The make-up artist using colours she can't see

Ailish McBride, a 20-year-old make-up artist from Belfast, is making waves in the latest series of Glow Up, a popular show on BBC Three. Ailish is not just any contestant; she is a partially color-blind make-up artist, which presents unique challenges in her craft. Color blindness, also known as color vision deficiency, means that Ailish has difficulty distinguishing between certain colors. For instance, she struggles to tell red from orange and often sees light blue as gray. Despite these challenges, Ailish is determined to showcase her talent and creativity on the show. In one of the episodes, Ailish is seen working on a model whose face is painted in various shades of blue. She is focused and uses a thin brush to apply the make-up, demonstrating her skill and concentration. Ailish has black wavy hair and wears a black distressed jumper, along with silver hoop earrings and a necklace. The make-up studio is filled with products and bright lights, creating an inspiring atmosphere for creativity. Ailish's journey on Glow Up is not just about competition; it is also about breaking barriers and challenging perceptions. She believes that being color-blind does not limit her abilities as a make-up artist. 'I love to challenge myself,' Ailish says. 'I wanted to show people that even if you are color-blind, you can still do big, bold, creative looks. ' In her first creative brief on the show, Ailish decided to embrace her color-blindness and experiment with a vibrant explosion of colors. She painted her own face with a white base layer and added swirls of lilac, pink, red, orange, yellow, blue, and green. The judges, Val Garland and Dominic Skinner, acknowledged her creativity, although they noted that her final look was somewhat flat and simplistic. Ailish found herself in the Face Off, competing against another contestant, Joe Tiernan, to stay in the competition. Val praised Ailish for her determination, saying, 'I think it's amazing you've got this much color down being color-blind. That is showing a very determined make-up artist. ' Ailish credits her understanding of color theory for helping her mix and apply colors effectively. She has also developed a system of labeling her make-up palettes with the names of the colors, which allows her to navigate her work more easily. Ailish's story is not just about her personal challenges; it reflects a broader reality. Approximately 3 million people in the UK are affected by color blindness, with a higher prevalence in men than women. Ailish's family has a history of color blindness, as both her father and sister are fully color-blind. While there is no cure for this condition, Ailish has learned to adapt and thrive in her chosen field. Despite facing elimination in the competition, Ailish remains proud of her journey on Glow Up. She has always dreamed of being on the show since she first watched it at the age of 14. Now that she has completed her degree, Ailish is excited to pursue her goals in the make-up industry, including working on films and in theaters. As she embarks on this new chapter, Ailish reflects on her experiences and asks, 'Can I get a Ding Dong? ' Her story serves as an inspiration to others, showing that with determination and creativity, one can overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.