Painted By Esther’s Influence Becomes Part Of A Larger Beauty Conversation
Blush has long been part of makeup, but a recent online discussion around Patrick Ta’s latest product release has turned a beauty technique into a broader conversation about credit, influence and how the industry treats Black women.
The conversation began after social media users reacted to a video from Patrick Ta’s brand promoting a new “transitional” blush duo and coordinating liquid blushes. Many viewers pointed out similarities between the technique in the video and the work of makeup artist Ngozi Esther Edeme, widely known as Painted by Esther.
Edeme has built a recognizable style around bold, rosy cheeks and under eyes that work across complexions. Her artistry has appeared on figures including Naomi Campbell, Kelly Rowland, Viola Davis and Olandria Carthen. While she has not claimed to be the first artist to use heavy blush, many beauty followers have credited her with helping popularize the look across social media, red carpets and fashion spaces.
Patrick Ta Responds After Viewers Point To Similarities
Patrick Ta, a Vietnamese American makeup artist who launched his namesake brand in 2019, later addressed the conversation in a TikTok caption. He wrote that he does not own the look and called Edeme “amazing and so talented.”
“She popularized this look through her work and through Olandria,” Ta wrote. “I also have been doing this blush look since 2021. Not the same as Esther but my own version. I am a makeup artist. For context, I filmed this video on March 5th. I have nothing but love and respect for Esther.”
For many online, the issue was not simply whether a blush style can belong to one person. The concern centered on a familiar pattern in beauty and fashion, where Black women’s creativity often shapes trends before brands and larger platforms profit from the look without clear credit.
Edeme Says Her Influence Should Not Be Minimized
Edeme also addressed the conversation in a TikTok video, saying she was tired of being spoken for and afraid to speak up because of how Black women are often labeled when they advocate for themselves.
“I’m tired of constantly being spoken for and being scared to speak because I am a Black woman,” she said.
@paintedbyesther I’ll only speak about this once.
♬ original sound – Paintedbyesther
Edeme made clear that she was not claiming ownership over blush or the technique itself. She said she sees herself as an artist who references and learns from others, including Kevyn Aucoin, Danessa Myricks and Pat McGrath.
“This whole thing is particularly strange to me. I’ve never once said I started anything,” Edeme said. “I am an artist; my driving force is to create and share it. My end goal is to teach and spread my knowledge.”
Still, Edeme said the situation felt uncomfortable after recalling a past experience involving someone connected to Ta’s team. She said she was booked for a “do and go” service, meaning she would complete the makeup and leave, but became uneasy when a team member asked to record the session.
She said the request “didn’t sit right” with her and felt “conniving.”
A Broader Pattern Around Credit And Black Women’s Creativity
The conversation also revived earlier criticism involving Patrick Ta’s brand. In 2024, content creator Avonna Sunshine publicly criticized the company, saying she had not been paid for a campaign.
“You see people, especially Black people, riding for the company and I just wonder, if those Black creators that are supporting you so heavily knew that you were out here not paying Black creators, how would they feel?” Sunshine said in a viral video. “I don’t think they’d be okay with that. I’m surely not.”
After the video gained millions of views, Ta shared a since deleted apology video and said he had not seen her previous attempts to contact him privately. Around the same time, Jools Lebron, who created the viral “very demure, very mindful” phrase, also claimed Ta failed to pay her for a campaign connected to an event in New York.
For Edeme, the latest conversation is about more than one product launch. It reflects the pressure Black women face when trying to defend their work without being mischaracterized.
“It’s already hard being Black and being a woman in this industry. You have to fight twice as hard to get just half of what you deserve,” Edeme said. “I will reiterate: I did not start anything. I am 29 years old. That would be ludicrous to claim ownership of anything. But what you will not do is belittle my influence.”
At the center of the discussion is a simple demand for acknowledgment. Edeme’s supporters are not arguing that blush belongs to one artist. They are pointing to how quickly Black women’s ideas can move into the mainstream while the women behind those ideas are left fighting to be named, credited and respected.
For many watching the conversation unfold, the Patrick Ta and Painted by Esther discussion is another reminder that influence has value. In an industry built on beauty, visibility and originality, credit still matters.
