Beauty, barriers and being first: Ruby Hammer's trailblazing story

Ruby Hammer MBE transformed British beauty as the first makeup
artist of colour to be regularly featured on British television.
She was born to Bangladeshi parents in Jos, Nigeria, where she
grew up before moving to London at the age of 12. From working on
the shop floor of Harrods to founding cult 90s brand Ruby &
Millie – and now at the helm of her own eponymous range – Ruby is
a true industry stalwart.


In this candid conversation, Ruby reveals how her young mother's
transformative relationship with beauty shaped her philosophy
that self-care is essential. She shares why she never set out to
be a trailblazer ("I just wanted to be the best"), how she
navigated body image challenges, and the resilience lessons that
carried her through career reinvention.


Now in her 60s, Ruby reflects on aging authentically and why the
beauty industry remains one of the most supportive creative
communities. This is Ruby unfiltered - warm, honest, and
unapologetically herself.


rubyhammer.com