Meet the new faces of British beauty (before everyone else does)
Because who better to represent the British beauty scene and showcase the season’s biggest trends? Yep, to celebrate Instagram – a platform that extols beauty in all its many forms – we asked UK readers to take part in an open Insta casting call and the feedback was overwhelming. You flocked to enter and, after hours of agonising, we finally whittled the lucky few down to just 18 women (and one man) who, as diverse as they are similar, represent all that British beauty means in 2017.
By Alessandra Steinherr
Photographs by Simon Emmett
Simon EmmettTammy Luc (left), 23, PR student
Beauty icon: Everyone is an icon to me
Hero product: Lasting Perfection Concealer £3.99 Collection
True beauty is… A smile in your eyes
Instagram: @tammylucRobyn Eldred (right), 20, Medical student
Beauty icon: Bella Hadid
Hero product: Majorette Cream Blush £24.50 Benefit
True beauty is… Internal
Instagram: @robyn.eldredClothing credits/ Tammy and Robyn wear: trench coats Burberry
Simon EmmettNetsai Tinaresse Dandajena, 30, Plus-size model
Beauty icon: Lupita Nyong’o
Hero product: Studio Fix Perfecting Powder £21.50 Mac Cosmetics
True beauty is… Found within you
Instagram: @africanbritishcurvemodelClothing credits/ Netsai wears: T-shirt Gap; earrings Alighieri
Simon EmmettElla Hammad, 25, Tunnel engineer
Beauty icon: Huda Kattan
Hero product: The Shock Mascara For False Lash Effect £23 YSL Beauty
True beauty is… Whatever you want it to be. There’s no definition – you can have loads of make-up or none – it’s whatever you make it
Instagram: @authenticallyellaClothing credits/ Ella wears: jacket BOSS; ring Ella’s own; henna by @henna_by_asmaali
Simon EmmettConnie Simmonds, 25, Make-up artist
Beauty icon: Elizabeth Taylor
Hero product: Wonderglow Face Primer £38.50 Charlotte Tilbury
True beauty is… Enhancing what you already have
Instagram: @cbeauty_Clothing credits/ Connie wears: body Une Piece; earring Connie’s own
Simon EmmettJordan Pritchett, 18, Vlogger
Beauty icon: Charlie Barker
Hero product: Ingredients Coconut Body Oil £2.54 Boots
True beauty is… Nature. It’s beautiful to be together
Instagram: @trailblazerlivingClothing credits/ Jordan wears: blouse Red Valentino; dress Maje; ribbon stylist’s own
Simon EmmettZina Brown, 22, Film studies student
Beauty icon: Rihanna
Hero product: Original Petroleum Jelly £1.50 Vaseline
True beauty is… Being true to yourself
Instagram: @_zinabrownClothing credits/ Zina wears: blouse and trousers both Stella McCartney
Simon EmmettZipporah Gene, 27, Journalist
Beauty icon: Naomi Campbell
Hero product: Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment £53 Paula’s Choice
True beauty is… Loving your flaws indiscriminately
Instagram: @shedoeslivingClothing credits/ Zipporah wears: suit J Brand; body Gap; bracelet Miansai
Simon EmmettSienna Piccioni, 25, Product manager
Beauty icon: Sade
Hero product: Bio-Oil £8.99
True beauty is… Having confidence to wear what you want and do what you want
Instagram: @siennatilaiClothing credits/ Sienna wears: shirt and trousers both BOSS
Simon EmmettXhead/ Elle McNamara, 26, Beauty blogger
Beauty icon: Cara Delevingne
Hero product: Glow Peel Pads £24 Pixi
True beauty is… Embracing what you’ve been given
Instagram: @bambidoesbeauty
Simon EmmettRebecca Hallaway, 26, Drama student
Beauty icon: Charli Howard
Hero product: Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion £12.47 Hado Labo
True beauty is… Within
Instagram: @beckibumClothing credits/ Rebecca wears: dress Altuzarra; earrings Kate Spade New York
Simon EmmettShungudzo Kuyimba (left), 27, Poet and musician
Beauty icon: The sky. Its bold use of colour and light tells a story that is universally intriguing
Hero product: Adaptasun Body Spray Strong Sun £39 Institut Esthederm
True beauty is… Fearless honesty
Instagram: @shungudzoChloe Sachdev (middle left), 30, Editor of online magazine Unseen24/7
Beauty icon: Erin Wasson
Hero product: Foundation Primer Radiance £30 Laura Mercier
True beauty is… Self-confidence. And being able to pull off red lipstick
Instagram: @chloesachdevClothing credits/ Chloe wears: dress Maje; earrings Lucy Folk
Maya Sedef (middle right), 30, Singer-songwriter
Beauty icon: My mum – she gave me my natural approach to beauty
Hero product: Ultra Facial Cream £24.50 Kiehl’s
True beauty is… An authentic smile
Instagram: @none_hzClothing credits/ Maya wears: jeans Mih Jeans; top and nose ring Maya’s own
Hannah Wiltshire (right), 31, Co-founder of Higher Studio
Beauty icon: Kate Moss
Hero product: Blush in Mata Hari £23 Nars Cosmetics
True beauty is… Always seeing the world positively
Instagram: @higher_studioClothing credits/ Hannah wears: dress Yohji Yamamoto; earrings Charlotte Chesnais
Simon EmmettDane Pemberton, 22, Baker
Beauty icon: Beyoncé
Hero product: Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser £35 Sunday Riley
True beauty is... Being a whole person; knowing yourself
Instagram: @danepembertonClothing credits/ Dane wears: vest Topman
Simon EmmettNuala Mould, 56, Mum-of-two
Beauty icon: Princess Grace of Monaco
Hero product: Diorshow Black Out Spectacular Volume Intense Black Khôl Mascara £22.50 Dior
**True beauty is…**Self-confidence
Instagram: @nualamouldClothing credits/ Nuala wears: jacket and jeans both Frame; blouse Stella McCartney;
earrings EshviHolly White, 18, Model
Beauty icon: Marilyn Monroe
Hero product: Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bang-Bang £19 Smashbox
True beauty is… Being yourself
Instagram: @hollyrebeccawhiteClothing credits/ Holly wears: skirt French Connection; earrings Thomas Sabo; T-shirt Holly’s own
Simon EmmettTomasina Slater, 28, Mum-of-one
Beauty icon: My mum
Hero product: Legendary Brows £18.50 Charlotte Tilbury
True beauty is… Being original. Stick to your roots and know who you are
Instagram:@tittlemouse88Clothing credits/ Tomasina wears: dress Tibi; earrings Niza Huang; bangle Cartier; cuff Miansai; rings Tomasina’s own
