Paul Venoit is a style and beauty expert. He has worked with countless A-list celebrities and has become a celebrity himself. With know-how and charm, Paul chatted with Bamboo about his nine sisters, his rise to the top, makeup tips, and his take on trends.
Bamboo Magazine: What brought you to a career in beauty and fashion?
Paul Venoit: I grew up with nine sisters, so I saw from an early age what it took to put them together. I was mesmerized by how different each of them was and how they each created their own look. Some did it right, some did it not so well, but I loved the initial transformation. My older sister, Carolyn, was a hair stylist, and I looked up to her. She was so cool. Then along came Vogue and Harper’s [Bazaar]; basically anything I could get my hands on that was in the realm of fashion and beauty.
BM: Did you have a mentor or big first job that propelled you into your career?
PV: I was living in Montreal working at a high-end salon when I started creating looks for The Gazette and La Presse. That’s how I got into photo session work. When I moved to Toronto, I filled in for another hairstylist on the Lipton set. The model, the photographer, the stylist, everyone, was at the top of the game, and I was the only newbie. I hustled my ass though, and, at the end, I was encouraged to continue. The stylist helped me to build my book, and I got [magazine] covers and jobs for Avon and Holt Renfrew out of the gate.
BM: Makeup artists are emerging from behind the scenes and becoming celebrities themselves. How has this reality affected your career?
PV: It has opened up a lot of doors. Freelance artists are constantly unemployed, and I am always thinking, ‘What am I doing next week?’ Personal appearances and speaking engagements help diversify the job. I ask myself, ‘How can I broaden what I do?’ The constant need to move forward is why working in a salon didn’t work for me in the long run. I like the idea of teaching people and sharing the secrets of the trade. Growing up in a small town, we didn’t have the Internet, so I’m excited to share my knowledge with people, whether it’s in a seminar, on Rachel Ray, Marilyn Denis, or eTalk.
