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To celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Glamour is spotlighting AANHPI founders to share their secrets to success, the joys and struggles of creating a business, the best advice they’ve ever received, and more. For our latest edition, we’re talking to Patrick Ta, founder of the eponymous brand Patrick Ta Beauty, about his journey from top celebrity makeup artist to founding of one of the fastest growing makeup brands.
The term “celebrity makeup artist” is open interpretation. The most obvious is that you’re a makeup artist who works with celebrity clientele. But for a select few, the term also means you’ve become so recognized and known for your work, that you’ve developed your own individual high profile. And for an even more exclusive group, that success has allowed you to take your experience and artistry and turn it into a valuable beauty brand.
All three definitions apply to Patrick Ta, who has emerged as one of the leaders in a new generation of makeup artists turned brand founders. With nearly four million followers on Instagram, Ta has navigated a beauty landscape dominated by social media, collecting a roster of It girls like Alix Earle, Gigi Hadid, and Camila Cabello. His loyal following led to the 2019 launch of his eponymous beauty brand Patrick Ta Beauty, and since then, the brand has become one of the fastest growing in the business: Just three years after launch in 2022, sales were estimated to have reached a reported $30 million, according to WWD.
Creating a brand felt like a natural extension of Ta’s career, but more than anything, he wanted to bring his unique experience and POV—as both a makeup artist and proud Asian-American. “After years of building my name and reputation in the beauty industry as a makeup artist, I reached a point where I felt ready to take the next step—to not only contribute to the industry but to help shape it,” he says. “Launching my own brand allowed me to channel everything I’ve learned into creating products that celebrate artistry, inclusivity, and confidence.”
Ahead, Patrick Ta shares his best advice for starting a business, why it’s important to embrace community, and the surprising (and recent!) moment he realized he made it in the industry.
Why did you feel like it was a good time to launch Patrick Ta Beauty when you did?
I cofounded Patrick Ta Beauty in 2019 alongside my incredible partners, Rima Minasyan and Avo Minasyan. It was important for me to develop a brand that reflected both my personal aesthetic and the needs of everyday consumers, while also elevating the standard of beauty with thoughtfully formulated, high-performance products. There’s rarely a moment that feels completely perfect to take a leap, but I was so driven to bring the brand to life that no timing ever felt wrong. My passion and vision outweighed any hesitation—I knew I had to start.
Was it scary? What was one particular challenge you still think about?
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