BRINGS A TOUCH OF BEAUTY TO PARIS FASHION WEEK

By Marc Cornwall

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be invited to assist Val Garland, Creative Director of L’Oréal Paris.

I’m a local boy from Hawai‘i, raised in the middle of the Pacific. As a kid, when I talked about big fashion dreams, people were quick to bring me back to reality. Those worlds felt impossibly far away.

And then last week… I got an email from Val’s London agent asking me to join her for the Celia Kritharioti Couture Show in Paris 2026.

I read it at least 100 times.

Then forwarded it to my agent asking, “Is this even real?”

Five minutes later she replied: It’s real.

Cue sweaty palms. Immediate yes. Schedule cleared. Flights hunted. Paris, here we go.

I landed Wednesday morning. Show was Thursday. Straight from CDG to the venue—getting dressed in the back of a taxi, making sure I smelled amazing (but not too amazing). Nervous doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Walking backstage, kit on my back, heart pounding—not because of the work, but because you never know what energy you’re about to walk into.

And then… there she was.

The legend.

Ding-dong, darling—I found her.

Val was everything you hope your idols will be—and more. Warm. Sharp. Focused. Generous. No ego. No drama. Just excellence.

The entire team worked as one. No divas. No chaos. Just talent, kindness, and respect. Rare. Powerful. Unforgettable.

This was truly one of the greatest experiences of my life. Working alongside Val has been on my bucket list since I entered this industry in the ’90s.

They say never meet your idols.

I’ve met some—and yeah, sometimes I wished I hadn’t.

Val is the exception.

She is the definition of a true artist. A force in our beauty community. Setting trends decade after decade. People need to give her her flowers—now.

Being in her orbit recharged my love for this craft and reminded me that good people still exist. When you surround yourself with passion and integrity, something shifts in your soul.

Val—thank you for having me. Thank you for the inspiration.

To the core team and every artist backstage: thank you for the warmth, the generosity, and the teamwork. Friends for life. J’adore.

And thank you to my agencies for making this possible.

Grateful beyond words.