupation of Palestine as a 16-year-old on my own initiative. I spent 6 years being active in the youth organization Agenda X, which is the youth department of the Antiracism Center in Oslo. I feel like the way I could help the world become a better place is to amplify the voices of the people who are oppressed, which is why I’m studying journalism today.
I guess you could say I’m a bit more adventurous than the average person, I’ve been a curious soul for as long as I can remember. Oddly enough, I find it really exciting to meet random people and listen to their stories. If a stranger stopped me on the street, I’d probably stop and listen to what they had to say. I am always looking for new knowledge and learning new cultures, while also sharing what I’m familiar with to the world. I enjoy traveling, and some places have even turned into home.
I have an above-average interest in music, and if my life were a movie, I would have the perfect background music ready for any scenario possible. I can’t think of a moment where I’m not listening to music – I need it to wake up in the morning, I need it when I’m showering, I need it when I’m getting ready, I need it when I’m cooking, I need it while I’m cleaning and I even need it to fall asleep at night. Like Jodeci sings “I can’t leave you alone, you got me feenin’”. R&B will forever have my heart, it will always be my baby. My most-played artist of all time on Spotify is Vybz Kartel, which is a clear indicator that “dancehall ah mi everything”. But there is nothing that can lift your spirit up more than soca music, it’s the sound of happiness! Hey, I don’t make the rules…
My one true love in life has to be makeup (have to give food an honorable mention, as eating is probably my hobby). There is nothing that excites me more in the entire world than makeup to the point that I could live, eat & breathe it. I am always on the lookout for new releases and new formulas, just being up to date with everything that is on the market. It all started when my childhood friend did my makeup when I was 15, who would’ve thought that a winged eyeliner could make such a big difference to one’s self-esteem, I had never felt so beautiful before. Ever since that moment I was determined that I wanted to be a make-up artist – I wanted to make others feel the same way I did. Fast forward 16 years, and I am now a trained cosmetologist who has been working as a freelance MUA, 9 of those years were spent in beauty retail where I got to explore and expand my knowledge in anything related to beauty, cosmetics, skincare and perfumes.
And here it goes. In typical Nina-fashion I managed to say a lot about myself, without letting you get to know me at all. I guess you’d have to explore me after all.