Ep 58: Nigel Stanislaus (Celebrity Makeup Artist, Mr Maybelline & Judge on Australia's Next Top Model + Asia's Next Top Model)

Nigel Stanislaus is a highly celebrated makeup artist who’s been a part of international television shows like Project Runway, X-Factor, Make Me A Supermodel and also a judge on Australia’s Next Top Model and Asia’s Next Top Model. His editorial works span the likes of Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan L’Officiel, Elle, Marie Claire, GQ, and Esquire and he has worked with celebrities like John Legend, Suki Waterhouse, Kelly Osborne, Gigi & Bella Hadid, Scary Spice - Melanie Brown, and most recently, Jenna Dewan and Tina Arena. But what is it really like being such a celebrated makeup artist who was known for almost a decade as “Mr Maybelline”? What did it take to get to where he is today? In this episode, we dive into what it was like growing up in Singapore, how he almost became a professional sniper, discovering the world of fashion and makeup as well as the realities of living the jet-setting life, and what he is now up to since leaving his position as Makeup Director at Maybelline, where he had represented Singapore in NYFW. Highlights: 1:59 The story behind the name “Stanislaus” 2:44 Being influenced by the feminine energy around him 4:59 Discovering his “front of house” 7:22 Being different from other guys 8:27 Studying apparel design & merchandising at Temasek Polytechnic 11:19 Obtaining an internship in New York & attending his first catwalk (which included meeting Kate Moss!) 17:45 Completing national service in Singapore & discovering a talent for being a sniper 20:20 Excelling at Monash University 22:41 Doing freelance makeup on the side 23:40 Being told he would never make it as he “didn’t fit the profile” 25:39 Getting over his rejections 27:20 Getting his first agent 28:53 The importance of social media 30:52 Nigel’s wildest briefs 32:51 How Nigel constantly upskills 34:32 Admiring “stalker-ish” persistence in his assistants 37:39 The reality of living a jet-setting life 44:14 Appearing on television 47:21 How Nigel decided to stop being the Makeup Director of Maybelline aka Mr Maybelline 54:33 How Nigel overcomes loneliness 📍Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/58 💌 Sign up for the weekly STIMY newsletter: https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/ebf231f605