Before he became one of the most celebrated makeup artists in the world, Sam Fine, who is from Chicago, Illinois, perfected his craft behind the beauty counters of the city's department stores. He often describes those early years as "the real school of beauty," where working with women from all walks of life shaped the philosophy that would define his career: that women of colour deserved makeup artistry with the same depth, expertise, and innovation afforded to everyone else.

A chance meeting with Naomi Campbell at a fashion show would change everything. She later called him at his department store job long before the days of mobile phones and invited him to work on People magazine's iconic 50 Most Beautiful People issue. That opportunity marked the beginning of an extraordinary career spanning more than three decades, during which Sam has become the trusted makeup artist to cultural icons including Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah, Iman, Tyra Banks, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Kerry Washington, and Vanessa Williams.

An Emmy Award-winning artist, Sam's work has appeared on the covers of leading publications including Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, Essence, Vibe, and Marie Claire. He also made history as the first African American spokesperson for both Revlon and CoverGirl Cosmetics, helping to redefine beauty standards across the industry. Beyond the makeup chair, he is the bestselling author of Fine Beauty: Beauty Basics and Beyond for African-American Women and has served as Global Makeup Ambassador for Fashion Fair Cosmetics, playing a pivotal role in the relaunch of one of Black beauty's most iconic brands. He is also the founder of Sam Fine Beauty, his own brand dedicated to celebrating and elevating beauty across all skin tones.

More than thirty years into his career, Sam Fine remains one of beauty's most influential voices. Through his artistry, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to representation, he has transformed not only the faces of the world's biggest stars, but the way the beauty industry sees and celebrates women of colour.