Model documents how one makeup artist made her day hours after harrowing experience at fashion week

In the last decade, beauty and makeup brands have actively started becoming more inclusive. There have been substantial positive changes in the beauty industry with respect to how different skin tones are treated and catered to as per their specific needs. Megan Milan, a Black model—who goes by @megan.milan on TikTok—recently highlighted the stark difference between working with a makeup artist who knows how to enhance her skin tone and features vs. working with one who thinks it's okay to make do with makeup suited for lighter skin tones.

The New York Fashion Week is one of the busiest times for the fashion industry and as a model, Milan had many shows to walk in. In a video she shared online, the model can be seen getting her makeup done by an artist who uses a foundation that is much too light for her skin tone. Despite Milan looking visibly uncomfortable throughout the process, once the makeup is done, the artist insists that it looks good.

However, Milan does not feel good. "I look like a ghost," she tells the professional. In the video caption, Milan explained: "I normally bring my foundation just in case, but I let my guard down. Plus, I didn't want to carry a makeup bag all day, this was my first job of the day." After this disappointing experience, she decided to visit Sephora to redo her makeup and return to the show. She seemed visibly bummed about leaving her shoot midway to go out for makeup, all on her own. Milan can later be seen looking quite upset on a video call with someone as she relays what happened.

In a follow-up video, she documented her trip to Sephora, at the end of which she looked absolutely gorgeous—highlighting how the right makeup does wonders. "You can't even tell I just had an entire breakdown," the text overlay in the last frame of her video states. While doing her makeup, Milan also spoke about how disappointing it is that someone of her complexion has to go through such experiences even in 2023.

She states in the video while at Sephora: "I'm so irritated. I am so tired. Barely got enough sleep and I have another show after this. If you didn't know how to do Black girls' makeup, why would you even? So rude!" In the caption of her Instagram reel about the same, she wrote: "I just wanted to say, if you feel you do not know how to do our makeup or you never have, please DO NOT use us as test dummies. This is our career. And it’s very disheartening and embarrassing."

The video then shows makeup artist Donnie Davy enhancing Milan's makeup and taking it to the next level. Milan looks visibly happy after working with Davy—who is the head makeup artist for the HBO show "Euphoria"—and reveals as much through a text overlay that reads: "Donni Davy turning my frown upside down 1 hour later."

Davy also commented on Milan's video, saying: "Omg Megan. I'm so happy to have met you and had the pleasure of painting your face!! I hope we meet again beautiful Queen." Responding to the comment, Milan expressed her gratitude to the makeup artist. "Thank you so much Donniiii! You literally made my day!! We will definitely meet again," she promised.

Davy also addressed Milan's videos in a clip posted on her account where she shared her part of the story. She said that by the time she met Milan, the model had already done her base makeup. "I amped it up with a magical eye and cheeks and a little lip too," she revealed.

She then gave a little pro tip to all makeup artists, mentioning some of the must-haves in their kits to work on any skin tone under the sun. She pointed out that the concealer pro palettes from MAC Cosmetics are great since they have a lot of different undertones that go quite deep. They are also great to be mixed with other foundations, she adds. Davy then went on to ask makeup artists to be able to be critical of themselves, explaining that doing so is one of the best ways to improve their skills. Mistakes happen, but what is more important is how one reacts to those mistakes and rectifies them, says Davy.

Since the beauty industry is still growing, some setbacks—like what happened with Milan—are unfortunate but inevitable. Hopefully, one day as we continue this trajectory of growth and inclusivity, we can rule out such mishaps. Until then, we take it one day at a time. Milan's encounter with Davy goes to show just how far we've come and how. So here's to Davy for making things better for Milan and turning her frown upside down.