BBC Three’s hit show Glow Up is back for season seven, with a new set of makeup artists hoping to be crowned Britain’s Next Make-up Star.
10 contestants will push their skills to the limit, having their creativity and technical prowess tested across a series of professional assignments, including backstage work at fashion shows, working with industry giants in TV and theatre, and more.
Back for season seven, TV presenter and model Leomie Anderson will be hosting and resident judges and renowned MUAs Val Garland and Dominic Skinner will oversee the professional assignments, with help from a variety of guest judges.
This year, guest judges throughout the competition will include actor and singer Billy Porter, drag queen Courtney Act, chief executive of Danessa Myricks Cosmetics, Danessa Myricks, artist and fashion designer HARRI, MUA Isamaya Ffrench, actress and singer Marisha Wallace, Made by Mitchell’s Mitchell Halliday, MUA Nikkie Tutorials and beauty and fashion influencer Patricia Bright.
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Meet the MUAs
Ailish (She/They)
Ailish is very driven and aims to be a theatre makeup artist. The 19-year-old was inspired to get into makeup by her MUA mother, and she would describe her style as grunge, bold and symmetrical and inspired by the '70s and '80s goth style of makeup.
She also enjoys prosthetics and SFX, changing features and creating new things to enhance makeup and has done lots of makeup and body paint for drag artists in Belfast.
Cherise Renee (She/Her)
27-year-old Cherise Renee grew up during the YouTube beauty era of 2016 and was hugely influenced by the tutorials she would watch in her bedroom. Now, after starting her own social media content, she has over 27,000 followers on Instagram alone.
She describes her style as weird and wonderful, creating unique looks and putting her own stamps on trends and replications. She is most known for her editorial and avant-garde looks, but her retail experience also gave her a love for wearable makeup looks.
Jade Mistry (She/Her)
Jade Mistry has been hugely influenced by the dramatic stylings of Asian bridal makeup. Her dream is to be a celebrity makeup artist and she would love to specialise in working with clients, both men and women, with black and brown skin.
For the past six years, 25-year-old Mistry has worked for MAC as an account manager and also volunteers for cancer charity Look Good Feel Better.
Jake Moran (He/They)
20-year-old Jake Moran freelanced in his mum’s salon for three years and now he feels like he’s following in her footsteps by following his dream in the makeup world.
Moran's love of horror films growing up has informed his desire to do SFX in his makeup. His biggest inspiration is fantasy, Irish folklore and fairies and ultimately, his dream is to be an SFX artist for film.
Jamie Arnold (He/Him)
Jamie Arnold started off in drag makeup, progressing into beauty, bridal and creative work.
Arnold, 19, thrives with creative makeup and has particular interest in SFX. He would like to be a freelance make-up artist and would love a career in TV and film, creating prosthetics and SFX makeup.
Joe Tiernan (He/They)
Lockdown provided an opportunity for Joe Tiernan to experiment and truly fall in love with applying makeup, after years of stealing products from his mum to wear makeup to school.
Their makeup and style is full glamour, with an alternative twist, with drag being a huge influence. 25-year-old Tiernan's dream is to be the go-to artist for magazine cover shoots for the likes of Vogue, Elle and Cosmopolitan and to be renowned amongst the industry.
Joshua (He/Him)
Joshua, 28, has a long CV of working in make-up stores, even winning NYX’s Pro Artist of the Year award in 2019. His creativity really flourishes through his part-time work as a drag queen Lexi Blac.
He wants to retire as a drag artist and focus solely on his ambition to be a celebrity makeup artist, with a focus on queer and drag-inspired artistry.
Kat (She/Her)
Kat is self-taught, with her journey shaped by years of personal practice, tutorials and observation. 29-year-old Kat started as an “emo kid” obsessed with eyeliner, and is heavily influenced by gothic styles, horror movies, video games and comic books.
She describes her style as dark but beautiful, often transforming characters into Bratz doll-inspired looks that merge spooky with fun. Her love for makeup has taken her on remarkable journeys, including winning NYX's Artist of the Year for the UK and Ireland.
Mia Fisk (She/Her)
Mia Fisk taught herself makeup at 16, landing a salon job as a teenager and later branching out as a freelance artist. She started posting her make-up work online and gained confidence as people began to appreciate her talent.
Now 22, Fisk has worked with clients and models, including doing make-up for the women's UEFA football championships and fashion shows. She loves both glamorous and creative, gory makeup, often blending the two styles. While she enjoys working on natural glam projects, she’s eager to push herself further and explore more challenging, creative opportunities in the makeup industry.
Rahual Das (He/Him)
Rahual Das works as a makeup artist and a photographer, often photographing his own work. His preferred style is full glam, but in a transformative way. He likes to bring out the inner diva of his clients and make everyone feel like the main character.
Das wants to see his work on the red carpet, drawn to the glamour of the fashion industry, though he’s keen to work in film and theatre too.
Series seven will provide some unique makeup challenges and incredible opportunities for the contestant, with professional assignments that allow them to work with huge brands.
The MUAs will assist on the set of House of The Dragon, London West End’s Cabaret the Musical, and a music video set with Nova Twins. Getting involved with the digital space, they will work on a social media campaign brief with Beauty Bay and influencer Nikkie Tutorials and create Snapchat Lenses. Contestants will also prepare celebs on the WhatsOnStage Awards red carpet, and present a masterclass to industry professionals, hosted by Sephora UK.
When does Glow Up season 7 start?
Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star returns to BBC Three at 8pm on Wednesday, April 30, and is available from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
