Community Corner

Local Makeup Artist Grooms Presidential Candidates, Celebrities

Victoria Stiles, a Loudoun County makeup artist, has groomed presidential candidates, Hollywood celebrities, musicians--and local brides.

Stiles was the makeup artist for the above photos. Photo of VP Joe Biden by Ben Baker; photo of Richard Branson and Victoria Stiles by Melissa Golden. Photos of Victoria Styles with Ted Cruz and with Mike Huckabee courtesy of Victoria Stiles.

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA: Victoria Stiles, a Leesburg-based makeup artist, has groomed presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle, including Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Jim Gilmore, Rick Santorum and Bernie Sanders.

“I work for Republicans and Democrats. I keep politics out of powder,” Stiles said.

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“But Bernie Sanders was probably my favorite. He’s a very passionate politician,” she added. “I admire his grassroots campaign and am excited to see what the future holds for him.”

Based in Loudoun County, Stiles said she has been working in the Northern Virginia area since 2005.

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“In 2008 I started into doing the makeup for politicians, including Christine O’Donnell during her Senate campaign. During Obama’s first inauguration I did the makeup for television journalist Deborah Norville. I was on the rooftop of the Fox News building. It was a great view of the inauguration,” Stiles said.

Stiles has also done the makeup for celebrities, including: Roberta Flack, Gary Sinise, Olivia Thirlby, Jenna Elfman and Emmitt Smith. Internationally, Stiles provided makeup for a photo on an album cover by jazz musician Melody Gardot.

“One of my favorite memories was working with singer Carly Rae Jepson,” said Stiles. “Her famous ‘Call Me Maybe’ single just dropped and there was a lot of fun, positive energy flowing at her concert!”

Her main business is weddings. Stiles co-owns A Little Wedding Studio in Leesburg in conjunction with photographer Genevieve Leiper, florist Morgan Walker, graphic designer Rachel Merkle and wedding dress designer Cathy Ebrada.

“We recently expanded our space and moved to 10 South King Street as we grew dramatically this past year, partnering with the best in the wedding industry. Our group provides a one-stop shop for Washington, D.C. area brides with a special focus on Loudoun County venues,” Stiles explained.

While she is based in Leesburg, Stiles travels back and forth to D.C. several times a day for her position as Hair and Makeup Department Head at EWTN. Victoria oversees the makeup and grooming portion of the broadcast and also contracts two freelance artists who compose a team for the News Nightly broadcast Monday thru Friday.

Stiles said that her male clients are sometimes reluctant to wear makeup.

“The men don’t like it,” she said with a laugh, “but everyone needs foundation, concealer and powder to look alive on camera. Makeup evens out the skin tone and diffuses wrinkles so that people look a little younger and vibrant. It is not good to have a shiny nose or forehead while on camera. The viewer shouldn’t be distracted by the shine.”

“John F. Kennedy did a lot better than Richard Nixon when the first presidential debate was televised in 1960. Kennedy’s appearance on camera translated younger and more vibrant than Nixon. This ushered in a new era of carefully styling a public image. Both male and female politicians need makeup on camera to look their best,” Stiles added.


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