Highlight Artists

What Highlight Artists does

Highlight Artists is a full-service talent management agency founded in 2024 by Mary Phillips, Jen Atkin, and Justine Marjan — three of the most recognized hairstylists and makeup artists in the professional beauty industry. The firm represents an initial roster of approximately 15 hairstylists and makeup artists working with A-list celebrity clients including the Kardashian/Jenner family, Hailey Bieber, and Dua Lipa, and maintains active partnerships with more than 100 brands spanning prestige beauty and consumer haircare, including Dyson, Chanel, L'Oréal, and NARS.

The agency is structured as a private LLC headquartered in Sherman Oaks (Los Angeles) with offices in New York City and operational presence in Las Vegas, giving it geographic coverage of the principal US markets for celebrity styling, editorial shoots, and brand campaigns. Its core service is brokering bookings and brand deals between represented artists and clients; an adjacent digital content service extends the offering beyond traditional commissionable bookings.

Revenue is generated primarily through talent commissions on bookings and brand campaigns facilitated by the agency. The business model is asset-light and relationship-driven: the principal inputs are the founders' and artists' personal reputations, celebrity access, and brand relationships, with the agency's value proposition being the curation, scheduling, and commercial packaging of that talent for premium clients.

Name

Highlight Artists

Legal name

Highlight Artists LLC

Website

https://highlightartists.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Highlight Artists is a full-service talent management agency founded in 2024 that represents approximately 15 elite hairstylists and makeup artists serving celebrity clients and prestige beauty brands across Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beauty Talent Management Services

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (711410)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Celebrity & Influencer Talent Booking (HSACAHAE), Artist Booking, Talent Buying & Agency Services (MPAGAAAF)

Keywords

• Talent management
• Celebrity hairstyling
• Makeup artist representation
• Beauty talent agency
• Entertainment management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Talent Commission: Revenue is generated through representing hairstylists and makeup artists, facilitating bookings for advertising campaigns, editorial work, red carpet events, and digital content collaborations with brands. The company acts as an intermediary between talent and brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Highlight Artists is a full-service talent management agency representing elite celebrity hairstylists and makeup artists. Founded in 2024 by Mary Phillips, Jen Atkin, and Justine Marjan, the firm secures bookings, negotiates contracts, manages careers, and develops brand partnerships on behalf of its beauty-talent roster. It operates offices in Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks) and New York City and earns revenue through commissions on talent bookings.

Product overview

Highlight Artists is a full-service talent management company and incubator representing influential hairstylists and makeup artists. The company operates from offices in Los Angeles and New York City, providing talent representation services, digital content creation, and brand collaboration management. The core offerings include a roster of artists available for advertising campaigns, editorial work, and red carpet events, supported by digital content production and brand partnership facilitation. The company works with celebrity clients including The Kardashian & Jenner sisters, Hailey Bieber, and Dua Lipa, and has established brand partnerships with companies such as Dyson, Chanel, L'Oréal, and NARS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Talent Representation Services
• Booking and Contract Negotiation Services
• Brand Partnership Development

Named customers50 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

59 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DysoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHighlight Artists represents hairstylists who partner with Dyson for hair styling tools and technology collaborations. Dyson is a premium hair care technology brand.
• John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership between Highlight Artists' talent and John Paul Mitchell for professional hair care products. JPMS is a well-known professional hair care brand.
• ChanelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHighlight Artists represents makeup artists who work with Chanel for beauty campaigns and brand collaborations. Chanel is a luxury fashion and beauty brand.
• L'OréalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with L'Oréal for hair and makeup collaborations. L'Oréal is a major global beauty brand.
• TresemmecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHighlight Artists talent partners with Tresemme for hair care brand collaborations.
• ghdcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with ghd (good hair day) for professional hair styling tools.
• NARScoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHighlight Artists represents makeup artists who partner with NARS for beauty campaigns.
• R+CocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHair care brand partnership through artist Shelley Gregory.
• OGXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair care brand partnership.
• OLAPLEXcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership known for bond-building technology.
• RedkencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership under L'Oréal portfolio.
• Dior BeautycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury beauty brand partnership through artist Shelby Smith.
• YSL BeautycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury beauty brand partnership through artist Shelby Smith.
• GXVE BeautyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty brand partnership.
• Makeup ForevercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional makeup brand partnership.
• La MercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury skincare brand partnership through artist Mary Phillips.
• TweezermanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty tool brand partnership.
• L'Oreal PariscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMass market beauty brand partnership.
• LancomecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury beauty brand under L'Oréal portfolio.
• SLIPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilk hair accessories brand partnership.
• TweezermanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty tool brand partnership through artist Paige Pelfrey.
• DermalogicaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional skincare brand partnership.
• NakedBeautyMDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty brand partnership through artist Kristine Studden.
• Curel Japanese SkincareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSkincare brand partnership.
• NexxusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair care brand partnership through artist Kathleen Riley.
• Monday HaircareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair care brand partnership.
• Kristin EssminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair care brand partnership.
• FekkaiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury hair care brand partnership.
• ConairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair tools and appliances brand partnership.
• SlipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilk hair accessories brand partnership.
• Paul MitchellcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership through artist Justine Marjan.
• TRESemmecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHair care brand partnership.
• BellamiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair extensions and styling brand partnership.
• CalpakminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel accessories brand partnership through artist Jen Atkin.
• e.l.f.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAffordable beauty brand partnership.
• OLLYminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth supplement brand partnership.
• BriogeominorGTM or Marketing PartnerNatural hair care brand partnership through artist Irinel de León.
• Rizo CurlsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCurly hair care brand partnership.
• Living ProofcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership.
• Divi HairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair supplement brand partnership.
• OuidadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCurly hair care brand partnership.
• ConairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair tools and appliances brand partnership through artist Dina DiPietro.
• John Paul Mitchell Systems (JPMS)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership.
• ChanelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury beauty brand partnership through artist Diane Buzzetta.
• ValmontcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury Swiss skincare brand partnership.
• GVXE BeautyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty brand partnership.
• BriogeominorGTM or Marketing PartnerNatural hair care brand partnership through artist Cherilyn Farris.
• UniteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership.
• FEKKAIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury hair care brand partnership.
• SquiggsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair care brand partnership.
• OUAIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBeauty brand by Jen Atkin partnership.
• Mane by Mane AddictsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair care brand partnership.
• FEKKAIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury hair care brand partnership through artist Caylee Jolene.
• Hidden CrownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair extensions brand partnership.
• INHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHair extensions brand partnership (I Need Hair).
• Living ProofcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership through artist Amanda Lee.
• MoroccanoilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArgan oil hair care brand partnership.
• Paul MitchellcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional hair care brand partnership.
• Better NaturedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClean hair care brand partnership.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• United Talent Agency (UTA): UTA is one of the largest global talent agencies representing actors, musicians, athletes, and creators. While not specializing in beauty artists, it competes at the celebrity-talent representation layer and increasingly represents beauty-adjacent creators, putting it in indirect competition with Highlight Artists for high-value celebrity clients.
• Creative Artists Agency (CAA): CAA is a top-tier global talent agency representing artists across entertainment, sports, and digital media. It competes with Highlight Artists for celebrity talent representation contracts and brand-endorsement deals, particularly for celebrity clients seeking full-service agency support.
• William Morris Endeavor (WME): WME is a major global entertainment and talent agency. While it represents talent across film, TV, music, and sports, it competes with Highlight Artists for celebrity representation mandates and brand partnership opportunities with the same celebrity roster.
• Next Management: Next Management is a global modeling and talent agency. It overlaps with Highlight Artists at the intersection of fashion, beauty, and celebrity representation, and competes for advertising campaign bookings that require both models and beauty talent.

Direct peers

• Opus Beauty: Opus Beauty is a boutique talent management agency specializing in hairstylists, makeup artists, and fashion creatives. It operates with a similar business model to Highlight Artists — representing artists for advertising campaigns, editorial work, and brand partnerships — and competes for the same limited pool of top-tier beauty talent.
• Forward Artists: Forward Artists is a talent agency representing makeup artists and hairstylists for advertising campaigns, fashion editorials, and celebrity work. It overlaps with Highlight Artists on the artist roster (notably Mary Phillips, prior to her Highlight Artists launch) and competes for the same brand partnership deals.
• Bryan Bantry Agency: Bryan Bantry Agency represents hairstylists, makeup artists, and other beauty professionals for advertising, editorial, and celebrity work. It shares Highlight Artists' core business model of representing beauty creatives for campaign bookings and brand endorsements.
• Art Partner: Art Partner is a creative talent agency representing hairstylists, makeup artists, photographers, and stylists. While broader in scope, it directly competes with Highlight Artists for advertising campaign bookings and editorial assignments in the fashion and beauty verticals.
• The Wall Group: The Wall Group is the most directly comparable talent management agency for hairstylists, makeup artists, and nail artists. Founded by powerhouse agents with the same celebrity-client roster overlap (Kardashian-Jenner family, etc.), it competes head-to-head with Highlight Artists for representation deals and brand campaign bookings.

Emerging players

• Digital Brand Architects: Digital Brand Architects is a talent management firm specializing in digital creators and influencers. While its focus is broader than Highlight Artists' beauty-creative roster, it competes for brand-partnership dollars and represents some of the same celebrity/influencer clients in overlapping campaigns.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/highlight-artists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Highlight Artists