Spend some time in the weird and wonderful world of the make-up artist
Isamaya Ffrench is responsible for Rihanna’s controversial razor-thin brows on the cover of British Vogue. For turning Zendaya into an OAP and Vivienne Westwood models into Pinocchio. She adorned models’ faces with wildflowers at Giambattista Valli, crystals at Halpern, futuristic silver masks at Louis Vuitton. She’s worked on covers with Kendall Jenner, Madonna, Bjork, Kate Moss, and Taylor Swift; collaborated with brands including Tom Ford, YSL, Christian Louboutin, Burberry, and Byredo.
One of the most important creatives and image-makers in the industry right now, her work is radical, gorgeous, terrifying, and awe-inspiring. She is also, frankly, fucking hilarious. Which makes her the perfect candidate for a no holds barred, behind-the-scenes YouTube channel. We’re just surprised it hasn’t happened sooner.
Today, Ffrench launches her official YouTube channel. Offering a mixture of tutorials, interviews, BTS footage from shoots and shows, and other freaky-fun stuff, the channel will give fans the chance to spend some time in the weird and wonderful world of the make-up artist. Looking back through her rich archive of work, she will be showing us how to recreate iconic past looks as well as teaching us all the basics of everything from using prosthetics to how to glue down your brows.
“I work on some of the weirdest, wildest fashion shoots, music videos, shows, and editorials and I want to share it with people,” says Ffrench. “I’d like to show people how I do make-up, through masterclasses and tutorials and also talk to people who really inspire me on my channel.”
Ffrench enters the YouTube community as part of the platform’s upcoming Beauty Festival, a virtual “summit-style” event hosted by head of fashion and beauty Derek Blasberg. “One of the best parts about my role at YouTube is getting to work with some of the brilliant creative minds I’ve admired from afar in this industry,” Blasberg tells Dazed Beauty. “Isamaya Ffrench is a legend in this space and we’re thrilled to see her expertise, creativity, insight and imagination flourish on this platform. She’s just Ffabulous!”
The festival will see some of the biggest influencers and celebrities come together to celebrate all things beauty with everything from tutorials and challenges to panel discussions on diversity and equality. Some highlights include Pharrell Williams sharing his skincare routine, a history of beauty with YouTube's very first beauty creator, Michelle Phan, and a Black beauty founder roundtable. Selena Gomez, Paris Hilton, Bob the Drag Queen, and, of course, Ffrench will all be taking part as well.
The festival will start Friday, May 14 and can be streamed live for free here. In the meantime check out Ffrench’s first video below.