Pat McGrath is the Mother of Makeup

Feb. 29, 2024 – 01:38 – To celebrate Black excellence this February, theGrio honors the contributions that Black people have made in entertainment, fashion, and beyond. We continue Keeping Black History Alive by spotlighting Pat McGrath, the most influential make-up artist in fashion. Pat McGrath is the daughter of a dressmaker and a first-generation immigrant. It was Pat’s mother who taught her how to use makeup. It was during a time when makeup for darker-skinned women was harder to come by. Pat recalls her mother mixing the pigments for her own makeup, a memory that would heavily influence her work. Pat moved to London as a teenager in the 80s and would paint the faces of notable celebs before taking work for the Face and i-D, where she worked alongside the then 18-year-old fashion director, Edward Enniful. The two grew close and collaborated on many photoshoots Pat was never formally trained in fashion or makeup artistry, she had only completed a foundation course in art at Northampton College, but still the work speaks for itself In 2015 she founded her own makeup brand, Pat McGrath Labs. In 2019 the valuation of the company exceeded $1 billion dollars, making her the mother of makeup. #KeepingBlackHistoryAlive