GLOW UP is a reality competition which sees make-up artists competing against one another for the title of Britain’s next make-up star.
Now in its seventh season, this series welcomed one of Reading’s own talents, Jade Mistry, as one of the ten brushing up for the chance to win.
“I’ve always been interested in make-up,” she explains.
“I look back often at a picture from primary school when I won a competition to get an illustration of mine into a book about children’s ambitions for when they were older.
“And my submission was that I wanted to be a make-up artist; I used to buy those slightly rubbish giant make-up sets from Argos– I can’t remember there ever being one thing that sparked my interest in it.
“It’s always been in my life.”
Ahead of the airing of the final on Wednesday, June 19, she said: “I’m feeling good about it, and I’m going to watch the final as it airs with the cast in London.
“Though I couldn’t wait to see it so I did watch it on BBC iPlayer this morning– I was nervous about this episode coming out.
“I wasn’t pleased with how my creative brief came out, but that’s all part of the process, and you have to look at the positives, and this is definitely one of them.”
The show’s format sees two contestants placed in the Red Chair following their first task, which gives them a fifteen-minute penalty on the next assignment, and two are pitted against one another to save their place in the series and avoid elimination in the Face Off.
During her time on the show, Jade showed an impressive track record, never having been placed in the Red Chair or the Face Off, making the final having never been up for elimination.
Looking at her track record on the program, she said: “I was never put in the Face Off or the Red Chair, which is a really positive thing.”
“I was working in IT recruitment at the time I was cast– I hadn’t been working in make-up for quite a while.
“I saw the adverts for the application, but the idea of putting myself out there like that was one I found quite scary, so I left it.
“I was then messaged on Instagram by a member of the casting team, and applied just to see what happened.
“I got called back, and called back again– I didn’t really think about what would happen if I made it on.”
She was then offered an in-person audition: “That was such a fun day of just doing make up again and meeting other people.
“Then I got the call that they had cast me, and I hadn’t thought about what would happen if I got in, so I felt really anxious.
“I went back and forth on it, but then I realised it would be so silly not to take what is a once in a lifetime opportunity– you have to just go for it and see what happens.”
Among her highlights of her time on the show, she said: “It all seemed very surreal, even when I got to the finals.
“It didn’t catch up with me until after it had happened, but taking part in the red carpet event in the final and meeting Danessa Myricks during the master class– that was insane, because she’s one of my favourite artists.
“But just being back in that environment, and going through that process with people who have the same passion as you is just priceless.
“It was such a supportive group– even the producers had to remind us occasionally that it was a competition.
“But we were competing against ourselves, really.”
She explains: “There is definitely a community within the industry, but it can be cut-throat, especially when you’re just starting out.
“I think the fashion industry is where it can be really cut-throat; there’s so many people who want to do what you want to do, there’s no clear career path.
“It can be important who you know, and even one thing can transform your career– but you can wait for that for years to come along.
“Whereas when I’ve worked in beauty retail, or even IT recruitment, there’s a clear progression and a set path.
“Not knowing how to make those steps and doing as much as you can is more daunting.”
Following on from her time on the show, Jade has taken the plunge and returned to pursuing her passions: “I decided to quit my job a month after filming.
“It’s my passion, and I want to be doing something I actually enjoy– I was made for it.
“Now I want to make a name for myself in the industry, have the autonomy to work with interesting people and events.
“I’d love to do some editorial work too; when you’re starting off, fashion is a good place to start, and I want to travel– I want those red carpets.”
As well as that, however, Jade has also championed diversity in the industry: “I really want to raise advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the industry– that was one of the big factors for me deciding to go on the show.
“I also work with a charity called Look Good, Feel Better, who are an incredibly charity working to empower those going through cancer treatments.
“They hold monthly workshops, and the attendees get to meet others going through the same things as them, with a couple of hours to pamper themselves and forget what they’re going through a bit.”
Look Good, Feel Better runs a series of monthly workshops in central Reading’s Roseate Hotel, as well as offering events around the country and a set of resources online.
More information about Look Good, Feel Better is available via: lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk
More information about Jade’s make up work is available via: instagram.com/jadeemistry
