From Faye Dunaway to Rihanna with Makeup Master Stéphane Marais

Jill sits down with renowned makeup artist Stéphane Marais for an in-depth conversation about his cinematic approach to beauty. Over his thirty-year career, Stéphane has evolved from admiring Marlene Dietrich's elegance to creating iconic looks for stars like Rihanna. Stéphane describes his signature style as centering on character creation. His trademark smudged black eyeliner technique transforms eyes into captivating focal points, while his preference for finger application creates an organic, personal touch. He traces his creative roots to childhood influences spanning classic cinema and the landscapes of Africa and France. This early exposure drew him to Paris, where he abandoned economics studies to pursue makeup artistry. Stéphane shares stories from his collaborations with entertainment legends, including working with Faye Dunaway and styling Rihanna for her debut Vogue cover. He emphasizes how trust and tactile sensitivity form the cornerstone of his artistic relationships. His breakthrough came when he substituted for Jacques Clément on a Peter Lindberg photoshoot. Clément worked with Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Adjani. Stéphane also recounts meeting José Luis, the key makeup artist for Yves Saint Laurent. While acknowledging industry transformations, Stéphane maintains his commitment to makeup as pure artistry, offering aspiring artists wisdom about nurturing passion and creativity. Check out our IG, @goingrogue.podcast to see all the images discussed in this episode. Follow on Instagram and Threads at @goingrogue.podcast and @jilldemling Going Rogue is produced by Jill Demling and Maddie Kelly, who also serves as our social media director. Matty Rosenberg is the executive producer Be sure to follow Going Rogue on your favorite podcast platform. Going Rogue is part of the Radio Free Rhinecliff media network.

Om Podcasten

Welcome to the ultimate insider's guide to the world of fashion, celebrity, and media—straight from the heart of Vogue. I’m Jill Demling and for nearly two decades I was the Entertainment Director of Vogue. I've booked over 200 American Vogue covers, 30 covers for British Vogue, and more than 50 covers worldwide. That's nearly 300 covers that shaped pop culture, defined fashion, and captured the zeitgeist. But those perfect images? They're just the tip of the iceberg. "Going Rogue" is your backstage pass to the moments that never made it to print. The stories from the photographers who captured magic, the stylists who created iconic looks, and the writers who know every secret. You'll hear about the celebrities, the shoots that almost didn't happen, and the untold drama behind fashion's most memorable moments. Remember "The Devil Wears Prada"? That fictional 11-month snapshot? I was there for the real story—I even hired the person the book was based on and appear on page 21 of the book. But this isn't about one story. It's about hundreds of stories, from someone who was on the inside. This podcast is not an exposé, it's a celebration of the brilliant people behind the scenes that made all the famous moments possible at Vogue. It isn't just a podcast about fashion. It's about creativity, ambition, art, and the human stories behind the images that helped define a generation. We'll reveal how the talents behind these shoots got their start, and they'll share masterclass-level advice for a new generation of stylists, photographers, and creatives looking to make their mark. We're going behind the scenes of a world most people only glimpse through glossy pages and red carpet moments. Are you ready to go rogue with me?