Melania Trump’s makeup artist says industry canceled her for First Family work

WASHINGTON, DC: A startling claim from First lady Melania Trump’s makeup artist has gained attention. Nicole Bryl, who worked closely with Melania, revealed she faced backlash from the beauty industry simply for being associated with the First Family. She said, "People totally canceled me."

In an interview on Ahmad Ashrafi's podcast, Bryl opened up about the difficulties she encountered. Some collaborators only wanted to work with her if she removed all referencesto the Trumps.

Melania Trump’s makeup artist opens up about industry backlash

"I was working with the Trump family, who I had been working with for decades," Bryl told Ashrafi on his 'Return on Identity' podcast. "I mean, forever, you know. But because I was working with Melania, who's Donald's wife, all of a sudden, beauty didn't become beauty anymore; it became political."

"And you know, I was so naive at the time. I didn't understand why all the doors shut. People totally canceled me." Bryl explained that her industry connections and opportunities dried up because of her association with the Trumps. "They wouldn't talk to me," she said. "They wouldn't take my calls. They stopped sending me products."

"Lipstick didn't become lipstick anymore. Products were not just products anymore. It became something more. And when you're going through something for the first time, you're very naive about it," she added.

The experience, however, also taught her resilience. "But it created a strength because people kept asking me, ‘Well, I will be happy to take a meeting with you, but you have to take your client off your Instagram page, not talk about it ever, and sort of denounce that this is your client,'” Bryl said. "And they literally would say those words to me." 

Nicole Bryl stands her ground amid industry pressure

"It wasn't just me making it up," Bryl said. "They were asking me to walk away. It was much harder to stay because, obviously, you don't want to go broke by losing customers. But I thought to myself, you know what, I hate bullies. I always have. I hate them, and no one's going to bully me. And so, if that means people won't like me, I'm fine with that because I love my client. She's one of the most amazing people I've ever known or worked with. She has been nothing but kind, and she herself has been bullied, and I'm not walking away from that."

Bryl described her experience as a test of loyalty. Despite losing potential business and facing industry criticism, her commitment to Melania Trump never wavered.