Makeup artist Pat McGrath named on Queen’s New Year Honours list

The British-born makeup artist will receive the honour for her services to fashion, beauty and diversity

(Getty Images)

Make-up artist Pat McGrath has been recognised on the Queen’s New Year Honours list for the second time.

McGrath has already been given the title MBE, or Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in 2014 thanks to her work in fashion and beauty.

However this year McGrath will be awarded a Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), not just for her services to fashion and beauty, but also to diversity.

McGrath is one of the most requested artists in the industry, working on around 80 fashion shows a year as well as creating makeup lines for Giorgio Armani, Max Factor, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana.Vogue editor Anna Wintour proclaimed her one of “the most influential make-up artists in the world.”

Pat McGrath accepts the Founder's Award onstage during the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards (Getty Images)

The make-up artist, from Northampton, has brought much-needed diversity to the fashion and beauty industry, often speaking out about her experiences as a woman of colour.

Discussing the issue with Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2019, the makeup mogul recalled using cocoa powder on her face as a teenager because of the lack of beauty products for her skin tone.

According to McGrath, her mother used to bring her to stores to purchase new products each week, but “of course back then there wasn’t the colour that was right for dark skin”.

Pat McGrath with Queen Latifah in 2011 (Getty Images)

It was then that her mother taught her an important lesson: “If you can’t find it, you can’t buy it, make it.”

The first product McGrath created was a moisturiser made of oil and water, which she whipped and refrigerated and then applied to her own face and her dolls.

Since then, the self-taught makeup artist has launched her own eponymous makeup line which is valued at more than £1bn, and has had her products worn by supermodel Naomi Campbell, actress Thandie Newton and Hailey Baldwin.

Speaking last year, McGrath added: “We have models from all different social backgrounds, different weight, body types, different religious backgrounds, shows that are over 50 per cent women of colour and it just wasn't there for such a long time. And now, it's just so fantastic to see. Beautiful.”