Tragedy as influencer, 41, dies after being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer earlier this year

An influencer and makeup artist who worked with the likes of Charlotte Tilbury has died after a short battle with stage four bowel cancer.

Irene Roozbayani, from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, died on November 7 aged just 41 after being diagnosed with the disease back in April.

Tributes have poured in following the death of the beloved make-up artist, described as a ‘loyal friend’ and ‘always happy’ by loved ones.

Irene’s heartbroken father, Yousef Rouzbayani, described his daughter as ‘very generous, happy and always liked to make people laugh’.

He said: ‘Everyone loved her and she was so friendly and she was always introducing me to new friends that she had made growing up.

‘She had expensive taste, I remember that, but I think this really helped her in her career. I have lost the person who was always in my heart and I will never forget her.’

The night Irene died, Mr. Rouzbayani with her daughter.

He added: ‘Even though she couldn’t talk back to me, I saw a tear in her eye. I want the people who knew here to remember her for the person she was and I miss her so much.’

speaks to Chronicle LiveIrene’s friend Helena Ganley said: ‘Irene always had time to make you feel special and she always treated you like you were the only person in the room.

‘She loved children so much, giving them attention and putting some lip gloss on the little girls and she was loved and adored by everyone.’

Born in Scotland to Iranian parents, Irene later moved to South Shields at the age of five.

In the years that followed, Irene would put her skills and passion for make-up to incredible use as she began to pursue an impressive career from the moment she took on her first make-up job at MAC.

She later went on to work in the wedding industry, specializing in bridal make-up, before leaving to join Charlotte Tilbury at Fenwick in Newcastle, just as the now global brand was on the rise.

It wasn’t long before Irene built an extraordinary career that allowed her to travel the world and work with a host of notable designers, including Vivienne Westwood, while gaining thousands of followers online.

Helena said: ‘Her name was a brand, she was very highly regarded and when people booked her, they didn’t just get make-up, they got her as a whole person.

‘She went out of her way to make people feel comfortable and she was friendly and funny which put people at ease on their big day.’

Unfortunately, Irene’s high-flying life took a tragic turn when she was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer at the start of the year.

By the time she was diagnosed, the disease had already spread throughout her body.

On Instagram, Irene’s friend Alex said she received the devastating news of her diagnosis while they were staying at the Marriott Hotel.

Alex said Irene fought ‘one hell of a fight’ throughout the seven-month battle, where she ‘maintained a positive outlook and took on every challenge with such grace’.

When Helena found out, she said the pair ‘looked at each other and burst into tears’ when she first visited Irene in hospital.

She added: ‘She was so positive throughout, she took everything in stride and she’s the bravest person to deal with it all.’

Despite undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy, brave Irene continued to work throughout treatment because she did not want to disturb or let her clients down.

Helena explained how Irene ‘loved going to work’ and the make-up artist often arrived for bookings earlier than agreed so she ‘got a chance to talk to everyone.’

She continued: ‘Eventually she spent eight days at Marie Curie and even there she remained positive and the staff were fantastic with her.’

Described by Helena as a ‘loyal friend, so receptive and perceptive’, Irene quickly cemented her place in friendship groups as the one who would arrive fashionably late for get-togethers, but nobody would mind because ‘it was just her’.

She added: ‘We could just talk on the phone for hours without any trouble. When my little girl was born she showered her with gifts and kisses and she was the greatest godmother you could ask for.’