Pat McGrath

Pat McGrath DBE is a visionary in beauty and an icon of diversity, celebrated worldwide for reshaping how we see make-up, fashion and representation. Born in Northampton to Jamaican parents, her early years were filled with creativity, inspired by her mother’s love for style and colour. That influence fuelled a lifelong belief that beauty belongs to everyone, regardless of race, gender or background. Today, Pat is recognised as one of the most powerful creative voices in the world, blending art, business and advocacy to create a legacy that reaches far beyond cosmetics.

Her journey began in the 1980s when she moved to London and started working alongside designers such as Alexander McQueen and John Galliano, where her experimental artistry quickly caught attention. In the early 1990s she collaborated with Edward Enninful at i-D magazine while juggling day jobs to fund her growing career. By 1999, Pat was invited by Giorgio Armani to help develop a new cosmetics line, before joining Procter & Gamble in 2004 as Global Cosmetics Creative Design Director. There she oversaw beauty direction for some of the world’s biggest brands. Her relentless creativity and deep understanding of skin tone, texture and individuality changed how products were developed, ensuring women of colour could finally see themselves reflected in global campaigns.

In 2015 Pat launched her own brand, Pat McGrath Labs, which became a billion-dollar company within just a few years and the best-selling beauty line at Selfridges. She has created iconic looks for countless runway shows and advertising campaigns with brands including Prada, Louis Vuitton and Versace. Her commitment to diversity is woven into everything she does, from hiring teams of mixed backgrounds to championing models of all ethnicities, sizes and identities. In 2021 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), the first make-up artist in history to receive the honour, recognised for her services to fashion, beauty and diversity.

As a keynote speaker, Pat shares her extraordinary story with energy and warmth, reflecting on the barriers she broke and the vision that drove her success. She explores the power of inclusion in creativity and business, the importance of authentic leadership, and how representation transforms culture. Audiences come away inspired by her resilience and her belief that true beauty is inclusive, innovative and limitless.