Make Up Allstars competition crowns winner

Make-up artist Rachel Somers was the winner of the first series of Make Up Allstars, which aired on Virgin Media Player in April.

Hosted by Paul Ryder, the make-up competition show took place consecutively over five nights. It followed eight aspiring make-up artists as they navigated creative challenges to impress the judges.

Make Up Allstars is the brainchild of Jennie Guinan, who owns and runs a makeup training centre called Allstars Academy in Dublin. Formerly known as Academy 92 Dublin, she has ran the academy for over four years. During the pandemic she hosted free live lessons online and started working on a make-up competition to air on YouTube.

Initially to be called Ireland's Ultimate Make Up Competition, the final project moved to Virgin Media Player and became Make Up Allstars.

“The show started with eight contestants and they had to make their way through lots of highly creative and precise make-up challenges,” she explained. “I was the lead judge on the show and I can assure you I didn’t make it easy for them!

“We had guest judges, including the owners of BiaBelle Beauty Bla and Aoibhinn Murphy; celebrity make-up artist Jade Mullett; and owner of BPerfect Cosmetics Brendan McDowell.”

With Rachel Somers crowned winner in the final episode, all five episodes are available on Virgin Media Player.