This story was written by Shonagh Walker, prior to the sad passing of Tiffany Johnston. Shonagh has written a special tribute to her dear friend Tiffany which you can read at the end of her story.
Tiffany Johnston is one of the most inspirational, successful and genuine femmes in the world of beauty, fashion and celebrity. The LA Based brunette beauty, who is Senior Global Make-Up Artist with M.A.C cosmetics, is literally a legend in fashion, beauty, make-up and celeb circles.
I first met Tiffany about 10 years ago. I was in LA for a whistle stop on my way to a ski trip in Colorado.
I recall at the time, she was on a huge job, making up an A-grade celebrity that neither of us can remember now because well, 10 years have passed, and she has worked with so many famous faces.
Tiffany was running late, which is a dreadful habit of mine, so I totally understood. Her divine agent called me and asked if I minded that she came to my hotel instead of our original, more formal, arranged meeting place.
I was seriously so nervous to meet someone who had achieved so much in the celebrity, fashion and beauty world, but also humbled that she was courteous and kind enough to respect that I was travelling and would rather chat to her by the pool at The Standard with a margarita in hand.
What was meant to be a 20-minute interview turned into a two hour talk fest that was like meeting a friend you never knew you had. Tiffany, like me, is obsessed with animals. She is a self-confessed “soccer mom” and she loves nothing more than staying home and watching Animal Planet (she actually does that for her menagerie, rather than herself).
Make-up Artistry is In Tiffany Johnston’s Blood
Tiffany cut her teeth in the business at a very young age. Her mother, Deborah Wiese, was Helen Reddy’s personal hairstylist and make-up artist, and was responsible for Helen’s iconic bowl cut. Tiffany also sported the same style at the time. Of course.
“I remember being two years old and my mom chose my outfit to go backstage to meet Helen Reddy and hang out with her son while Helen was on stage,” she recalls with a laugh. “We played Lego and then he had to go out on stage when Helen sang You and Me Against The World. I was side of stage and I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t able to keep playing Lego with him! My mother also worked with greats like Barry Manilow and even Elvis Presley. She was my whole reason for getting into this industry and I am just so grateful.
“She literally put me up for my first ever job when I was 14! It was for a beauty pageant and there were 10 to 12 girls. I needed to teach them to do makeup for stage. I put them all in green sparkling eyeliner pencil and shadow with orange lipstick. I am sure it was such a wrong thing to do but it worked for the time! It was funny. It would have been 1986. I got paid $300 and I thought, ‘this gig is OK!’ “
Luminaries Who Love Tiffany
Tiffany Johnston has come a long way since making up beauty pageant contestants. She has made up the likes of mega-stars including Mick Jagger, Bill Nighy, Al Gore, Al Pacino, Crispin Glover, Ed Burns, Anne Heche, supermodel Isabella Fontana and the list goes on.
“It’s always hard to pick a favourite, as everyone is always so nice, but I must say my favourite celebrity is Mick Jagger,” she recalls with warmth and a smile coming through in her voice down the international phone line.
“He was so amazing. He is the most compelling, charming man. I understand why he has children around the world, and I mean that with all respect, because this guy is incredible!
“He was so cordial and there was nothing that made me feel uncomfortable. Out of all my celebrities – and I have had some bad meetings – he was the best. People were taking our pictures and he was putting his arm around me. He invited me to his party and put me on his list. I have never ever had a celebrity treat me like that. I have always had them say thank you and be respectful but sometimes I see them again and sometimes I don’t. In this case he was inviting me everywhere. We were both very happily married at the time, so it wasn’t a case of anyone being untoward. He was simply a genuinely kind person.”
“I also adored Al Gore because he taught me so much about the environment and the earth and I didn’t expect that. He invited to dinner with his wife Mary and one of their daughters. I got the chance to do Mary and their daughter’s make-up. It was hilarious, as Mary had been instrumental in banning the sales of a Beastie Boys album that had cuss words in it. I got the chance to tell her that she ruined my teenage years because I couldn’t get that album! She literally was like, “I’m so sorry!” But we had a good laugh, and she still hired me again after that. I love them so much. If Al Gore ever ran again for president again, I would so vote for him.
“Anne Heche was amazing too. When we were photographing her, it was pouring with rain. She wasn’t bougie at all. She simply casually asked, “how do I look in the rain?’”
I said, “You look like there’s been rain falling”, so we touched her up and she did her thing and that made me a huge fan of hers. She was just down to earth.
Fashion Week
As a senior global make-up director for M.A.C Cosmetics, Tiffany travels the world creating looks for Fashion Week in Milan, London, Paris and New York, or at least she did before Covid.
“The energy is so frenetic backstage, but oh my gosh, I love it. I can’t wait until we can get back to work again!”
International Women’s Day
Tiffany regularly directs and works with make-up teams at New York, Paris, London and Milan Fashion weeks as a team member of M.A.C cosmetics, but despite that high flying lifestyle, deep down she’s a humble, animal loving, fun and supportive woman. I love her for it and it’s why I wanted to share her view on International Women’s Day, as someone I find truly inspiring.
“I am trying to figure out what to post for IWD, because there are so many things to highlight,” she said. “I want to post what really means something to me, so I am perplexed. Helen Reddy, Dolly Parton … these are women I want to explore. They are women who were beaten down by the man and they still rose up. I find that so inspiring.”
Tribute to Tiffany Johnston
“It is with a heavy heart that we advise Tiffany Johnston passed away on March 17, 2022 from natural causes. She leaves behind her beloved son, affectionately known as ‘Bug’, her dog Lelu, and her sister Courtney, as well as her nieces and nephews and her many friends who loved and cherished her dearly. Tiffany respected and indeed left an impression on all who met her, whether it was the person at the check out at the grocery store, or iconic musicians such as Mick Jagger. Her light shone brighter than anyone could imagine and continues to warm all those who were lucky enough to bask in her glow. RIP Tiffany… an earth angel who has now returned to heaven.”
