Samoa Airport Authority worker Christy Pune Brown is not letting her reduced working hours get in the way of her entrepreneurial potential.

The 27-year-old has had her working hours reduced by her employer from 80 to 40 hours due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But less time in the office means more time to invest in her makeup business ‘Glam by Samoan Barbie’ which she has decided to merge with her family business Brown’s Barber Shop.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Ms Brown said the reduced working hours is happening everywhere due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and people are going through trials but they have to persevere.

“After being informed that my working hours were going to be reduced, I thought to myself, I had to find another way to fill this gap and help put food on the table for my family,” she said.

“So I decided to merge one of the branches of the Brown’s Barber business owned by my family and my small makeup business and I will run them both.

“Perseverance leads to success and if we think that the lockdown has taken everything from us then we’re wrong.

“Stand up, look around and see what God has given you and no Covid-19 can take away what God has planned for us.”

Despite the reduced working hours at the S.A.A., Ms Brown said she will keep her job as she believes there will be brighter days ahead when everything gets back to normal.

The eldest of seven children and the main breadwinner of her family, her six-year employment at the S.A.A. as a human resource officer has enabled her to put food on the table and to cloth and take care of her younger siblings.

Speaking of her business, she said prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the business could make over $500, depending on the number of clients who turned up. 

But with the lockdown revenue has dropped to about $200 a day for both businesses. 

Ms Brown’s regular clients are attending weddings or special events amid the lockdown.

Asked what would be her advice for fellow fa'afafine who are into the make-up business, she said it is to not underestimate one’s own talents.

“Our talents are meant to help us big time during such unprecedented times like these and if we doubt these small talents we have then we can never achieve our goals in life,” she said.