Glow Up Ireland starts this Thursday, September 2 on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
The show, hosted by Love Island star Maura Higgins, will see makeup artists compete to win the title of Ireland’s next makeup star.
Industry legends Cathyanne Mac Allister and Emma O’Byrne will judge the ten talented makeup artists who are battling it out for the title.
Meet the stars of the show:
Jade
Jade is a Cork-based makeup artist and she takes inspiration from everyday objects “anything between a magnet on my fridge to a packet of sweets”.
The 20-year-old describes her style as a “colourful explosion to the eyes”.
The makeup student has grown a massive social media following, where she shares her creative looks.
Check out her Instagram and TikTok.
Niall
19-year-old Niall describes himself as “the only gay in Kerry”.
The fashion student is a huge fan of the show’s host Maura Higgins, and shares his epic makeup looks with his 28.1K Instagram followers and 598.8K TikTok fans.
Check out his Instagram and TikTok.
Megan
Megan is a self-taught makeup artist from Leitrim, who has a degree in Fine Art.
The 27-year-old was her mother’s full-time carer until she was put into a home earlier this year amid her battle with Alzheimer’s.
Megan’s mum is her number one fan, and would be right behind Megan on her Glow Up Ireland journey if she could.
Check out Megan’s Instagram and TikTok.
Glen Edward
Glen Edward is a baker by day and a diva by night!
The 28-year-old is from the Liberty’s in Dublin, and said: “Makeup in many ways has saved my life, it has helped me to express who I am and how I’m feeling even when I can’t understand these things, and has given me an outlet to become myself.”
Glen’s late grandmother was his biggest supporter, who “loved to show off pictures of me in drag to all of her friends and that encouraged me to not let her down and continue to do what I loved”.
Check out his Instagram and TikTok.
Leah
Leah is a 22-year-old MUA and mum of a four-year-old son named Rian.
The Tralee native was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia last year, which gave her a wake-up call that her body is deteriorating and she has no time to waste.
Check out her Instagram and TikTok.
Caolán
Caolán moved from Gorey in Wexford to London when he was just 19-years-old.
The now 29-year-old describes himself as “a creative person who feeds off other creative people”.
He says: “Makeup was something I always loved and it was one of the biggest things that made growing up difficult but then turned into one of the best things in my adult life.”
Check out his Instagram.
Laura
Laura is a 33-year-old with a big personality.
She moved to London when she was 22, and became a part of the thriving gay and drag community in the Soho area – where she found her true self.
Laura says: “I eat, sleep, and breathe makeup, and I love it with a fiery, burning passion!”
Check out her Instagram and TikTok.
Carol
Carol is a 43-year-old “at home mammy” from Kilkenny, who feels it is never too late to go for what you want in life.
She is a perfectionist with a huge fear of failure, and has no filter!
Check out her Instagram and TikTok.
Marie
Marie is a graphic designer and self-taught MUA from Carlingford.
The 36-year-old has made it to the finals in the NYX UK Face awards, and won a scholarship to study SFX in Hollywood as chosen by Academy Award Winner Ve Neill.
“Makeup is much more than just makeup, it holds transformative powers to take you on a journey,” she says.
Check out her Instagram.
Michael aka Pixiewoo
Michael is a makeup artist, DJ and drag queen – who goes by the name Pixiewoo.
The 30-year-old moved back in with his parents in Urlingford, Kilkenny during the pandemic.
He says: “Growing up gay in rural Ireland meant I had to hide a lot of myself. When I discovered makeup it gave me a license to really embrace who I am and helped me connect with other people like me.”
Check out his Instagram and TikTok.
