MAGAP Australian Makeup Artist of the Year 2023!

By Louise May

Chereine Waddell was incredibly fortunate to grow up in an eccentric household with parents who celebrated and encouraged creativity, colour, and play. Chereine credits them for her journey as a makeup artist.

There were no expectations or obligations; they always told her to follow her heart. When Chereine started as a baby-faced makeup artist at the age of 17, it was out of a desire to play, experiment, and express her creativity. She is pleased to say that all these years later, nothing has changed in that regard. Her work has always been a little left of centre, with an obsession for art and collage.

Chereine have always loved learning and has seen value in challenges and self-development. As a result, doing makeup was never enough for her. She studied art, fashion design, and graphic design. These pursuits deepened her desire to do more than just create an image for the sake of an image.

Chereine wanted to explore ideas, emotions, narratives, and be curious in the pursuit of process, outcome, and post-production to give an image more depth. The drive has remained the same, but she believes the quality, knowledge, contacts, and outcomes have refined over time. Like a fine wine, Chereine Waddell has matured with experience and wisdom.

In this interview, our Beauty Biz Editor Louise May, explores Chereine Waddell’s journey to becoming MAGAP Australian Makeup Artist of the Year 2023. From her eccentric upbringing to her passion for pushing creative boundaries, Chereine’s story is one of persistence, inspiration, and remarkable achievements.

Congratulations on winning the Makeup Artist of the Year award at the MAGAP Awards! How does it feel to receive this recognition for your talent and achievements in the field of makeup artistry?

Thank you so much. In all honesty, I did the worst acceptance speech on the awards night. By the time they announced the Makeup Artist of the Year award, I was just embarrassingly speechless. The room was filled with incredible talent, successful and established artists who had submitted amazing work.

Many of them are artists that I look up to with total admiration and inspiration. The whole experience feels quite surreal. However, when I look at my bookshelf where my awards are displayed, I am reminded that patience, persistence, and true passion manifest in beautiful and unexpected ways.

Can you share some of the highlights and achievements in your makeup artistry that led to you receiving the Makeup Artist of the Year award?

There have been so many highlights over the years. It’s often not until I update my Bio or CV that I truly realise how fortunate I have been to have had this career for nearly 20 years, and hopefully another 20 more.

Some of my achievements include working with amazing fashion brands such as Nicola Finetti, We Are Handsome, By Johnny, Romance Was Born, General Pants, and Dickies. I have also worked on popular TV shows including The Voice, IDOL, X Factor, Come Dance with Me, and This Is Your Life. Additionally, the opportunity to work on the magical live-action Lion King Theatre Production.

My work has been featured in numerous publications, including Elle China, Vogue Italia, In Style, Culture, Oyster, Peppermint, Black, Laud, The Journal, Lucy, Pap, Factice, Vulkan, Rebel, and Schön.

I have collaborated with commercial clients including Walt Disney, QVB, Natural History Museum, Sydney Film Festival, After Pay, Mercedes, Merivale, W Hotels, Salvation Army, AFL, NSW Fire and Rescue, Adobe & LG. It has been an array of vibrant experiences that have ultimately made me versatile and competent in my skill sets. I try not to take any of these opportunities for granted. It has been a blast.

The MAGAP Australian Makeup Artist of the Year award has been previously won by highly respected artists. How does it feel to join the ranks of these esteemed professionals, and what do you think sets you apart from your predecessors?

It is a great honour and privilege, to say the least. Apart from my yellow hair, which makes me stand out in a room (and helps my husband, who is quite blind, not lose me in a crowd), I think what sets me apart is that there is only one of me.

I have, for the most part, stayed in my lane and stayed true to what I love and enjoy doing creatively, even when others at times wanted me to compromise my style. The road I have taken is often less travelled and requires time to carve, as well as self-assurance along the way.

But as a result, I’m not afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and push boundaries. That is ultimately what drives me. I firmly believe that success waits for us behind fear, so my motto is always to do it afraid. What sets me apart is my belief in what my mother instilled in me—I am unique. And I am proud of that.

How has winning this award influenced your future goals and aspirations as a makeup artist?

That’s a great question! There is no doubt that awards give a nice confidence boost to one’s self-esteem. I think it is important to take a moment to celebrate the milestones, but it’s also crucial not to overstay the visit and become too comfortable. In 2023, I’m all about momentum. What seemed impossible became possible, and now is a great time to reflect and ask myself, “What else am I capable of?”

Whether it be securing bigger clients, getting more magazine covers, or pursuing more education to inspire others, what I know for sure is that if you never try, you will never know. It’s the art of continuing to try.

How do you approach your craft, and what inspires you when creating unique and captivating makeup looks for your clients or projects?

If I had to sum up how I approach my craft, it would be with curiosity. There are a multitude of things that inspire me, including nature, art , light, textures, food, and objects. Inspiration comes from the most unexpected sources if you’re open to it. But primarily, I’m inspired by nostalgia, emotions, and narratives. For me, that’s what gives my work depth and connection.

Winning multiple MAGAP awards, including Creative Makeup Artist of the Year and Beauty Makeup Artist of the Year, speaks volumes about your versatility and artistic talent. How do you think this recognition will inspire other makeup artists to push their creative boundaries?

What I hope I can inspire in other makeup artists is to follow their passion with intent and purpose. Pushing boundaries is a conscious choice. When I was in university studying fine arts, one of the students was lost as to what to make art about. My teacher’s answer was, “What are you obsessed with? Make art about that.” That piece of advice has never left me. I am constantly finding random things and asking myself, “How can I put that on a face?” Because I’m obsessed with collage, sculpture, and decoration. I believe the biggest misconception is that creativity means doing avant-garde. If an artist is obsessed with brows, lips, skin, or anything else, do what feels comfortable, get the shot, and then ask yourself, “How could I push this further?” Take the shot again and then ask, “What’s the furthest I could push this?” Knowing that you may create a hot mess or, in those rare moments, an award-winning makeup and a shiny trophy to remind you that the reward is in taking the risk.

Disclaimer: Do not try this on paying bridal clients or highend commercial jobs. But make time to play, experiment, and create in a safe space with people you trust. What you may not know is that some of my best work has been done in my living room, wearing Ugg boots, with my dog licking the glitter off our floor (joking—she’s usually licking the model’s feet instead).

What message or advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists who are looking to make their mark in the industry and potentially win awards like the Makeup Artist of the Year?

Find your lane, find your tribe, and do it afraid. Success is on the other side of failure. That’s what makes it beautiful and enriching.