"Before becoming the mother of modern beauty and the first makeup artist to be awarded damehood by Queen Elizabeth II, Pat McGrath was a self-taught creative navigating London's electric '90s club scene, hoping for a breakthrough in an industry that had long sidelined Black talent. Everything's changed in the years since - not just for McGrath, but for the beauty world at large - and her part in shaping it into a more inclusive, playful space cannot be overstated."
"Her fingers, which she famously prefers over brushes, have been behind some of the most iconic runway looks in history, from Alexander McQueen's feather lashes to John Galliano's Betty Boop lips. And, of course, there's the mega-viral glass skin look she created for Margiela's 2024 artisanal collection. Now, as a judge for Instagram Rings - the platform's first-ever awards for standout creators - McGrath celebrates artists who, like herself, have forged their own paths."
"You've navigated beauty's biggest transformations, from the supermodel era to influencers. At this stage in your career, can you predict a viral moment? I never create with virality in mind. My focus is on interpreting the story from the designer or client and bringing it to life through makeup. The magic happens when the products, artistry, and emotion all align, and it's always so much fun watching the recreations and excitement afterwards - it's so flattering!"
Pat McGrath rose from London's '90s club scene as a self-taught creative and became the first makeup artist to receive damehood. McGrath helped shift beauty toward inclusivity and playfulness, preferring to apply makeup with her fingers and crafting iconic runway looks such as Alexander McQueen's feather lashes and John Galliano's Betty Boop lips. She created the viral glass skin look for Margiela's 2024 artisanal collection and served as a judge for Instagram Rings, celebrating independent creators. McGrath focuses on interpreting designers' stories, aligning products, artistry, and emotion rather than chasing virality. For the Victoria's Secret show she used LUST: Gloss formulas in Earth Angel, Pale Fire Nectar, and Bronze Venus, plus the Skin Fetish: Divine Bro.
Read at Bustle
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