A royal honor for a beauty industry icon

Pat McGrath was already considered a legend in the beauty business — but in the new year, she’s officially a grande dame.

The superstar makeup artist became the first makeup artist to be named DBE, Dame of the British Empire.

The 51-year-old Northampton native was named on Queen Elizabeth’s New Year 2021 Honors List, recognized for her “services to the fashion and beauty industry and diversity.”

“I am truly delighted and humbled to be given this wonderful honor,” McGrath said with the big announcement. “My mother’s obsession with beauty and fashion ignited my passion for this amazing industry, and I feel blessed to have the privilege of working with some of the most extraordinary people throughout my career.”

Named the most influential makeup artist in fashion by Vogue magazine and recognized among 2019’s TIME 100, McGrath has worked her cosmetology skills on runway shows and photo shoots since the 1980s. Nicknamed “mother,” McGrath (inset) considers supermodel Naomi Campbell as one of her muses, and has worked with Madonna, Kacey Musgraves, Cara Delevingne, Cardi B, Gigi Hadid, Billy Porter, Kim Kardashian and Oprah Winfrey.

After creating beauty products for major brands like Dior, CoverGirl, Max Factor, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana, she launched her own cosmetics line, Pat McGrath Labs, in 2016.

With a mission to bring her runway-quality products to the public and catering to a large array of skin tones, the line was valued at $1 billion in 2019.

“When I first launched my brand, Pat McGrath Labs, it was designed to inspire self-expression and individuality,” she wrote on Instagram when the royal recognition was made public.

The British Vogue beauty editor at large dedicated the honor “in tribute to makeup artists everywhere,” writing how she adored each and every one of them. “Never give up on your dreams — with hard work, creativity and perseverance anything is possible.”

Previously named as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2014, she’s in great company with her newest honorific. Other celebrity notables who’ve been named Dame of the British Empire in recent years include Olivia Newton-John (2018), Olivia de Havilland (2017) and Angela Lansbury (2014).

“There is no one more fitting and so deserved of this Honor. You are an artist in every sense not just makeup, your drive and Passion, your embrace of your chickens (young generation of creatives ) you call them .. your sense of humor making all around you feel at ease!!” Campbell wrote on Instagram.

The Black British beauty is the face of McGrath’s latest ad campaign.