“Jobs of the Future” is a series focusing on career paths, local job opportunities, programs, and tales of success that highlight North Bay's diverse job market.
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Kim Bean is a multifaceted talent in the world of film and television, serving as a hairstylist, makeup artist, and entrepreneur. Her extensive portfolio includes work on prominent projects such as Star Trek: Discovery, The Boy in the Woods, Letterkenny, Call Me Mother, and CTV’s drama series Cardinal. She has also contributed to productions for the Hallmark Channel, Netflix, Amazon and major corporate commercial sets for brands like No Frills, Microsoft, SportsNet, and McDonald’s.
In 2009, Bean founded whatsbeanHappening.com, a beauty and lifestyle blog that has since evolved into an e-commerce platform offering haircare, cosmetics, jewelry, fashion, and sustainable lifestyle pieces. Her website, along with its social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok, has garnered over 15,000 followers worldwide.
“Creating whatsbeanHappening.com was a turning point for me,” Bean reflects. “It started as a space to share my thoughts on beauty and lifestyle, but it grew into something much bigger. I noticed the demand for clean beauty and sustainable fashion, and I like to provide those options to my audience. I recently took a course through George Brown College called Cosmetic Product Analysis. While studying, I realized I didn’t know as much about what goes into beauty products and how our bodies absorb them. I’m always pursuing continuing education because my clients and audience are interested in clean beauty, sustainable fashion, and how to incorporate beautiful things into their homes without increasing their carbon footprint,” Bean explains. “To give informed recommendations, I needed to understand the ingredients better, which led me to take the course. The feedback on the blog and my reels has been incredible, and I’m grateful for the community that has grown around it.”
During the summer, Bean provides makeup services for weddings and special events, though availability is limited due to her demanding schedule. “I love being part of someone’s special day,” she says. “Weddings are a different kind of challenge, and they’re fun. Making someone feel beautiful on one of the most important days of their life is so rewarding.”
While in the UK, where she taught business, social media marketing, hair, and makeup at a private career college in central London, she also worked on an MTV documentary. “It was an unexpected opportunity,” Bean recalls. “A production company I had worked for in Canada was in England and messaged saying they were shooting something for MTV. I did the hair and makeup. Actress and model Suki Waterhouse was one of the talents involved.”
Reflecting on her experience, Bean says, “Teaching was amazing, especially working with vulnerable youth. The UK has an excellent system for training people in industry-related jobs, Students between the ages 16-18 learn those skills so that by the time they get fully into the workforce, they are so good at what they do, and it was rewarding to work with them.”
Bean’s time in London also became an opportunity for professional growth. “London is one of the most beautiful and diverse places I’ve been to,” she shares. “I’m a foodie, and I documented my experiences for my blog, which helped me understand how social media works in different countries. My posts were reaching a new audience in England, which allowed me to build a following there. It was like a research project, learning how to grow my community in a new environment.”
Upon returning to Canada in December 2023, Bean began teaching online for CTS Canadian Career College, focusing on business and social media marketing.
Her pursuit of knowledge led her to reach out to MAC Cosmetics to learn more about their ingredients and practices. Through a series of fortunate events, she connected with MAC, who were already familiar with her work. They invited her to join their MAC Pro team for the Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto. “It was an incredible experience, particularly making up Tammy Frick, the Chief Executive Officer of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (former Executive Director of Cinefest in Sudbury),” Bean says. “I had never worked in fashion, so this was a unique opportunity. Fashion is often seen as a different world from film, so bridging that gap was a privilege.”
Bean’s career is filled with “proud moments”, but one of her most significant achievements came when she worked as the head of the makeup department on The Boy in the Woods, a feature film based on the true story of a Holocaust survivor. “I did FX makeup and working with director Rebecca Snow, and her husband (Canadian director and producer) Robert Budreau was fantastic,” Bean shares. “When I was offered the show, I had heard some artists were hesitant to take it on— because of the subject matter and reasonably small budget. But I read the script and knew this was the most important, heart-wrenching project I’d ever been offered, so I did it.”
Despite the challenges, including working without an assistant, Bean delivered exceptional work. The real-life survivor, Maxwell Smart, played a pivotal role in the production, helping Bean achieve the authenticity needed for the film. “His presence made all the difference,” Bean says. “I couldn’t have done that film without him. It was an incredibly emotional experience, but it made the work so much more realistic. That project will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Her efforts did not go unnoticed. Rebecca Snow later put Bean's name forward for the Canadian Screen Awards for Best Makeup—a significant recognition in her career. “Being put forward for the Canadian Screen Awards was an honour,” Bean reflects. “I wasn’t nominated, but just being considered was a huge milestone for me. It validated the hard work and risks I’ve taken in my career.”
Bean has faced challenges in the industry, particularly in breaking out of the mold of being known solely for “pretty makeup.” Her work on Star Trek provided the confidence boost she needed to tackle more demanding special effects projects. “I’m known for making people look and feel good, but not for special effects,” Bean admits. “I faced pushback from other artists who said I wasn’t really a makeup artist because I didn’t do effects. Then I was invited to Toronto to work on Star Trek, where they taught me the basics of prosthetics, blood, and dirt. That gave me confidence going into this project.”
“When I accepted the job of Makeup Department Head on The Boy in the Woods, there were whispers about whether I could handle it,” she continues. “Even friends warned me that this could be the best thing I ever did or the end of my career. But I’m thrilled with the results. The Boy in the Woods played in theaters, which doesn’t always happen, even with bigger-budget films and has won awards all over the world.”
Bean's journey reflects a relentless pursuit of excellence, a commitment to continuous learning, and the importance of connections in an ever-evolving industry. “You’re only as good as your last show,” Bean says. “I try to be conscious of that. The support from my community in North Bay and beyond has been amazing. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next.”
To suggest a story for “Jobs of the Future” send Matt an email at [email protected]
