Black makeup artists are crucial to the film industry. They offer more diversity and styles, and give Black actors someone they can rely upon for proper makeup styling. These makeup artists are important because they understand Black skin. But it’s not enough to have skin in this game.
Black makeup artists continue to be underrepresented, and one of the few biggest well-known names is Bernadine Anderson. She isn’t just a name.
Anderson became Hollywood’s first Black makeup artist in 1968, but it wasn’t until after she filed a lawsuit against the film industry for discrimination. The lawsuit led to her earning a 3-year apprenticeship at Warner Brothers Studios. After that her career took off.
Anderson became a heavily requested artist. For decades she’s been on set for some of the biggest movie productions, including Coming to America, Harlem Nights, and Boomerang. While Anderson’s career shows how important Black makeup artists are, the fight’s not over yet.
Bernadine Anderson fought against a billion dollar industry so she could fulfill her dreams. Our people can do the same no matter what industry, especially because it can help pave the way for future generations. We’re all stars, even if we don’t work in Hollywood.