Make-up artist fined over ‘Monroe look’ claim - Claire Mitchell admits she lied about being stylist "to the stars"

Published: 03 June 2011
by JOSH LOEB

A MAKE-UP artist “to the stars” who claimed she styled celebrities such as actress Scarlett Johansson has admitted in court that she made it up, writes Josie Hinton.

Claire Mitchell, former director of The London Hair and Beauty Academy, claimed she was responsible for creating the modern Marilyn Monroe look for the movie star at the 2004 Bafta awards ceremony.

The claims appeared in advertising material for the Tottenham Court Road beauty academy. But Ms Mitchell was fined £1,000, with £800 costs, at Highbury Magistrates’ Court last week after admitting the claims were fraudulent.

The case was brought by Camden Council’s trading standards team, which was responding to complaints about misleading advertising and poor quality services. Evidence against Ms Mitchell included a statement from celebrity make-up artist Jo Bull, who was in fact responsible for Ms Johansson’s make-up. 

Ms Mitchell is no longer associated with London Hair and Beauty Academy.