Napoleon Perdis - Biography

Biography

Napoleon's parents were Greek immigrants, who settled in Sydney's western suburbs originally from the island of Kythera, and his father from Tripoli-Argos, Greece. They were also hard-working business people who once owned a popular cafe on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Liverpool Street, in the Sydney CBD. Napoleon's family lived in the Sydney suburbs of Sutherland, Strathfield and Parramatta. He went to school at Arthur Phillip High School and later at the Redeemer Baptist School. He completed a Bachelor of Arts at Macquarie University, where he met his wife Soula-Marie. They married in 1991 and have four daughters, which include triplets. He worked as a barrister's assistant and his wife was completing her actuary studies. He worked as a make-up artist for brides on weekends and in 1992 opened his own make-up studio in a small shop in Ultimo, New South Wales. In 1993, he won a make-up competition at a beauty expo with a look that was inspired by Cher. He won a trip to Los Angeles, where he met Cher's make-up artist and agreed to become the Australian distributor for his 'Taut' make-up products. Napoleon sold the make-up to brides and through his Ultimo studio and hair salons. He sold the business when he launched his own make-up products under the successive names, The Look, then The Look by Napoleon, followed with Napoleon and finally to its current Napoleon Perdis name from 1994.