Beauty, barriers and being first: Ruby Hammer's trailblazing story
Smart Beauty · Viola Levy
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Show Notes
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.