@shanajray: LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE MAKEUP CHAIR… 👀💄🎭 I originally made this video because I thought I was going to document the process of getting my makeup done before a major fashion show. I was actually excited about it. I was told the artists were students, and honestly, that didn’t bother me at all. Everybody has to learn somewhere. I actually looked forward to seeing someone else’s creativity and trusting them to create a look that would work for the runway. So I sat in the chair and basically said, “I just need a clean, basic look. You’re the artist—do what you think makes sense for the stage.” And that’s where things got… interesting. 😅 There was a lot of uncertainty about what I wanted, even though I was intentionally giving the artist creative freedom. I noticed certain things happening that didn’t really make sense for a runway look, but I decided to trust the process. I didn’t want to be that model. I didn’t want to micromanage someone who was learning. I didn’t want to offend anyone. I didn’t want to seem difficult. And honestly, I was new to that particular environment too. So I said nothing. And when I finally saw myself afterward, I was disappointed. Not because I expected perfection. Not because I think anyone learning should already know everything. And definitely not because I believe the artist was intentionally trying to do anything wrong. It was because I walked into that room expecting to leave with stage-ready makeup, and I left feeling like I still needed to figure out my face myself. And when you’re a model, your face is part of your performance. The brows, the eyes, the definition, the lashes, the lighting, the distance from the audience—those things matter. What looks subtle in person can completely disappear on a runway. And walking onto that stage knowing I wasn’t fully confident in how I looked affected me more than I expected. That’s the part I really want to talk about. Because how many of us have sat in a makeup chair and thought: “This doesn’t look right…” …but stayed quiet? How many models have been afraid to speak up because they don’t want to offend the artist? How many artists have finished a look thinking, “I wish they would’ve told me what they wanted differently?” And how many of us just walk away, say nothing, and move on to the next job? That cycle doesn’t help anybody. This isn’t a “bad makeup artist” story. This isn’t a “students shouldn’t be doing makeup” story. And this definitely isn’t me trying to embarrass or attack anyone. This is a conversation about communication, expectations, experience, and speaking up. As models, we have to get better at communicating what we need—especially when we’re working under pressure. As artists, we have to be comfortable asking questions, understanding the assignment, knowing when something needs to be adjusted, and creating an environment where the person in your chair feels comfortable saying, “Can we change this?” Because sometimes the model doesn’t need another opinion. Sometimes she just needs to know that her voice matters too. And I’m sharing this because I know I’m not the only person who’s had an experience like this. So I want to hear from both sides. 👇🏽 💄 Makeup artists—what do you wish models knew before sitting in your chair? 👠 Models—have you ever left a makeup chair knowing you weren’t happy but didn’t say anything? 🎭 Event/show producers—what do you think should be communicated beforehand about runway makeup? Let’s actually have the conversation. Share your experience. Share your perspective. Share what you’ve learned. Because the goal isn’t to drag anybody. The goal is to learn, communicate better, and make the experience better for the next person sitting in that chair. 🤍 And for me personally? I’m learning too. Sometimes trusting the process also means learning when to speak up during the process. ✨

Shana J Ray

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Region: US

Sunday 13 September 2026 19:52:46 GMT