Who Are The Three Women In Chanel Makeup's New Beauty Project, 'Cometes Collective'?
From a journalist-turned-makeup artist known for her sci-fi creations to a Serge Lutens-mentored beauty whizz, the trio inducted into Chanel Makeup Creation Studio are set to bring a new perspective to cosmetics.
Makeup artists and beauty content creators are some of the most influential people in the age of social media. They are also prime candidates for the club of beauty insiders and emerging makeup artists that Chanel has just created. Dubbed Cometes Collective, the outfit can be described as part beauty think tank and part makeup collaboration studio – and follows the approach more luxury houses are taking, roping in industry partners to take on the role of creative directors and consultants.
Three well-known names from the beauty world have been inducted into the lineup for the debut of Cometes Collective: Chinese journalist-turned-makeup artist Valentina Li, Spanish-Gambian makeup aficionado Ammy Drammeh and the Paris-based talent Cecile Paravina.
The spirit of collaboration sits at the heart of the collective, with the first Cometes Collective makeup creations launching in January 2024.
Described as a "group of emerging talents shaping the future of beauty", the trio were chosen for their expertise and values that resonate with the brand. They will be the guiding force behind Chanel Beauty's collections; collaborating to produce new collections and put their spin on Chanel's existing library of colours and palettes. Their first collection will hit shelves in January 2024.
It is interesting to note how their singular artistic styles – from Li's colourful abstract-art look to Drammeh's use of textures in looks that draw inspiration from the likes of Sade to Paravina's technical abilites when it comes to playing with form – will come together into a collection.
READ MORE: The Ultimate Chanel Perfume Exhibition Is Coming Your Way
But Chanel offers a clue to what fans can expect in a statement: "The Cometes Collective is a tribe of independent thinkers united, above all, by the conviction that beauty comes from the freedom to be and to become yourself in all your richness, complexity, and nuance."
Don't be fooled by her doe eyes and gentle features, Li's creations are anything but restrained. Born in a village in Guangxi, China, Li began by studying makeup in Beijing and Paris, using her love for cosplay and sci-fi movies to drive her makeup and body art. One look at her edgy looks and you can see the whimsical, futuristic touch – something she is now known for. She describes her perception of makeup as one that "flirts between dreams, notebooks, blank canvases waiting to be painted, and finally, the transparency of skin." And if you couldn't tell, Li is a huge fan of the colour blue. When asked what she would pick as her avatar, Li chose a blue jellyfish without a second thought.
Ammy Drammeh is a beloved name in the fashion and beauty realm, with over a decade's worth of experience under her belt. Born and raised in Spain, Drammeh moved to London to work on her artistic endeavours, bringing with her musical (she cites Sade as one of her idols) and other cultural inspirations from her upbringing. Spending time being mentored by makeup artists in turn inspired her to become one herself, joining Mentoring Matters, an initiative that aims to create opportunities in creative industries for Black, Asian and other minority candidates.
Drammeh describes her technique as "uncomplicated and free, but when you look closer, you can see the pauses, the accents, and the detail". This mastery did not go unnoticed – Drammeh was included in the British Council’s ‘New Wave Creatives’ list, an annual roundup of the 50 most inspiring and innovative talents in the world, in 2018 and 2019.
Having been mentored by French photographer and designer Serge Lutens speaks volumes, but it's truly her creations that prove Paravina's eye for detail in makeup. She studied fashion design at the prestigious Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (producing creatives like Balenciaga's Demna and Dries Van Noten) before devoting herself to makeup. In spite of her age, Paravina has already racked up a rather impressive resume, having worked with well-known fashion photographers like Charlotte Wales and Drew Vickers, and brands like Fenty and Maison Margiela.
Like Drammeh, Paravina was also included in the British Council’s ‘New Wave Creatives’ list in 2020. Her time studying the culture of fashion and art history is seamlessly weaved into her futristic creations which often toy with perspective and stray from conventional ideas of beauty.