Congrats! Irish Make-Up Artist Emma Farrell Scoops Top Prize In L’Oreal Competition

Make-up artist Emma Farrell with Cheryl Cole and her winning model! Pic credit: @lorealparisuk on Instagram

The doll-eyes look Emma created for the L'Oréal competition. Pic credit: @makeup_emma on Instagram

Make-up guru Val Garland with Emma and Ruth Crilly of A Model Recommends. Pic credit: @modelrecommends on Instagram

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Emma was rubbing shoulders with serious stars at the UK competition, which was judged by L’Oréal spokesperson Cheryl Cole (debut-ing that new ‘do!), beauty blogger Ruth Crilly of A Model Recommends, international make-up artist Val Garland, beauty editor of Glamour mag, Alessandra Steinherr and Sarah Sharp, head of beauty at Superdrug.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked – I burst into tears like a big eejit!” says Emma. “I couldn’t really compose myself to even say anything; I was literally speechless.”

The contestants were given a make-up challenge – using S/S’15 as their inspiration, to do some sort of graphic liner. “I decided to do a kind of modern ’60s vibe but elongate rather than rounding it, and keep skin really fresh with just a hint of rose on the lips and a tiny hint of blush on the cheeks,” says Emma.

And the judges’ verdict? “I bumped into Val [Garland] afterwards and she said she felt I stuck to the brief and really listened to what she was asking for,” says Emma. “I think they were impressed with how clean the liner was and how symmetrical they were.”

Next up, it’ll be the final in Paris in May – hosted by Eva Longoria, it’ll be a star-studded couple of days of making up and challenges. “I’m getting nervous thinking about it!” says Emma. “But to be honest I’m not really thinking that far ahead – I’m basking in the celebrations!”

• A Model Recommends
• Cheryl Cole
• Emma Farrell
• L'Oreal Paris
• make-up
• Ruth Crilly
• Val Garland