This N.L. woman used to build boats. She just won an Emmy as a makeup artist

When Krista Hann of St. John's worked as a makeup artist at Sephora while studying naval architecture at Marine Institute, she wondered if she'd be able to turn her passion into a career.

After winning an Emmy award for makeup on the FX series Shogun, it's safe to say it's mission accomplished.

"I don't think I've stopped crying, I've got to be honest with you," Hann told CBC News from Los Angeles on Monday.

"It's hard to put even … into words. Because the honour and what it represents and all the hard work. So many ups and downs in the industry. But, God, this was an up. It's a gift. That's all I can say."

Hann was part of the team who received the Emmy for outstanding makeup in period or fantasy/sci-fi (non-prosthetic), which was presented on the weekend ahead of the Primetime Emmys on Saturday.

Hann said the win put her years of hard work into perspective, adding she was encouraged by one of her managers at Sephora to explore makeup as a career.

"Everyone there, they really lifted me up. And I was like, 'Maybe I could make a career out of this,'" she said.

That brought a move to Vancouver, a trip to India for her first job, and a career that has since taken her around the world.

"I took every job, whether it was paid or not, just to get the experience. Kept my head down, I worked hard. There was a lot of sacrifice," she said. "You just got to go for it, man … look at us now."

Shogun, a period piece about political machinations in 1600s Japan, set a new record with 14 Creative Arts Emmy wins.

Hann said the 18-hour work days were intensive but rewarding, saying she got to work with Japanese artists who helped show the Shogun team how to properly style the characters.

The Emmys were a career highlight, she added, especially because she got to experience the glitz and glamour for the first time. She said she couldn't help fangirling over actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who won her first Emmy for her work on FX's The Bear.

"You feel like a rock star. You walk through there, you know, you got that big Emmy statue. Everyone is all gussied up," she said. 

"And then after you go to the Governor's Gala. Oh my God, they have food, open bar. I mean, Newfoundlander's dream," she added with a laugh.

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.