Glow Up: Germany’s next make-up star

In this interview, Riccardo talks to us about his show and its background, what we can expect and what goals he is pursuing with it, because make up in Germany is still associated with pigeonhole thinking, although it is so much more. That’s why Riccardo has set himself the goal of creating respect for people who deal with Make Up In addition, Riccardo shares tips on the subject of Make Up and the realization of dreams.

Here you can find all episodes online:

• Glow Up / ZDFmediathek

How it all began… Glow Up!

FIV: Hello Riccardo, how nice that it worked out with the interview today. You are writing brand new stories in Germany with your 10 Talents: How and where did you find out about Glow Up becoming “your” show? What was your first spontaneous reaction, can you still remember it?

Riccardo: Yes, I can actually still remember that. It was around the German Television Award last year – my manager and I had a great conversation there with Thorsten Haas from ZDF, who told us about the idea. After that, there were further talks, all of which convinced me to help implement this project in Germany.

Destruction of drawers thinking

FIV: Why did you decide to do “Glow Up”, what convinced you about the concept of the show?

Riccardo: I think that, especially in Germany, we still stigmatize the subject of makeup a lot and put people who wear makeup or design makeup in a box that they often don’t fit into. I hope this show helps to show that behind this topic are often very personal motivations and a lot of creativity is required.

Challenges and personal stories

FIV: What can we expect in the first season of Glow?

Riccardo: I must say we really have a great cast that is very brave and convinces with absolute creativity. I am totally thrilled with the results they have achieved in the various challenges and can already say: It will be spectacular!

FIV: What was your favorite challenge, in which episode did you have the most fun and why?

Riccardo: I especially liked the challenges where our MUAs told personal stories with makeup, because I feel like it really makes you realize what a brilliant art form makeup can be.

Cover Boy! FIV #27 with Riccardo Simonetti

Now online! The new issue #27 with entertainer and Everybody’s Darling Riccardo Simonetti. About the first season Glow Up, the candidates and simple beauty tips for men.

• FIV #27 with Riccardo Simonetti
• FIV #27 read online

Copyright: ZDF/[F] Juliette Mainx EYECANDY / [M] Serviceplan

“Make up goes so much deeper than beauty.”

FIV: Positive messages are always important to you, what do you want to achieve with the show?

Riccardo: With Glow Up, I want to create respect for people who wear make-up or do make-up themselves, because I often have the feeling that we in Germany look at such people and often think that they must be superficial because they are passionate about make-up. I think what many people need to understand is that make up is not just about looking more beautiful, but also sometimes about creating something interesting. To tell your own stories. To process what you’ve experienced. Make up goes so much deeper than beauty. And I think this show will definitely make that clear.

FIV: What do you and the Glow Up jury use to decide which make-up will advance on this day, in this challenge, and which unfortunately will not? Is it speed, implementation of the theme, own creativity, a real wow effect?

Riccardo: Fortunately I’m more Team MUAs and I don’t have to do any evaluations and I’m not involved in the decision, that’s done by the jury and they are much stricter than I would be.

Riccardo’s Make Up Must-Haves

FIV: Your show is all about make up, also on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and in real life. What are your 3 personal makeup must haves?

Riccardo: When I’m not on TV and do my makeup in private, I focus on the eyes. I find with a black kajal or eye shadow you can very quickly turn into a rock star, otherwise transparent eyebrow gel and concealer.

FIV: I brought another question from the editorial office, from Stephan who really has no idea about Make Up: Especially for men who think with Make Up, where do you start?! As a simple start, what would be a basic that can be next to the razor in the bathroom or in the business bag?

Riccardo: I think concealer is a great tool because it’s easy to apply, you don’t need any skills for it and you can easily make dark circles or shadows disappear.

Tips for the implementation of dreams

FIV: What would you tell people who have a dream, whether they’re a makeup artist or an entertainer, but don’t quite know how to make it happen yet?

Riccardo: I would always recommend people to gain as much experience as possible in the field they want to enter. And that even on a small level. That way you find out very quickly if you really enjoy it or if you’ve projected something into the profession that isn’t actually there.

FIV: Thank you for the great interview! I wish you a lot of success on your way!

Glow Up: Show, candidates & dates

Are you interested in Riccardo’s show and want to know more about it? In this article you will find all the important information about Glow Up.

Glow Up: Here Make Up Dreams Come True

On Glow Up, ten make-up artists (MUA) compete against each other. In over eight episodes, the participating make-up talents have to prove their skills. The prizes are 20,000 euros and a contract with a renowned make-up agency. Here you can find all the important information about the show. We have also watched and summarized the first two episodes for you.

• Glow Up

Copyright: ZDF/[F] Juliette Mainx EYECANDY / [M] Serviceplan

Broadcast dates: All episodes in ZDFneo + ZDFmediathek

All 8 episodes and their broadcast dates on ZDFneo + always available in the ZDFmediathek:

• Episode 1: Thu., Sept. 22, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 2: Thu., Sept. 29, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 3: Thu., Oct. 06, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 4: Thu., Oct. 13, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 5: Thu., Oct. 20, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 6: Thu., Oct. 27, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 7: Thu., Nov. 03, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 8: Thu., Nov. 10, 8:15 p.m.

Here you can find all episodes online:

• Glow Up / ZDFmediathek

Where does the show come from?

Glow Up, now in Germany – In over eight episodes, the participating make-up talents have to prove their skills. The prizes are 20,000 euros and a contract with a renowned make-up agency. Here you can find all the important information about the show. We have also watched and summarized the first two episodes for you. It all started in the UK.

Origin – Glow Up is a reality show developed by Michael Fraser, originally from Great Britain. There you can find the show under the name “Glow Up: Britain’s Next Make-Up Star”. There are already four seasons in the UK, each with eight episodes. Journalist and TV face Stacey Dooley hosts the show and Dominic Skinner and Val Garland sit on the jury and judge the performance of the contestants. The show first aired on BBC Three on March 06, 2019 and debuts in Germany this year. Here is a video with the best looks of the third season.

Here you can find all episodes online:

• Glow Up / ZDFmediathek

Glow Up first became successful in the UK! Meanwhile, there is already season 3.

Debut in Germany: Season #1

In Germany, the show, titled “Glow Up: Germany’s Next Makeup Star,” makes its debut this month. Entertainer and bestselling author Riccardo Simonetti is the host of this show and accompanies the participants on their journey.

The challenges in Glow Up

There are two challenges per episode, which take place in the studio, at video shoots or at fashion events. The first challenge of an episode is always based on the real everyday life of a make-up artist. It’s all about keeping your nerve and working quickly and precisely. The second challenge is all about creativity. Thus, the participants have to show their technical as well as artistic skills to get the victory.

The jury and procedure of Glow Up

The jury, made up of Loni Baur and Armin Morbach, evaluates the transformations and creations. Each week, additional guest judges with expertise, such as Hungry, Naomi Jon and Conchita Wurst, join in to help the jury with the evaluation. At the end of an episode, two make-up artists who were unable to prove themselves in the two challenges face off against each other in the “Face Off”. Here, the task is to once again present one’s skills in a short time and convince the jury. The loser has to go. In the eighth episode, the final takes place, in which the best three make-up artists take part.

Broadcast dates: All episodes in ZDFneo + ZDFmediathek

All 8 episodes and their broadcast dates on ZDFneo + always available in the ZDFmediathek:

• Episode 1: Thu., Sept. 22, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 2: Thu., Sept. 29, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 3: Thu., Oct. 06, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 4: Thu., Oct. 13, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 5: Thu., Oct. 20, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 6: Thu., Oct. 27, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 7: Thu., Nov. 03, 8:15 p.m.
• Episode 8: Thu., Nov. 10, 8:15 p.m.

Cover Boy! FIV #27 with Riccardo Simonetti

Now online! The new issue #27 with entertainer and Everybody’s Darling Riccardo Simonetti. About the first season Glow Up, the candidates and simple beauty tips for men.

• FIV #27 with Riccardo Simonetti
• Riccardo Simonetti Interview
• FIV #27 read online

Copyright: ZDF/[F] Juliette Mainx EYECANDY / [M] Serviceplan

What happened so far…

The first two episodes have already aired and we watched them for you. Here is a short recap:

The first episode: Direct 2 Challenges

The ten MUAs Ahmed, Albert, Ellie, Selina, Katharina, Mario, Johanna, Timo, Adam and Melissa face the Make Up Contest and fight for victory. The first challenge is a “Reallife Challenge”, in which the aim is to create a beauty editorial look. For this, the candidates, the jury and Riccardo go to one of the largest tropical houses in Germany, in Essen.

The theme is Exotic Liner, for which the tropical house should create inspiration. In this challenge, the MUAs have 90 minutes to convince the jury and Hungry, the most famous distorted drag, as the first guest juror. In the end Ahmed could get the victory and was allowed to support Hungry in a beauty editorial shoot. The least convincing were Mario and Johanna. The two have to go into the red chair and have to start 15 minutes later than the other MUAs in the second challenge.

In the second challenge, model Franziska Knuppe is the guest judge and will judge the looks. The motto of this challenge is: What makes you unique? There are two hours for this. In addition, the MUAs were allowed to prepare for the challenge with a mood board. At the end of this challenge, the red chairs are exchanged. Mario and Johanna come out, instead Adam and Albert have to take a seat there and participate in the face off. There, the two have ten minutes to make up the perfect red lip. It’s a close race. In the end, Albert was able to convince and Adam unfortunately has to leave the show.

Episode 2: Face Off between Melissa & Timo

In the second episode, content creator, make-up artist and singer Naomi Jon supports the jury. The episode starts at the Supercandy Museum and the first challenge has the motto posterity. The MUAs are tasked with creating a creative make up look and also shooting a 30 second video, with the intention of going viral. For this challenge, the MUAs have two hours.

Mario, Ahmend and Selina convinced the jury and were allowed to create Jon Content together with Naomi. The performance of Katharina and Ellie was not enough, so the two had to take a seat in the red chairs. The second challenge has the theme Optical Illusion. Melissa and Timo could not impress with their looks and have to go to the face off. There, the two MUAs have the task of creating a cut crease eye in 15 minutes. Unfortunately, it was not enough for Timo in the end and he has to leave the show.

Glow Up! Now on ZDFneo + in the ZDFmediathek

You want to know more? Here you can find all episodes online:

• Glow Up / ZDFmediathek

You are interested in the show and want to get more impressions? Then watch the interview with Glow Up host Riccardo Simonetti here.

Riccardo Simonetti in the interview: Glow Up + Make Up

Entertainer, bestselling author, model, activist and presenter! He has entered the media world with his successful blog and is one of the most popular TV faces in Germany. He has written three books “Mama, I’m gay”, “My right to sparkle” and “Raffi and his pink tutu”, with which he wants to give people inspiration and hope. In addition, he has already participated in several shows, such as “Das Supertalent”, where he was part of the jury.

Now he has his own show “Glow Up”. With this show he wants to show that make up has no gender and it’s not just about beauty, but a way to express yourself.

In this interview, Riccardo talks to us about his show and its background, what we can expect and what goals he is pursuing with it, because make-up is still associated with pigeonhole thinking in Germany, although it is so much more. That’s why Riccardo has set himself the goal of creating respect for people who deal with Make Up.

In addition, Riccardo shares tips on make up and making dreams come true.

• Riccardo Simonetti Interview: Glow Up