Niki M’nray

Makeup Artist

Niki M’nray is a LA based makeup artist renowned for creating striking beauty that sits at the intersection of high fashion, glamour, and subculture. Born in Bahrain while her father was working abroad, she spent her early years there before relocating as a young child. She later studied Fashion Design at FIDM in Los Angeles, while also pursuing Illustration and Photography at PCC—disciplines that continue to shape her highly visual and intuitive approach to beauty.

Niki's passion for makeup began early, transforming friends and family from the age of nine. While studying photography, she became fascinated by using makeup to reimagine her subjects as iconic Hollywood figures, a creative process that ultimately inspired her to pursue makeup professionally. She soon relocated to New York City to build her career. —From 2007 to 2010, Niki honed her craft assisting legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath, an experience that helped establish the technical precision and artistic confidence that define her work today.

Her aesthetic is raw, artistic, and unapologetically modern, balancing polished high-fashion beauty with painterly textures, lived-in finishes, and subtle punk influences. Every look begins with an understanding of the subject, the mood, and the story being told, allowing Niki to create makeup that feels both intentional and emotionally resonant.

Throughout her career, Niki has collaborated with an exceptional roster of talent including Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Willow Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Irina Shayk, Charli xcx, Gabbriette, Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, Sophie Thatcher, Miranda Kerr, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lara Stone and Zara Larsson. Her client list also includes campaigns and collaborations with SKIMS, Swarovski, Versace, Loewe and Marc Jacobs. Her work has appeared in leading publications including Vogue, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Allure and V Magazine.

Beyond her commercial work, Niki is an active advocate for the LGBTQI+ community. She has volunteered with organizations supporting trans women in both Los Angeles and New York City, reflecting a commitment to uplifting her community beyond the beauty industry.

Looking ahead, Niki envisions a practice that extends well beyond makeup. She is passionate about exhibiting her artwork, expanding her photography, and taking on creatively ambitious editorial and commercial projects that allow her multidisciplinary vision to flourish. Through every medium, her goal is to create work that is artistically bold, emotionally resonant, and culturally enduring