Dame Patricia Ann McGrath (born June 11, 1971, Northampton, England) is universally hailed as the most influential and innovative makeup artist of the modern era and the founder and CEO of Pat McGrath Labs. Celebrated for her fearless creativity and industry-breaking beauty launches, McGrath is the first makeup artist in history to be named a Dame Commander of the British Empire and, in 2025, assumed the role of Creative Director of Cosmetics at Louis Vuitton.
Early Life and Career
Born in Northampton to Jamaican immigrant Jean McGrath, Pat McGrath was raised in a working-class home shaped by her mother’s love of color, creativity, and experimentation. She completed an art foundation course at Northampton College, before moving to London in the late 1980s. By the 1990s, McGrath had become a force backstage with the likes of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and Edward Enninful at i-D magazine.
In 1999, she was recruited…
by Giorgio Armani for cosmetics development. By 2004, McGrath joined Procter & Gamble as Global Cosmetics Creative Design Director, working on Dolce & Gabbana, CoverGirl, and Max Factor.
Founding Pat McGrath Labs In 2015, after over two decades setting backstage trends for fashion’s elite, Pat McGrath launched her namesake brand – Pat McGrath Labs. The launch product, Gold 001, sold out almost instantly, setting a pattern for the brand’s record sell-outs.
By April 2019, McGrath Labs became the biggest-selling beauty brand in Selfridges’ history and hit a $1 billion valuation within just three years—cementing her as a rare “self-made” billionaire in beauty.
Leadership, Innovation, and Impact Creative Vision: For over 25 years, McGrath has created runway looks for 60+ couture and ready-to-wear shows each season in Milan, Paris, London, and New York for brands like Prada, Dior, Gucci, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and more…
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