What It's Really Like Doing the Makeup of Some of the Most Powerful Women in Politics

Carl Ray is a Washington DC-based makeup artist and owner of a makeup studio in One80 Salon. He has worked with some of the most influential women in politics, including Nancy Pelosi, Sonia Sotomayor, and for the past 10 years, Michelle Obama. The following story was told to Kelsey Castañon and edited for length and clarity.

I got introduced to makeup when I was 14 years old. I'm an only child, and I would watch my mom do her makeup in the mornings. I often asked if I could help her out and told her that I could do a better job. She obliged. When my parents were going through a divorce, I realized that I was making her happy. I was filling a void for myself, creating something beautiful and making someone feel and look their best. Then I kind of forgot about it for a while, because I was so young.

I was reintroduced to makeup when I was in my early 20s. I worked at a shop in DC called EFX [editor's note: EFX is now Bluemercury] that sold hair products, soaps, skin care, and makeup. I was very attracted to the makeup section and couldn't stay away from that area of the store, so they made me the resident makeup artist.

One day, I was doing a woman's makeup for her wedding day. They took pictures, and the next thing I know, I'm in Washingtonian magazine. I got a little article written about me. I came to find out that the woman was the editor in chief of the magazine. She had put in a photo of me doing her makeup. So I ripped the story out, ran to the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Washington DC, and asked them if they needed a makeup artist. They hired me on the spot. I was there for 15 years. That's how I got introduced to and met a lot of powerful, A-list, dynamic people coming in and out of the doors of the hotel.

I'm not really interested in politics. I have a political view, but I don't share it or talk about it. That's part of the beauty of what I do. I just treat everyone exactly the same. I don't have an agenda. And because of that, I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of different, dynamic people within the political realm.

I worked with Sonia Sotomayor the day she was being sworn in. I've worked with Elena Kagan, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Valerie Jarrett. Nancy Pelosi was wonderful. With most of these women, though, you sign nondisclosure agreements because you want to keep that level of trust and loyalty, and that's what I'm all about. They want the same things as anyone else. I do everything I can to make them look and feel their best, no matter her job, title, or what they are known for. When someone would come in to the Four Seasons, I'd take into account what they were wearing, what type of event it was, and the best way to bring out their inner beauty, and I would just try to make them feel comfortable so they could sell their message without being looked at and feeling odd. Just be the best version of yourself. That's my motto.

Of course, there are general things you keep in mind with their makeup because these women are in politics. People can be critical, and it does matter the type of face you're doing for each occasion. If it's a state dinner, for example, you can do more. If it's a rope line event — meeting people one-on-one — not so much. In those cases, I keep everything neutral and pretty. I'm not trying to put my name out there like, "Look at the bright lip or smoky eye he gave her!" No. I want it to be about their message and what they're doing.

When I was working at the Four Seasons, I received an email from the White House asking me if I'd like to audition for the role of Michelle's makeup artist. I was sent three pictures of how she likes to look and asked if I'd like to come in and do her makeup. Of course, I said yes. I was so nervous. I walked in thinking, "Just do the best job you can, and be honest, and be yourself." We hit it off really well. I told her I was nervous, and she giggled. I did her makeup, and I got a phone call back from her within three days asking me if I'd like to come back in. . . and then again and again.

Next thing you know, I was traveling around the world with her. That was 10 years ago.

My days have changed since she was in the White House. Back then, it could get hectic. I used to work with her three, four, five days a week, just depending on what was going on. I could go in two to three times a day. It was always something — moving, moving, moving. One day would be visiting with children. One day we would be doing a magazine cover. One day you have diplomats from around the world visiting. One day we would be doing the Ellen Show. One day we'd be doing her official First Lady portrait. It was a rollercoaster; everything moved so fast. Luckily I always knew four to six months in advance what I was doing, so I could schedule my life or other jobs around her.