{"id":167205,"date":"2025-06-05T12:25:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T16:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=167205"},"modified":"2025-06-18T11:58:43","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T15:58:43","slug":"james-kaliardos-shares-his-creative-world-centered-around-beauty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=167205","title":{"rendered":"James Kaliardos Shares His Creative World Centered Around Beauty"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.centerimg {padding:4em 7em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg2 {padding:4em 4em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg3 {padding:4em 3em;margin:20px 0;}\n.sidetxt {padding:16em 2em 16em 2em;;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg img {margin-bottom:0px;}\n.instagram-media {margin:auto !important;}\n#wp-content hr {margin: 40px auto 80px auto;width: 80%;}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/06\/GNfQ8uPWsAImfxg1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1169\" height=\"1263\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-167234\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Iman by Inez and Vinoodh for Visionaire | Image courtesy of The Wall Group<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p>Born in Detroit, Michigan, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/james-kaliardos\">James Kaliardos<\/a> was drawn to makeup from an early age. At just seven years old, he began doing his mother\u2019s makeup, a moment of discovery for both of them when it became clear he had a natural talent. Inspired by the glamorous images of Francesco Scavullo and Richard Avedon and the unapologetic individuality of icons like Cher and Patti LaBelle, Kaliardos moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design, where his creative path quickly accelerated. At Parsons, he became known as the go-to hairstylist and makeup artist in his dorm, but a pivotal turning point came when he attended a fashion symposium organized by his photography teacher. There, he met <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/bethann-hardison\">Bethann Hardison<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/Steven-Meisel\">Steven Meisel<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/helmut-newton\">Helmut Newton<\/a>\u2014industry legends who would soon become mentors. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I would\u2019ve pursued makeup without them,\u201d Kaliardos reflects. \u201cI never thought this would be my career, but when Steven Meisel says you\u2019re good, you think, \u2018Okay, maybe I won\u2019t be a waiter after all.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n<p>After building a name for himself in the world of beauty, Kaliardos, along with close friends <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/cecilia-dean\">Cecilia Dean<\/a> and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/stephen-gan\">Stephen Gan<\/a>, launched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/visionaireworld\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Visionaire <\/a> in 1991. A boundary-pushing publication that merged art, fashion, and design, Visionaire quickly gained a cult following and became one of the most expensive and coveted  magazines in the world. \u201cVisionaire became this experimental space where artists felt safe trying something new, knowing it would be beautifully printed, surrounded by great work, and treated with care,\u201d he explains. Over the years, Visionaire featured models like <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/iman-abdulmajid\">Iman<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/Naomi-Campbell\">Naomi Campbell<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/devon-aoki\">Devon Aoki<\/a>, and collaborated with visionaries including <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/nick-knight\">Nick Knight<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/karl-lagerfeld\">Karl Lagerfeld<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/Mert-Alas-and-Marcus-Piggott\">Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott<\/a>. As more collaborators expressed a desire to create fashion-focused editorials, the team launched <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/v-magazine\">V Magazine<\/a>. However, the shift to a commercially funded publication brought new challenges, particularly around advertiser demands. Today, he collaborates with artists like <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/miley-cyrus\">Miley Cyrus<\/a>, whose latest project <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKRGFQTt41R\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Something Beautiful<\/a><\/em> he worked on closely with the beauty looks (and even made a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?si=Mjj8-WwBbL01zzjR&#038;t=49&#038;v=s8h4YNaX2aM&#038;feature=youtu.be\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">special cameo<\/a>), and powerhouses such as <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/franois-nars\">Nars Cosmetics<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/tom-ford-beauty\">Tom Ford Beauty<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/mac\">MAC<\/a>. Also, a trained actor and writer, Kaliardos is now turning his attention to a new creative chapter. Models.com spoke with Kaliardos about the shifting definitions of beauty, from embracing individuality and imperfection to navigating today\u2019s homogeneity. <\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/06\/201905_W_RBURBRIDGE_JKS_MSO_WRD_08.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2460\" height=\"3222\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-167253\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Hunter Schafer by Richard Burbridge | Image courtesy of The Wall Group<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Where are you from?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy parents are Greek, but I was born in Detroit, and then I also grew up in Grosse Pointe, a super conservative, completely white neighborhood right outside of Detroit. When I was growing up, you&#8217;d have potholes, and the lights would be out, and Detroit was just getting more and more in shambles. Then you\u2019d hit Grosse Pointe, and it would be smooth roads and with beautiful trees and bushes that were manicured, it was very weird for me to grow up with that split. It was just was an odd place to grow up, but it taught me a lot. Whenever I say I\u2019m from Detroit, people think it\u2019s cool, and I love saying it. It has such an amazing musical history. There was something rebellious about it, you had to fight for your life in Detroit. My parents grew up there in the forties and fifties, so they saw the boom. I have always heard these incredible stories. My uncle was a trumpet player, and there were jazz clubs everywhere. They had one experience of the city, and our generation had a completely different one. The Detroit Institute of Arts was incredible, and the library was a great place, too. I used to sneak down there on the bus.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What first drew you to the world of beauty and fashion? Growing up in Detroit, were there specific cultural moments that helped you and your creativity?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt really started with my mother. She used to check out <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/vogue\">American Vogue<\/a> and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/harpers-bazaar\">Harper&#8217;s Bazaar U.S.<\/a> from the library because we couldn\u2019t afford a subscription. You could keep them for two weeks, and during that time, I would pore over every page. I was completely drawn into the world of Francesco Scavullo and Richard Avedon, their images from the late \u201970s and early \u201980s had such power. What struck me most was how individual everyone looked. There was only one Cher, one Patti LaBelle. Each person had a distinct presence. I never imagined a world where people would want to look the same. That idea still feels strange to me. My mother looked a bit like Maria Callas. She was so gorgeous and wore cool eyeshadow and pale lips every day. I\u2019d watch her get ready, and one day, I asked if I could try doing her makeup, and she said yes. Honestly, a star was born. I was just good at it right away. We both saw it. I was seven years old, using this purple eyeshadow palette, and she gently guided me with tips and suggestions. That intimacy, sharing a moment of beauty with my mother, stayed with me. I\u2019ve tried to carry that same feeling into every job I do. Makeup, to me, is always a special moment. I want the person in my chair, woman, man, or whoever, to feel included in the process. I\u2019m never just applying something to someone\u2019s face. Especially with models, I make a point of making them feel like collaborators. They\u2019re an essential part of the process. Models are often in this in-between space: not quite the client and not fully in control of the outcome. I\u2019ve always empathized with that, being transformed into something else. To me, the best results happen when they\u2019re involved in shaping that transformation. When they embody the look, they bring it to life. That\u2019s always been my approach: it\u2019s a collaboration between everyone involved. <\/p>\n<p><strong>How would you say that you make them feel comfortable?<\/strong><br \/>\n\u200b\u200bI talk to them. I\u2019ll say, \u201cI\u2019m thinking of doing this\u2014do you like that?\u201d Then I\u2019ll hand them a mirror so they can look at their mouth shape or eye shape. I\u2019ll ask, \u201cDo you want anything else? Do you feel like you need anything before going out on set or doing what you have to do?\u201d I really think models are incredibly brave and generous. They give so much of themselves in a way that few other professions require. No matter how they feel, they\u2019re expected to perform and look perfect on cue. That\u2019s a lot of pressure.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/COqA8uChGFF\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/COqA8uChGFF\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/COqA8uChGFF\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by James Kaliardos (@jameskaliardos)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Was there a specific image or anything that sparked something in you that made this path feel inevitable?<\/strong><br \/>\nThat whole era was so inspiring. In the &#8217;70s and &#8217;80s, we watched <em>The Cher Show<\/em> every weekend. That alone, what else was I going to do with my life? It was incredible. If you look back at it now, you think, \u201cWhat the hell?\u201d Bob Mackie\u2019s costumes, Cher transforming constantly, it was wild. The same thing with<em> The Carol Burnett Show<\/em> and <em>I Love Lucy<\/em>. These women would become entirely different characters through hair, makeup, and wardrobe. That really excited me. I also loved Bette Davis. I remember watching <em>Now, Voyager <\/em> as a kid, where she transforms from a miserable, frumpy, psychologically damaged woman into this beautiful swan\u2014who&#8217;s still emotionally struggling. That stuck with me. It wasn\u2019t the typical narrative of \u201cYou\u2019re beautiful now, so everything\u2019s perfect.\u201d She still wasn\u2019t okay, but she looked amazing. She held it together on the outside, even if she was still working through things internally. That idea really inspired me: no matter what we\u2019re going through, we can still make an effort to emerge looking like something special. A look or a style can help you come out of your shell. Of course, it doesn\u2019t fix everything, we all have things we\u2019re dealing with\u2014but style gives you a way to face the world differently. It doesn\u2019t have to be expensive or superficial. If it reflects something real inside you, then it becomes meaningful. Then there were Avedon\u2019s covers, and that Dynasty-era approach to beauty, people really went for it. The celebrities and pop stars back then were older; they were women, and they looked like women. Diana Ross looked like Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand looked like Barbra Streisand, and Dolly Parton looked like Dolly Parton. Everyone had their own thing. It wasn\u2019t this homogenous beauty ideal like we see today. Even for me, I sometimes feel pressured to \u201cpile it on\u201d because it\u2019s my job, and I\u2019m being paid to deliver a look, but working with Miley (Cyrus), which we\u2019ll get to later, has reminded me that you don\u2019t always have to do a lot. Something minimal, something that even looks like a mistake, can be beautiful. I love it when makeup isn&#8217;t perfect. Sometimes, when it\u2019s too perfect, it doesn\u2019t let the viewer in. My mom was great at that, she would just rub things on and always look amazing. When I tried doing her makeup like Kevyn Aucoin\u2014tight eyeliner, full face\u2014it didn\u2019t look as good. It lost that charm. Sometimes, her mascara would fall under her eyes, and it just looked cooler that way. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;No matter what we\u2019re going through, we can still make an effort to emerge looking like something special.&#8221; <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>In what ways did studying at Parsons shape your creative lens, especially in how you approach beauty today?<\/strong><br \/>\nParsons was great for me\u2014first, because it brought me to New York, and second because I discovered clubbing. I started doing everyone\u2019s hair and makeup in the dorms. It was peak<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?sca_esv=9f05e2405697a5fa&#038;q=Duran+Duran+makeup&#038;udm=2&#038;fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeioyp3OhN11EY0n5qfq-zENwnGygERInUV_0g0XKeHGJRAdFPaX_SSIJt7xYUfpm-_vQHq3hzHA2DKyn4_QBnQl9QSPW8ISHQ0OitRg6rbhOiAHpaPYKwp8XXwkiDWCehsUuFXgyLBupLnleqhU8CTuwFaD9RIZ6lrPalVfJZgukZQ7Ljg&#038;sa=X&#038;ved=2ahUKEwjx4IT5qNqNAxWvmokEHdHLOG0QtKgLegQIEhAB&#038;biw=1585&#038;bih=774&#038;dpr=1.8\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Duran Duran<\/a>, full \u201980s androgynous makeup. At Parsons, I studied painting and graphic design, which were totally new to me, especially typography. I also met <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/isabel-toledo\">Isabel Toledo<\/a>, and she asked me to do her show. From there, I started working with incredible people early on. I also took photography seriously. I\u2019d already begun shooting in high school, and at Parsons, I basically lived in the darkroom. The most important moment came through a fashion symposium my photography teacher organized. I met <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/bethann-hardison\">Bethann Hardison<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/Steven-Meisel\">Steven Meisel<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/helmut-newton\">Helmut Newton<\/a>. That changed everything. Bethann was a total game-changer; she told me, \u201cCall me if you need anything,\u201d and I did. I\u2019d go to her agency, and she taught me so much about pushing boundaries creatively and about the importance of diversity. Growing up in Grosse Pointe, I was already sensitive to those dynamics, but she gave language and urgency to things I\u2019d just passively accepted. She made me realize that I didn\u2019t have to accept them and that I should challenge them. Steven Meisel literally told me on the spot that I should be working. I said, \u201cHow do you know I\u2019m any good?\u201d and he said, \u201cI can see it on your face,\u201d which of course, was covered in full Duran Duran makeup. I didn\u2019t fully believe him at the time, but he kept showing up for me. I\u2019d bump into him at clubs or sneak into fashion shows, and even in professional settings, he\u2019d always make time. He\u2019d ask how I was doing, answer questions, and just listen. That made me feel so seen, and I\u2019ve never forgotten that. It taught me the value of giving younger people your attention. Sometimes that\u2019s all it takes. Helmut Newton gave a talk at the New School, and I helped him sell books afterward. He was so funny and generous; he signed one of his books and gave it to me as a gift. Years later, we worked together at Vogue, and I reminded him of that moment. He was just as spontaneous and sharp. Watching him adapt creatively in real time taught me so much about flexibility and trusting your instincts. Those three people completely altered the course of my life. I don\u2019t know if I would\u2019ve pursued makeup without them. I never thought this would be my career, but when Steven Meisel says you\u2019re good, you think, \u201cOkay, maybe I won\u2019t be a waiter after all.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/06\/Untitled-naomi-and-linday.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-167225\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Naomi Campbell and Lindsay Lohan for Visionaire | Image courtesy of The Wall Group<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Many people think of you primarily as a makeup artist, but your work spans so much more. You co-founded <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/visionaire\">Visionaire<\/a> at a time when fashion publishing was undergoing massive shifts. What was the energy like in those early days, and what were you trying to disrupt or create that wasn\u2019t yet in the industry?<\/strong><br \/>\nIt&#8217;s hard to remember exactly how things were before the internet and before the explosion of independent magazines. I think the three of us\u2014 <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/cecilia-dean\">Cecilia Dean<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/stephen-gan\">Stephen Gan<\/a>, and I, were rebels. I was so turned off by the corporate takeover of fashion and magazines, which we were seeing over and over again. I wanted to be disruptive, as you said in your question. I felt a strong urge to protect and promote creativity, which was always front and center for me.  While I was at Parsons and starting to work as a makeup artist, I noticed this commercial mindset that women had to be seen in a very specific way, and I vehemently disagreed with that. At the time, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/maison-martin-margiela\">Maison Margiela<\/a> and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/helmut-lang\">Helmut Lang<\/a> were just beginning to shift the fashion mentality away from that polished, uptown &#8217;80s aesthetic; fashion was supposed to look a certain way, to feel a certain way. That\u2019s hard to imagine now, given how much alternative fashion exists, but back then, it was very rigid. All our friends had incredible personal work, especially the photographers I collaborated with, but there was nowhere to show it. Alternative magazines weren\u2019t really a thing yet, and galleries weren\u2019t showing that kind of photography unless you were someone like Richard Avedon. After a shoot, someone would pull open a drawer and show me a series they\u2019d been working on. I\u2019d be blown away, asking, \u201cWhat are you going to do with this?\u201d And the answer was always, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d These beautiful projects existed, but they had no home. That\u2019s really what I wanted to change. Of course, there were amazing European magazines like The Face, i-D, or the oversized Manipulator, and we\u2019d all wait anxiously for them to show up at the one newsstand that carried them, but we wanted to create something that felt like a keepsake. Something you wouldn\u2019t throw away. A place for personal work to live and be honored. In many ways, it was what Instagram was in its early days.Visionaire became this experimental space where artists felt safe trying something new, knowing it would be beautifully printed, surrounded by great work, and treated with care. We always mixed generations, young students, emerging artists, and established names like Meisel and Bruce Weber because we wanted it to reflect both what was now and what was next. We just wanted to make something beautiful and lasting. <\/p>\n<p><strong>You created an amazing marketplace for so many creatives to come together, brainstorm, and experiment, which wasn&#8217;t done at the time. How did you meet Steven and Cecilia?<\/strong><br \/>\nI met Steven while we were both at Parsons. He studied photography and took really beautiful pictures. We started doing model test shoots together, and one of the models we worked with was Cecilia Dean. The three of us immediately clicked and became close friends. We traveled to Egypt, went out to clubs, dressed up, and were always surrounded by a really creative circle of friends. Eventually, we all ended up in Paris; Cecilia went to work, I went to study, and Steven started his career there too. We kept that same creative energy going, both in Paris and back in New York. There was a real synergy between the three of us, and our individual talents naturally came together in a way that led to starting this new kind of publication. We didn\u2019t entirely know what we were doing at first, but we had a lot of drive and a strong desire to create something radical. When we started V, I really wanted to fight for artists who didn\u2019t have huge budgets or advertising power. I\u2019ve always been sensitive to bullying, and unfortunately, I\u2019ve seen a lot of it, especially on set. Models get bullied all the time, and I hate it. You don\u2019t get the best work from someone who doesn\u2019t feel safe, seen, or supported. You have to build people up and make them feel like the queen of the night\u2014then they\u2019ll shine and truly express something. Watching a great model is like watching performance art. I mean, look at <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/Shalom-Harlow\">Shalom Harlow<\/a>, that\u2019s a performance. It\u2019s incredible. Most people can\u2019t even walk properly down the street, let alone command a runway in front of a thousand people.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/06\/200309_V_MTESTINO_JKS_LG_01.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"722\" height=\"1037\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-167221\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Beyonc\u00e9 by Mario Testino | Image courtesy of The Wall Group<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Not only did you co-found <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/visionaire\">Visionaire<\/a>, but also <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/v-magazine\">V Magazine<\/a>. How did that foundation in art and publishing shape your perspective, and how does it continue to influence the way you approach beauty and image-making today?<\/strong><br \/>\nV was an interesting experience. I don\u2019t work with V anymore; I now focus only on Visionaire, but we started V because many of our contributors wanted to shoot fashion editorials. Since Visionaire is thematic, we\u2019d often ask them to explore other ideas, but with so many incredible creatives eager to do fashion stories, we thought, \u201cLet\u2019s create a fashion magazine.\u201d We launched V, but it quickly became more commercial than we expected. I assumed advertisers would understand that, like Visionaire, this would still be a creative project, but they didn\u2019t. They tried to control the editorial, and I found that incredibly frustrating. We were offering them the best photographers and celebrities, but it still wasn\u2019t enough. They treated us like they owned the content, and I pushed back against that. Creativity is taken for granted, and I always want the artist to win. Art feeds all we do, even if people are not aware of it. Still, we had some amazing moments. I remember being on set with<a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/v-magazine-v-magazine-travel-issue-september-2012\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Nicole Kidman<\/a> and asking if she\u2019d wear just a Chanel apron, and she agreed. We put <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/Beyonce-Knowles\">Beyonc\u00e9 <\/a> on the cover when she\u2019d just gone solo and wasn\u2019t getting much support. I\u2019ll never forget being on set with Mario Testino when &#8220;Crazy in Love&#8221; played on a boombox, it was her first time hearing it on the radio. We also gave <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/lady-gaga\">Lady Gaga<\/a> her first cover. There was so much diversity, and we often featured people simply because we admired them, not because they had something to promote. The best part was working with photographers and stylists who truly got it, who saw V as a chance to be bold in ways they couldn\u2019t with more traditional magazines. V stood for independent thinking. It gave artists room to experiment, which I think is essential. If all you do is shoot for magazines with narrow parameters, you lose creative range. Visionaire and V offered that freedom. The office itself reflected that spirit, open, no hierarchy. Editors, interns, and everyone worked side by side. Sure, it lacked privacy, but it fostered collaboration, and I\u2019m proud that so many people who passed through V and Visionaire are now spread throughout the industry in fashion houses, magazines, and agencies. There\u2019s a quiet legacy there, a ripple of creativity that still moves through the industry.  <\/p>\n<blockquote><p> \u201cCreativity is taken for granted, and I always want the artist to win. Art feeds all we do, even if people are not aware of it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>It feels like autonomy is really important to you.<\/strong><br \/>\nAbsolutely. Personal creativity is essential; it&#8217;s healing. Everyone has psychological challenges or life issues, and I believe the creative process can be an evolutionary act that helps us move through them. It pulls us out of limiting ways of thinking. Conservatism, for example, tends to be restrictive, while creativity is expansive. Art, fashion, photography, video, they all help break those boundaries. It\u2019s not just about imagining something; it\u2019s about manifesting it visually and physically. That act frees ideas from being stuck in your head. I recently saw a post by Douglas Keeve about <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/video-supreme-models\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Supreme Models<\/a>, with a carousel of incredible Black women in fashion. <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/iman-abdulmajid\">Iman<\/a> said, \u201cThere\u2019s nothing like a Black model on the runway.\u201d And it hit me\u2014Black models didn\u2019t just participate in fashion; they transformed it. I grew up during a time when they were already a force, so I hadn\u2019t really considered what it looked like before. But their presence changed everything: how we see movement, beauty, and expression. Their impact on fashion, music videos, and culture created a seismic shift that we\u2019re still drawing from; even if we don\u2019t always realize it.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B6lXwiDHhEV\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B6lXwiDHhEV\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B6lXwiDHhEV\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by VISIONAIRE (@visionaireworld)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>What did working with creatives like  <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/Steven-Meisel\">Steven Meisel<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/karl-lagerfeld\">Karl Lagerfeld<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/steven-klein\">Steven Klein<\/a>, teach you about image-making? Do you recall a specific shoot where the collaboration changed how you thought about beauty or storytelling?<\/strong><br \/>\nI started with Steven Klein; he was the first to book me consistently when I was really young. He had gone to RISD, and everyone I know from there has such a specific, remarkable approach to art. Steven wouldn\u2019t take a picture unless he was completely inspired by everything happening on set. We\u2019d change the model\u2019s clothes, hair, and makeup over and over again. He\u2019d try different lighting setups and camera settings; his technical mastery was incredible. We&#8217;d work until four in the morning, come back the next day, and sometimes scrap everything to start fresh. It taught me not to hold on too tightly. I\u2019d think, \u201cThat was the best purple lip I\u2019ve ever done,\u201d and he\u2019d just say, \u201cWipe it off.\u201d That practice of constant reinvention was invaluable, even if it drove us all a little crazy. Working with Karl Lagerfeld was another formative experience. He was brilliant, hilarious, and endlessly witty, people don\u2019t realize how funny he was. We\u2019d shoot Chanel catalogs just a week before the shows, often working until 5 a.m. He\u2019d reference obscure silent films or quote Mae West, and somehow, we just clicked on those things. He was never rigid, and always open to experimentation and creative flow. He really valued spontaneity. Then came my first shoot with Steven Meisel for <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/vogue-italia-military\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Italian Vogue, a military-themed story<\/a>. It was my big moment, working with the person who had supported me from the beginning. He told me we\u2019d work everything out on set, so we prepped the models lightly. But once I saw them standing there, fully dressed under the lights, I knew I couldn\u2019t just do \u201cno-makeup makeup\u201d for Steven Meisel. I grabbed my cream eyeshadows, dug in with my fingers, and started swiping bold colors directly onto each model\u2019s face. Each look was improvised on the spot. The story ended up running in black and white, but that moment was so freeing that it felt like I had finally stepped into my full creative power in front of someone I deeply respected. It was full circle: from student to collaborator. That shoot marked a turning point, and we worked together for a while after that. Now, when I\u2019m leading a team at a show, I try to bring that same supportive energy\u2014never mean, always encouraging. I&#8217;m not saying I&#8217;m perfect, but I&#8217;ve tried to be really kind and supportive all the time because I feel like you get the best work out of people. I mean, at least for me, I need to feel supported and seen and safe. If someone&#8217;s on my shoulder, I&#8217;m not going to do a great job.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/06\/496769918_17892534054227604_1138525610660975687_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1801\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-167222\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Visionaire 18th fashion special | Image courtesy of The Wall Group<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>What makes a good collaboration for you?<\/strong><br \/>\nOne of our best collaborations at <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/visionaire\">Visionaire<\/a> was for our 18th fashion special, which came in a Louis Vuitton envelope. For that issue, we paired creatives together <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/nan-goldin\">Nan Goldin<\/a> came by the office one day, and we asked her to shoot a fashion story\u2014something she hadn\u2019t really done before. She said, \u201cI really like <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/helmut-lang\">Helmut Lang<\/a>.\u201d So we called Helmut and said, \u201cNan wants to do something with you,\u201d and he immediately said, \u201cAmazing, I love Nan.\u201d They teamed up, and what came out of it was this incredible set of images. People were blown away. It was at the peak of heroin chic\u2014very raw, very real, and unapologetically of the moment. Nan, James King, and Helmut\u2019s designs all just aligned. That shoot really changed things in fashion. After that, everyone started chasing fashion-art collaborations. To answer your question, I think the best collaborations happen when there\u2019s mutual admiration and respect. It\u2019s about both people showing up as themselves and bringing their full creative voice. Miley (Cyrus) once told me something Dolly Parton said to her: \u201cYou do you, and I\u2019ll do me\u2014and together, we\u2019ll be us.\u201d That\u2019s it.A great collaboration isn\u2019t about blending into one another\u2014it\u2019s about two strong individuals creating something new together. That\u2019s when the magic happens.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>You\u2019ve worked with beauty brands like <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/mac\">MAC Cosmetics<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/fenty-beauty\">Fenty Beauty<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/tom-ford-beauty\">Tom Ford Beauty<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/franois-nars\">Nars Cosmetics<\/a>. What makes a beauty brand partnership meaningful to you? Is it innovation, artistry, or something more personal?<\/strong><br \/>\nWhat I love most is digging into what a brand truly represents. That absolutely affects how I approach things. Maybe it\u2019s because of Visionaire, but I tend to think thematically. When I work with <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/shiseido\">Shiseido<\/a>, for example, I immediately think of Serge Lutens. With <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/tom-ford-beauty\">Tom Ford Beauty<\/a>, I imagine the world he\u2019s built, and I kind of step into character, almost like an actor. It\u2019s not just about creating a look for the model; it\u2019s also about me entering the creative mindset of that brand. I loved working with <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/francois-nars\">Francois Nars<\/a>. He has impeccable taste\u2014rooted in 1970s French Vogue\u2014but he\u2019s also unafraid to push boundaries and embrace strange, unexpected beauty. That kind of open-minded creativity is so inspiring. With <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/fenty-beauty\">Fenty Beauty<\/a>, <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/rihanna\">Rihanna <\/a> brings this spontaneous, razor-sharp vision. She makes split-second creative decisions that are always right. It\u2019s amazing to watch and to rise to that challenge. Each brand has its own world, its own version of beauty, and I have to adapt. Whether it&#8217;s <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/maybelline\">Maybelline<\/a> or Fenty, I step into their lens of how women should feel and be seen. Now that I\u2019m creative directing for some brands, I love working on everything, from typography and packaging to sustainability and casting. You start to realize how much goes into a single product, things you take for granted when you just pick it up. I try to stay personal in my approach. Even when a marketing director tells me what a product should represent, I focus on the person in front of me, their skin, their energy, and their beauty, and use the products to bring that out. That\u2019s what keeps it meaningful.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/06\/201710_ELLE_SSUNDSBO_JKS_KKS_YSF_02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1327\" height=\"1650\" class=\"size-full wp-image-167223\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Rihanna by S\u00f8lve Sundsb\u00f8 | Image courtesy of The Wall Group<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>You\u2019ve been collaborating with <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/miley-cyrus\">Miley Cyrus<\/a> for over a decade now, most recently appearing in her \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s8h4YNaX2aM\" data-rel=\"lightbox-video-0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Easy Lover<\/a>\u201d video from her \u201cSomething Beautiful\u201d album. How would you describe the evolution of her beauty aesthetic\u2014and your creative relationship?<\/strong><br \/>\nI made the cut! We met at the Visionaire offices days before her <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/v-magazine-go-the-extra-miley\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">V cover shoot with Oribe and Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele<\/a>. We locked eyes, and that was it\u2014I was hooked forever. I love Miley. She has this incredible mix of raw human qualities, immense talent, and that voice. I get to hear her warming up, inches from my face, as I do her makeup. I love her face, and she has a great sense of fashion and beauty, so I have always encouraged her to be true to herself and to what she feels in the moment, and my goal is just to enhance that on camera. She\u2019s constantly evolving, shaped by her new work, and I move with her\u2014and her genius team. We started with almost no makeup, really minimal, even for covers, TV, and events. We didn\u2019t let the pressure push us into doing more. Now we\u2019ve found this rhythm of in-the-moment creativity, experimenting when the mood strikes. <em>Something Beautiful<\/em> was an epic project, and I can\u2019t wait for it to be released. There are definitely a few looks in there to unpack. It actually reminded me of my early days shooting with Steven Klein, just totally in the moment. Miley\u2019s great at knowing when we\u2019ve got it, and sometimes, we\u2019d wrap early and squeeze in an extra video. One day, we were in this tiny, forgotten room off a cavernous Paramount set, steaming a giant Mugler look, fixing lashes, redoing hair\u2014it was chaos, but we pulled it off. The crew would create entire sets on the fly, and we\u2019d just make it happen. It was unplanned, spontaneous, and so exciting. I really can\u2019t wait for people to see it. We need alternate women out there who are not just doing that one thing. I have full respect for her and her creativity. <\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/06\/Untitled-11.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-167224\" \/><br \/>\n<small> Miley Cyrus by Alasdair McLellan | Image courtesy of The Wall Group<\/small>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Looking back on your multi-hyphenate career as an art director, editor, makeup artist, and more, what advice would you give to creatives today who want to resist being boxed into one lane?<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019d say: learn your craft and then really learn the history behind it. Know it inside and out. Develop your style, not just in your work, but in how you move through the world. Style isn\u2019t only about lighting in a photo, it\u2019s how you behave on set, how you treat people, the words you use, how you dress, and how you carry yourself. Move with grace. Be aware of the power you have to create change. Every creative act matters. Your words and thoughts have power, so stay positive and intentional with them. I\u2019ve noticed a shift in younger people. Everyone\u2019s like, \u201cI\u2019m an art director,\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m a photographer.\u201d I once asked someone what camera they used, and she said, \u201cI don\u2019t have one.\u201d I was like, \u201cDo you take pictures with your mind?\u201d You have to actually do the work. I love dancing, but I wouldn\u2019t call myself a dancer\u2014unless I committed to it. You have to put in the time. Work on your craft, know it, and it&#8217;ll give you confidence. The more you learn about it, the more you can really own it yourself, and you won&#8217;t feel like an imposter. Definitely explore whatever interests you and go towards your interests. Do something you like to do because no matter what you do, you&#8217;re going to spend hours doing it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2025\/06\/IMG_8296-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3024\" height=\"3268\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-167213\" \/><br \/>\n<small> James Kaliardos  | Image courtesy of The Wall Group<\/small>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iman by Inez and Vinoodh for Visionaire | Image courtesy of The Wall Group Born in Detroit, Michigan, James Kaliardos was drawn to makeup from an early age. At just seven years old, he began doing his mother\u2019s makeup, a moment of discovery for both of them when it became clear he had a natural&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":450,"featured_media":167213,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6476,10414,16,13943],"tags":[12930,1335,10280],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167205"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/450"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=167205"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":167262,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167205\/revisions\/167262"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/167213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=167205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=167205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=167205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}