Kate Starkey is a celebrity makeup artist known for highlighting individuality over trends. Her portfolio includes working with models and collaborating with stars like Timbaland. She has transformed countless women, making them feel confident and stunning. In this interview, Kate shares her journey, philosophy, and how she avoids turning her clients into “beauty clones.”
Kate, tell us how you became a makeup artist.
I am a graphic artist by education. I never even considered becoming a makeup artist. It always seemed to me that makeup artists are born, not made. Then, suddenly, a friend of mine, who had no artistic background, took some courses and became a makeup artist. Soon after, I borrowed money from my mother and went to study.
Do you remember the first makeup you did after becoming a makeup artist?
My first client was a classmate while I was still in makeup school. She requested a smoky look, which we hadn’t covered in school yet. It turned out a bit messy, and the shape was somewhat disappointing, but we were both happy with the result.
One of my first big jobs was for a distant friend who was getting married. She wanted me to do her makeup and hair. She had a specific hairstyle in mind that I didn’t know how to create yet. It didn’t turn out exactly like the photos she showed me, but the bride was happy. Of course, we needed a rehearsal first.
I started doing hair while I was learning makeup. I have the same amount of experience with hair and makeup, but I still consider myself more of a makeup artist than a hairstylist. However, I enjoy creating a complete look: the hair always finishes and complements the makeup.
You started your career ten years ago. A lot has probably changed in your niche since then. How do you keep your skills up to date?
It’s impossible not to develop in this niche. You are part of a vast machine called the “Beauty and Makeup Industry,” especially in Los Angeles. There are cosmetic brands and celebrity makeup artists who set trends. You can’t lag and use the same products as you did ten years ago. I constantly monitor new techniques, follow the leaders in the industry, and keep up with trends. Then I practice: I work with models for free and give free rein to my ideas and creativity. I don’t allow myself to experiment like this with clients—they need consistent results.
What sets you apart from other makeup artists?
I think my clients feel my openness. I am easy-going, not confrontational, and I never impose my opinion. For example, if a client likes narrow eyebrows while wide ones are in trend, I may gently suggest my option, but I will never insist. On the contrary, I admire her individuality. Every woman has something unique, and I try to emphasize it without remaking her or creating a carbon copy. I love a natural style. That’s why I can’t bring myself to do heavy glam, even if the client says, “Make it super tight.”
My clients receive many compliments during our sessions: “Wow, what a beautiful eye color!” or “Wow, what cheekbones!” And this is not flattery. I just say what I see. I can even say, “Oh, what a beautiful skull shape.” For me, it’s just a fact.
Women of different statuses and ages come to you. Can you find an approach that works for everyone?
Yes, I understand what my clients want. They often say, “I trust you; do it as you see fit.” But I still ask what they would like and how they do their makeup. Everyone has a different sense of beauty. They usually say, “This is exactly what I wanted.”
Do you have a specific style in your work?
I always bring my own lighting and chair, and I keep a very organized workspace. I even designed my own cases for brushes and pencils, and I’ve been using them for four years. I plan to launch my own collection of makeup accessories: cosmetic bags, cases, and bags. I love aesthetics; things should be both beautiful and organized—two in one.
Sometimes, I do makeup at ballroom dancing championships. You have half an hour to do makeup for 15-17 participants. Everything must be in strict order and in its place.
You mentioned that you teach. Do you plan to launch a course?
I don’t launch courses. I don’t need to. I do what I love and don’t aim for large-scale projects to prove anything to anyone. Interestingly, most of my clients feel the same way. You won’t find many flashy names in my portfolio. However, some of these clients, who are not widely known in the media, take me on their trips abroad as a personal makeup artist. These women have already gone through the phase of bright feathers. They value themselves, their comfort, and their time. It’s easier for them to pay for all my flights and accommodation than to look for a makeup artist who truly understands them. My clients appreciate my professionalism and that I don’t try to gain popularity at their expense. In turn, I value their privacy. I will never betray that trust if they don’t want their photos on my Instagram.
Can you name someone who doesn’t mind having their photos on your Instagram?
I have worked with actresses Polina Maximova, Svetlana Efremova, Virginia Gardner, and well-known models Alexia Rae Castillo, Julia Logan, and Sabina Kravchenko. I was also on Timbaland’s team, the producer of Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado. I did makeup for his protégé Anna Margot for her videos.
Kate, what is your mission when you do makeup?
My mission is to transform women into self-confident individuals who understand their worth. I want to convey to every woman that her personal confidence, freedom, and self-love are the most important things.
You are an aesthete and a creative person at work. What is Kate Starkey like in real life?
I have no bad habits: I don’t drink alcohol or coffee, I don’t smoke, and I play sports. I have a husband and a son. I try to find a balance between work and personal life. I am not ready to build a career at the expense of my family. That’s why I am not topping the lists of the best makeup artists. I want to remain, first and foremost, a woman with dominant feminine energy and to be surrounded by people who feel the same way. My clients are exactly like that: they value themselves and respect their interests and freedoms. They are powerful women, and I see myself in them.
Published by: Holy Minoza
