Meet Emily Cheng
Billie Eilish on the cover of Vogue, MUA by Emily Cheng
In this week’s Meet the Backstage we’re talking about Emily Cheng, one of our favourite makeup artists at the moment, who has as her signature soft glam, a very natural beauty rather than masking it.
Emily’s work, seen on red carpets, magazine covers, music videos, and campaigns, always keeps everyone talking about it for months for its radiant, fresh-faced allure.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Cheng discovered her passion for makeup as a teenager, but unlike all of us, it was iut of necessity. Having monolids, she often found that the usual makeup techniques didn’t help her features. This pushed her to create her own methods, teaching herself early on that makeup isn’t about “copying techniques” as she says but about understanding each face and knowing how to bring out its best.
Like many artists, she started small, assisting industry pros, learning on the job, and developing her techniques throughout the years. Starting with bridal makeup, she later had the opportunity to assist the legendary Pat McGrath. These experiences allowed her to develop a technique that emphasizes natural beauty and highlight her clients’ best features
Now, her client list includes some of our favorite stars, such as JENNIE, Janelle Monáe and Gracie Abrams. She’s also known for her long-standing work with Billie Eilish, having created the singer’s iconic looks for the Met Gala, the Oscars red carpet, the Grammys, and major magazine covers like Rolling Stone, Variety, and Vogue.
Most recently, Cheng’s makeup on Gracie Abrams, for the Grammys ceremony went viral on TikTok, sparking a wave of recreations as users tried to replicate the eye look. Emily is one of the most popular and talented makeup artists in the industry as of right now, being authentic, and allowing her clients’ best features to shine.
Now represented by The Wall Group, she keeps to set the standard for modern, understated luxury in makeup, proving that sometimes, less really is more.
Follow Robbie on Instagram.
