As a make-up artist in the demanding fashion industry, Tynke must create a flawless look in a short time. How does she handle the pressure? “I like it when something is ‘off’; nobody is perfect and you shouldn’t pretend that you are,” she says. Since graduating from The House of Orange at the age of 19, Tynke has quickly learned how to survive in the sometimes vicious fashion trade.

Tynke moved to Zaandam, a small town near Amsterdam, after graduating and initially struggled to realise her dreams. “I didn’t know what to do, where to go to or who to talk to,” she says. “During that difficult period of my life, my sister sent me a postcard with some encouraging words saying that she believed in me and that everything would be alright, ending the note with a little heart she’d drawn. I later tattooed it on my back to symbolise the love of my sister, and to help me remember that there is always someone looking out for me, even when I’m alone.”

At age 17, Tynke already knew the fragility of life when her father was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. It was a turning point that forced her to re-evaluate what she really wanted in her life.

“Me and my closest friend, Marloes Horst, aspired to become models so we signed ourselves up for a small modelling contest in our home town,” she says. “With the accident still fresh in my mind, I began to second-guess my decision and I quickly withdrew from the contest. Why would I work my ass off for something I didn’t even know was for me? However, Marloes ended up being really successful and has lived in NYC for several years now. I’m very proud of her and still visit her twice a year. It’s funny how life goes sometimes when you make certain decisions.”