The Rachael Ray Show

Rachael Ray, born in Glens Falls, NY August 25, 1968, currently hosts a New York City based show that is syndicated around the world. A co-production of Rachael Ray and Oprah Winfrey, The Rachael Ray Show currently draws 2.6 million daily viewers in America, making it one of the most widely viewed daytime shows. The path that Ms. Ray took to becoming one of the most watched Television Personalities has taken many turns, all involving food. Growing up in a family that owned and managed restaurants it is easy to see how Rachael became attracted to food preparation. Throughout her rise from Candy Counter Salesperson at Macy's to her starring role in Television's widely viewed daytime entertainment show, she has always insisted that she is not a chef, rather a cook.

After her stint as at the Candy Counter of Macy's New York, Ms. Ray moved back to upstate New York to become a buyer for a Gourmet Market. It was as a buyer that she developed her trade mark thirty minute meals in response to meeting customers that thought that cooking a good meal took too much time. Ms. Ray began teaching a course on cooking "30 Minute Meals" which led to a weekly segment on the local CBS affiliate newscast. Her earthiness,charm and straight talk with Rachael Ray colloquialisms made her a hit.

Rachael turned her classes and weekly news segments into her first of many cook books, 30 Minute Meals. A radio appearance promoting her first cook book brought her to the attention of the Today Show, where her appearance was noticed by The Food Network Executives who signed her almost immediately, recognizing that her down to earth New York mannerisms, charm and speaking style would endear her to their audience. The 2007 Oxford American College Dictionary added the phrase, EVOO, short for extra-virgin olive oil and credited Rachael Ray for coining the phrase.

After many shows on The Food Network including winning on Iron Chef America, Ms. Ray signed a deal with Oprah Winfrey and King World Productions to host a syndicated daytime talk show. With her natural ease, Ms. Ray has been nominated for and won Daytime Emmy Awards for her popular show.

The Rachael Ray Show combines guests, pop culture, entertainment and cooking, for an all around format that continues to gain popularity. Ever present is the small town New York State manners and ease of communication in her approach to every interview and cooking demonstration.

On October 6, 2010, The Mehron Makeup Team under the direction of Head Makeup FX Artist Meagan Hester visited the set of the Rachael Ray Show and turned Ms. Ray, her husband John Cusimano, guests and a flash mob into Halloween Characters using Mehron Makeup, founded in New York City in 1927. The streets of New York were turned into Halloween on October 6, 2010 for The Rachael Ray Show that will be broadcast on the ABC Network on October 29, 2010, check your local listings for broadcast times. With host Rachael Ray, Head FX Makeup Artist and Halloween Makeup by Mehron all hailing from New York, the world will see a New York Halloween on this special Halloween Rachael Ray Show.

Rachael Ray, John Cusimano, Guests, Staff and Audience have an early Halloween Bash with Halloween Makeup by Mehron.

Meagan Hester - Featured Makeup Artist

The journey through life has many roads that lead to places unknown, the road that one does not take may just lead to the road that you were destined to travel. Such is the story of Meagan Hester, with teenage dreams of being a dancer, a leg injury put her on a different path. Leaving the accolades of a stage dancer behind, Meagan sought a new road that led her to the beginning of her career as a hairstylist in an upscale salon in Westchester County, New York, USA. As she became proficient in cutting, styling and coloring techniques, she felt that something was missing. Reporting to a shop everyday began to wear on her always seeking soul until one day she knew the time had come to seek another road.

Meagan Hester packed her bags and headed to Los Angles, California where she enrolled in the Make-up Designory (MUD), where the methodology is inspired learning, and the motto is; Apply, Blend and Achieve. Quickly inspired by the curriculum, Meagan immersed herself in every Makeup Application Artistry that MUD had to offer, taking a particular fancy to Special Effects Makeup, (SPFX). Exploring this new world was fascinating to Meagan and each course offered a new excitement and interest in the various disciplines of Makeup Artistry. Just as she quickly mastered Hairstyling in Westchester County, NY, Meagan was just as quickly mastering the art of Theatrical Makeup, Special Effects Makeup, Beauty Makeup, and High Fashion Makeup.

The Make-Up Designory is relatively close to Pasadena, CA, which is the home of the Los Angles International Make-Up Artist Trade Show(IMATS). Students of MUD are lucky to be able to attend this gathering of the Makeup Industry that features exhibitions, workshops seminars and competitions. The Makeup Competitions at IMATS pit the world's most talented Makeup Artists against each other as they are judged by their peers. Unique to the IMATS Competitions is the Student Competition, a chance for a Makeup Student or recent graduate of a Makeup Program to show their talent to the World's Most Renowned Makeup Artists. The IMATS Student Competition is only open to eight competitors from around the world who are selected and invited to participate. In 2008 Meagan Hester was one of the eight students in the world to be selected by IMATS to participate in the Student Competition attesting to her swiftly maturing talent as a Makeup Artist.

It was at the 2008 IMATS that Meagan Hester became acquainted with Mehron Makeup and met the Mehron Marketing Director Stephanie Ferreira, who recognizing her natural talent put her contact information in her database of Freelance Makeup Artists for future reference. Sometimes the future is right around the corner. Soon after the 2008 IMATS Meagan Hester returned to New York State and found herself in the position of being a Makeup Artist at a Fashion Show on the campus of Syracuse University where the lead Makeup Artist was the renowned Billy B. Diligently working on her assignments, Meagan was able to observe Billy B. and receive her first taste of working as a Freelance Makeup Artist. That night, working her first paid job as a Freelance Makeup Artist, Meagan Hester knew that she had found the excitement and satisfaction that she was seeking, and that it was exactly what she wanted.

With her go getter personality, easy mannerisms, and fountain of talent Meagan Hester has had a steady stream of work in her chosen Profession as Freelance Makeup Artist. From working on Films, Television, Music Videos, and High Fashion Magazine Spreads, to doing Special Effects Makeup for Mehron Photo Shoots and being part of the elite team of Mehron Makeup Artists at New York Fashion Week, this young twenty something Makeup Artist is steamrolling her way towards the Makeup Awards of the future.

With versatile talent that includes all Makeup Application, and Hairstyling, this Freelance Makeup Artist has her sights set on "doing it all", as Ms. Hester recently told the Mehron Blog in an interview about her goals, "I don't see any reason why I can't do it all, I want to do Films, Television, FX and Fashion Magazine Makeup. I would love to do Makeup For SNL!"

With her thumb on the pulse of what's hot in Makeup Innovation, Meagan Hester has worked for clients ranging from Music Choice, Angel Sanchez, HesterHouse Productions, Digio Blue and Mehron Makeup doing everything from Hairstyling and Fashion Makeup to Special Effects Makeup. This exuberant young Makeup Artist even volunteered to do Makeup for the Haiti Fundraiser spending long pay-less hours at the marathon event. With her energy never waning, Meagan has also volunteered to Work for the American Cancer Society in a program called, Look Good, Feel Better, where she hopes to teach active cancer treatment patients the benefits of using Beauty Makeup to look good and feel good.

Along with all that she has on her plate, Meagan Hester just completed a collaboration in an Independent Short Film sponsored by Mehron, "When Bobby Met Larry", directed by Phil Coccioletti, Produced by SugarCamp Films, Assistant Producer and Director Jessica Hester, Written and Performed by Carlos A. Gonzalez. Meagan Hester is the Key SPFX Makeup Artist and Character Art Director for this film. Although "When Bobby Met Larry" is still in post production, Mehron Blog Readers will have an inside look at this soon to released film in the coming days.

Although she has a full schedule, Meagan Hester is always looking for the next challenge and is a Freelance Makeup Artist and Hairstylist that is ready to meet your makeup needs. If you are in need of a Makeup Artist that is a bundle of enthusiasm, a diligent worker, and a perfectionist full of ideas, you may contact Meagan Hester for a consultation or to discuss job opportunities via email at mharistry@gmail.com or by phone at 1-914-439-1637.