About
Navin Ahmed is a Dhaka‑based makeup artist turned entrepreneur whose brushstrokes have colored everything from high‑fashion editorials to bridal mornings. She founded Gala Makeover Studio & Salon in 2011 and later co‑created the family‑friendly bistro O’Play, expanding her footprint beyond beauty into hospitality. In 2024 she stepped into the national spotlight as one of the “sharks” on Shark Tank Bangladesh, where she backs promising Bangladeshi start‑ups with both cash and candor.
Before Fame
Art, rather than commerce, was Navin’s first love. After earning a diploma in Cosmetic Techniques and Management overseas, she returned home in 2011 armed with little more than a toolkit and a vision: raise local makeup standards to global levels. Working from a single chair in her mother’s living room, she spent long nights practicing flawless, “non‑cakey” finishes on friends before taking the leap to open Gala. Her early clientele arrived by word of mouth; social media, still in its infancy in Bangladesh, amplified those glowing reviews and helped her transform into one of the country’s most sought‑after artists.
Trivia
- Signature style: Navin champions “natural glamour”—skin that looks like skin, only better—and swears hydrating mists are the unsung heroes of any kit.
- Bridal creed: She calls classic red “the forever color,” insisting nothing flatters a South Asian bride quite like a true crimson lip.
- Time‑management hack: Every night she drafts a to‑do list for the next day so the morning starts on rails instead of in chaos.
- Hidden talent: Away from the makeup chair she sketches interior concepts—skills that surfaced when designing O’Play’s Instagram‑mable neon‑and‑floral décor.
Family Life
Navin describes herself first as a “super‑mom” to Kiyaan and Avisa and only then as an entrepreneur. Her support system is intentionally multi‑generational: her mother and mother‑in‑law are formal business partners at Gala, allowing her to toggle between client consultations and school‑run duty without guilt. She often reminds protégés that perfection can wait—but children grow fast—so she schedules peak work around family breakfasts and bedtime stories.
Associated With
- On screen: Navin shares the Shark Tank panel with investors such as Sami Ahmed, Ahmed Ali Leon, and Nazim Farhan Chowdhury, trading light‑hearted banter for serious equity deals.
- On set: Celebrity clients range from pop star Nusraat Faria, whose recent natural‑glam bridal campaign went viral, to fashion houses like Zurhem that rely on her backstage calm.
- In business: O’Play was co‑founded with fellow mothers Samira Mussabbir, Azrin Alom, and Sausan Khan Moyeen, each bringing a distinct skill set—from accounting to event design—to the table.
- In mentorship: Many of Gala’s senior artists are former interns who stayed; Navin prefers nurturing homegrown talent to hiring already‑polished names, reinforcing her belief that Bangladeshi creatives can thrive globally with the right push.
