"“You have something that we don't have, and that's authenticity,” Melrose recalled the team explaining to her. “You have realness, and you have a reach that people just love.”"
"That answer should land for every founder reading this. The luxury houses are not abandoning craft. They are recalibrating credibility. The audience these brands are trying to reach trusts the person who reviews lipstick on TikTok more than the editorial spread shot in Milan."
"That is not a beauty story but a credibility story, and it applies to every founder who is still trying to look the part instead of being the source. Melrose did not get the seat by chasing it. She got it by building toward it for years. Here is what her playbook teaches founders about being ready when the call comes."
Dolce & Gabbana Beauty named Melinda Melrose its 2026 Global Makeup Expert, awarding a role previously held by supermodels. Melrose asked why she was chosen and received an answer centered on authenticity, realness, and audience reach. Luxury brands are not abandoning craft; they are shifting toward credibility. Audiences increasingly trust creators who review products on platforms like TikTok more than polished editorial spreads. The focus becomes being the source rather than only looking the part. Melrose earned the position through years of building, offering a readiness playbook for founders when opportunities arise.
Read at Inc
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