The Breakfast Club - IDKMYDE: Bernadine Anderson

Episode Date: February 24, 2024

Hey, listen up! Did you know that makeup isn't just about looking fabulous? It's also big business, and one woman paved the way for black makeup artists in Hollywood. On this episode of #IDKMYDE, meet Bernardine Anderson, the trailblazer who broke barriers and beat faces on Hollywood sets in the late '60s. IG: @_idkmyde_ | @BdahtTV | @blackeffectSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Listen, I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either,

but it is some money being made in makeup, Jack. Makeup made Rihanna a billionaire. Makeup has made a plethora of fair maidens memorable. And today, I'd like to introduce you to the first Black woman to do makeup on a folks movie sets. And Bernadine Anderson, she found difficulty breaking into the business in the late 60s, but she was adamant about pursuing her passion. She filed a class action lawsuit and was awarded a three-year apprenticeship with Warner Brothers. It was historic because it would be the final one they would ever offer. After she finished her apprenticeship, she started her career doing makeup on stunt doubles and stunt triples and even stunt quadruples. I ain't even know that was a thing. In the early 70s, she met the connect

that would change her life forever, Jane Fonda. See, Jane Fonda requested Bernadine Anderson once, and they were locked in for eight years. At the end of that tenure, when Jane Fonda said she wanted to chill for a little bit, she began her work with Eddie Murphy. And dig it, she was the head makeup artist in some of our favorite movies.

Coming to America, Boomerang, Vampire in Brooklyn, What's Love Got to Do With It, Another 48 Hours, Harlem Nights, Police Academy 6, and she did TV shows, Head of the Class, and we all remember Amen. I never knew the words to the intro of that song. Turn off the lights on heaven, no, shine on me. That's all I would say. I don't think that's accurate though. Man, Bernadine Anderson was exceptional. She had to be. I mean, navigating through race and gender challenges at the time in the film industry. While she was working on white actors and actresses, the skincare and makeup challenges she faced when she had to apply makeup

to darker skins. Come on, man. How she had to create alternative solutions. Bam, right there on the fly. She had to be exceptional. And that's what made Rihanna Fenty brand so popular. It got 50 different foundation shades. Everybody feels seen. So while Rihanna is counting them cosmetic coins, a special thanks and salute simultaneously goes to the trailblazer Bernadine Anderson, who broke barriers by beating faces 60 years ago. And I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. I didn't know. you might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys,

and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.