Meet the Midlands MUAs competing in Glow Up

The make-up competition series, Glow Up, is set to return for a seventh series on Wednesday 30th April and among the announced contestants are several hailing from the Midlands.

Rahual (He/Him) is from Birmingham and works as both a make-up artist and photographer. According to the press release from the BBC’s Media Centre, he “likes to bring out the inner diva of his clients and make everyone feel like the main character.”

Joshua (He/Him) was born in Stoke-On-Trent but now lives in Merseyside. His journey with make-up started at university but he honed his make-up skills as the drag queen, Lexi Blac. Eventually, he wants to retire from drag to work full-time as “a celebrity make-up artist, with a focus on queer and drag-inspired artistry working with the Chappel Roans, the Lady Gagas and the Sam Smiths of the world.”

Joe (He/They) is a make-up artist from Wales who now lives in Birmingham. His love of make-up originates from watching his mother apply eyeliner, but it was lockdown that really allowed him to experiment and fall in love with the art. Joe’s (@jpt.beauty) “dream is to be the go-to artist for magazine cover shoots for the likes of Vogue, Elle and Cosmopolitan and to be renowned amongst the industry.”

These three MUAs will compete alongside Ailish (She/They) from Belfast, Cherise (She/Her) from London, Jade (She/Her) from Reading, Jake (He/They) from Yorkshire, Jamie (He/Him) from London, Kat (She/Her) from Liverpool, and Mia (She/Her) from Wales.

“Each week, ten aspiring make-up artists will be judged on their creative skills and ability to perform under pressure, in incredible Professional Assignments from working backstage at a fashion show to learning from the best in TV & SFX make-up artistry to mastering West End Theatre looks, Glow Up is back bigger and better than ever.”

The new series of Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star airs on Wednesday 30th April on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.