Ewe Beauty: From gumboots to glam The mobile makeup truck that does it all
You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl – especially if that girl is Laura King.
Born and raised in the small Southland town of Balfour, Laura grew up on the land – gumboots, sheep, mud and all. A true southern hybrid of grit and glamour, she’s swapped calving paddocks for camera sets, yet never left her roots behind. Now based in Queenstown, Laura is a qualified beauty therapist and hairdresser who’s carved out a unique niche in the world of film, television, and events.
Enter Ewe Beauty: a custom-built, mobile makeup, hair, and costume truck designed to meet the needs of on-location productions across New Zealand. Built from the ground up with practicality and performance in mind, it’s a sleek silver truck that brings professional beauty services directly to wherever the job is – whether that’s a windswept mountainside, lakeside campsite, or remote back road.
Laura didn’t stumble into this line of work. Before launching Ewe Beauty, she cut her teeth driving dump trucks, diggers, and shifting trucks from one filming location to the next – known in the industry as swing driving. She knows what it’s like to be knee-deep in mud one day and brushing out curls the next. It’s this rare combination of versatility and industry insight that’s earned her a respected place in the production world.
Ewe Beauty is more than just a mobile workspace – it’s a thoughtfully designed hub of efficiency and comfort. The truck features five makeup stations, a hair wash basin, large sink, washer and dryer, lockable costume racks, and ample storage throughout. It’s spacious, fully self-contained, and finished to a high standard – ready for the demands of cast and crew in even the most unpredictable conditions.
The truck’s been put to work on major film and television productions, and has welcomed some big names into its beauty chairs. Ewe Beauty has serviced A-lister Hollywood celebrities, and worked with respected brands like Kathmandu, Boots, and SBS. Most recently, it was used on the feature film Forgive Us All, which is now out in cinemas.
One of Laura’s biggest strengths is her calm, capable presence on set. In the often fast-paced, high-pressure world of production, she brings a steady, grounded energy. She works efficiently, thinks ahead, and understands the rhythm of a shoot – all essential traits when timing is everything and every minute matters.
Her background in both beauty and logistics has made Ewe Beauty a standout service. With years of experience in weddings, events, TV commercials, and feature films, Laura designed the truck to function intuitively for makeup artists, hair stylists, and costume teams alike. Every square metre has a purpose – it’s a workspace that works.
The industry has come a long way, and Laura’s success reflects a growing shift toward inclusive, dynamic crews and female-led innovation. The changing landscape is making room for more voices, more ideas, and more creative leadership behind the scenes. Ewe Beauty is a perfect example of how talent, planning, and a good dose of Kiwi practicality can come together to meet modern production demands.
Whether it’s prepping a wedding party in the back blocks of Otago or supporting an international film crew in Fiordland, Ewe Beauty is ready to roll. It’s tough enough for the terrain, professional enough for the stars, and versatile enough for anything in between.
To learn more, make a booking, or explore Laura’s work, visit makemeup.co.nz or call 027 207 5661 for a chat.
