Okanagan Makeup Artist Shortlisted in International Competition

An Okanagan woman has been shortlisted for a world-wide competition that could launch her career onto the global stage.

Missy MacKintosh is one of the top 50 Makeup Artists vying for The Brush Contest held by L’Oreal Paris. The contest is the world’s first ever online international makeup artist contest happening exclusively on YouTube. Contestants are competing for a $140,000 prize and the title of the 2015 L’Oreal Paris Makeup Designer. The global search for the brand’s 2015 artist spreads across 13 countries and MacKintosh has made it past the first round.

Missy MacKintosh creating her vision (Photo Credit: Screen Grab)

Applicants produced a three minute video showcasing their makeup expertise, something that was nerve racking for MacKintosh.

“I’ve never done a video before so I thought why not,” explains MacKintosh. “They’ve done a jury for each country and each country has anywhere from three to five juries from the fashion industry. At the end of it, if I make it into the top five, they pick the one that goes to Paris for the finals.”

MacKintosh is excited to be shortlisted to the top 50 but hopes to make it to the top five and be able to showcase her talents to the world. The voting process has officially opened and the top five voted videos will move on to the next round in the competition.

Missy's vision on the left and the creation on the right (Photo Credit: Screen Grab)

A national winner will then be flown to Paris for a beauty bootcamp, where they will be mentored by the brand's makeup color experts and experience L'Oreal Paris on deeper level. When in Paris, the national winners enter for a chance to compete in the finale to showcase their skills by making over the industries top models from the L'Oreal Paris roster of spokespeople.

MacKintosh has been in the industry for the past 15 years and instantly fell in love with makeup at a young age. She took her training at Blanche MacDonald in Vancouver and has since launched her own company which specializes in bridal makeup.

“I’ve been stepping into fashion, I love doing creative stuff and I had the opportunity to go to Paris last year and do a course that specialized in airbrushing,” adds MacKintosh. “I do a lot! From bridal to beauty, to creature to everything else in between.”

The finished makeup styled (Photo Credit: Screen Grab)

MacKintosh says the response she has received thus far in the competition has been amazing and really hopes the community will support her dream and vote for her video.

“Please help vote, it takes two seconds and we’ll see what happens!” exclaims MacKintosh.

A global winner, the 2015 L'Oreal Paris Makeup Designer, will be announced during the YouTube broadcast, just in time to attend the Cannes International Film Festival, an event that the brand has long since served as official makeup sponsor. Voting ends March 15th.

To see all the makeup artists competing in The Brush Contest, including 19 year old aspiring Kelowna makeup artist Shanelle Connell, and to vote click here.