About me

Welcome to my page!

Who I am

My name is Karolina Oikonomidou.

I am the mother of two grown daughters. I have experienced the longings and joys that pregnancy brings! The impressive changes my body went through as my babies grew inside me are preserved in my memory, in photos, and in videos.

You see, back then I hadn’t yet discovered the art of belly casting. As my children grew up, they often asked me what my belly looked like during pregnancy — was it big, round, pointy? That’s when I thought how wonderful it would be, both for them and for me, if I could show them exactly where they grew before coming into the world!

But let’s start from the beginning.

My Studies

I began my studies in 1993 in London, at the Steiner School of Therapy, where I earned the international aesthetics certification CIBTAC.

I then continued my education at Greasepaint School, also based in London — one of the most renowned and respected professional makeup schools in the world, specializing in theatrical, film, television, and special effects makeup.

At Greasepaint, I acquired the technical knowledge to create casts and molds using a variety of materials, including plaster.

Later, I trained in body painting and prosthetic techniques at the World Body Painting Festival (WBF) — the largest and most famous body painting festival in the world, held annually in Austria.

After three seasons of training, I became a member of the festival, taking part in body painting competitions that involved the use of prosthetic pieces.

My Professional Experience

At the end of 1993, while still studying, I began working in London theaters as a makeup artist and special effects prosthetic designer, gaining practical experience.

From the summer of 1994, I started my professional career in Greece in the entertainment industry as a makeup artist.

Throughout my career, I have worked on some of the most popular Greek TV series, such as “Sto Para Pente,” “Leni,” “Aoratoi,” “Afti i Nyhta Menei,” “Kris-Kros,” “Sta Ftera tou Erota,” “I Orgi ton Theon,” “Crescendo,” “I Magissa,” “Magissa Flegomeni Kardia,” and “To Spiti Dipla sto Potami,” among others.

Many of these productions required special prosthetic effects or custom casts to achieve the desired results.

I have also worked on theater productions, films, commercials, photo shoots, television shows, and fashion events.

Over the years, I have also served as an instructor, department head, and educational consultant at private schools and at IEK DELTA, teaching makeup techniques, mold making, special effects, and body painting.

How the Idea of Body & Belly Casting Began

I collaborated with several pregnant women who wanted to have their bellies or bodies painted to create beautiful keepsake photos — the so-called belly painting.

In my search for more creative and original ideas, I thought of creating something tangible and lasting. As I mentioned earlier, it was something I would have loved to have from my own pregnancies.

After seeing examples of belly casts from abroad, my desire grew to develop my own unique techniques.

Belly & Body Cast

Alongside my work in the entertainment industry, in 2017 I began developing the idea of belly and body casting.

In January 2018, this technique became known to the wider public through various TV shows that invited me to present my work.

The first to host me was Fay Skorda on her show “To Proino,” where I showcased completed creations and performed a live demonstration in the studio.

A few days later, a similar presentation followed on the “Koukou” show with Katerina Karavatou and Krateros Katsoulis.

In December 2020, I was invited by Danai Barka to her show “Pame Danai!”, where I presented plaster cast artworks of baby hands and feet, and even created a live cast of Danai’s own hand on air so viewers could see the process.

I have also collaborated with several well-known women, creating for them pregnancy belly casts or baby body casts (hands and feet impressions).

These women shared and promoted my work through their social media, helping it reach a wider audience.

Among them are actress Katerina Tsavalou, singer Penny Baltatzi, model Sofia Leontitsi, presenter and model Manto Gasteratou, and Olympic medalist Klelia Pantazi.

Various Greek and Cypriot online platforms have also featured my work through photos, TV clips, and interviews.

How the Idea of Online Sales Started

As my belly and body casting work gained popularity, I began receiving messages from women who couldn’t reach me due to distance.

So, I decided to create an online shop, where I could send them a DIY kit with all the necessary materials.

With my guidance and support, they could create their own — or their family’s — unique casts at home!