By Peggy Phillips & Valerie Milano
Beverly Hills, CA (The Hollywood Times) 2/15/26 – Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes magic took center stage at the 13th Annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (IATSE Local 706) Awards, held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel before a sold-out crowd of more than 850 industry professionals. The evening honored excellence across motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos and live theater, and proved once again that transformative artistry is foundational to storytelling.
Hosted by Rachael Harris, the ceremony balanced humor and heartfelt tributes, while Frankie Grande energized the red-carpet pre-show livestream. Guild President Julie Socash presided over a night that celebrated both emerging innovation and decades-long careers.
Frankie Grande Returns to Host the MUAHS “Live From the Red Carpet” Livestream Show (photo: Rock of Ages Hollywood)
In motion pictures, One Battle After Another and Sinners earned top honors in contemporary and period/character categories, recognizing the nuanced artistry required to ground audiences in modern realism and richly detailed eras.
The night’s Special Make-Up Prosthetics award went to Netflix’s Frankenstein, honoring the extraordinary work of Mike Hill and Megan Many. Peggy Phillips, Journalist for The Hollywood Times spoke with Hill and Many on the red carpet about the intricate process of building layered prosthetic designs that feel both timeless and emotionally authentic. Their transformative prosthetic design brought powerful dimension and realism to the screen, proving once again how essential special makeup effects are in cinematic storytelling.
Congratulations to Mike Hill (@mikehill_creations) and Megan Many for their award-winning prosthetic makeup artistry. Their transformative work brought extraordinary realism and dimension to the screen — a true testament to the power of special makeup effects. https://youtu.be/Zq9_iIeTOL4
Hair styling categories echoed the same creative excellence, with teams from One Battle After Another and Sinners demonstrating how hair design shapes character identity and narrative tone.
Television winners reflected the diversity of today’s content landscape. The Studio and Palm Royale led limited and streaming categories, while Stranger Things: Season 5 was recognized for its striking prosthetic work.
Live and variety programming also shined. Saturday Night Live captured multiple awards, underscoring the rapid-turnaround creativity required for sketch comedy, and Dancing with the Stars earned recognition for contemporary hair styling in live television.
In children and teen programming, Skeleton Crew stood out in both make-up and hair styling categories, highlighting the imaginative demands of genre-driven storytelling for younger audiences.
The Guild also honored live theatrical productions, including The Monkey King at the San Francisco Opera and a stage production of Frankenstein at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, celebrating artistry that must withstand the scrutiny of a live audience.
In the Commercials and Music Video category, Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” and Walmart’s “WhoKnewVille” holiday campaign showcased how high-impact beauty design continues to shape visual branding across platforms.
Beyond competitive awards, the evening paid tribute to extraordinary careers.
Actress Amy Madigan received the Distinguished Artisan Award, recognized for her enduring contributions across film, television and theater.
Emmy-nominated make-up artist Michael Johnston received the Vanguard Award for shaping the visual identity of multiple generations of youth television.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were bestowed upon Oscar-nominated make-up artist Greg Nelson and legendary hairstylist Judy Alexander Cory, honoring careers that span decades of industry evolution, from practical effects to the digital age.
A moving In Memoriam tribute reminded attendees that the Guild’s strength lies not only in innovation but also in community and shared legacy.
The 13th Annual MUAHS Awards reinforced a simple truth: while actors inhabit the spotlight, it is the vision and craftsmanship of make-up artists and hair stylists that allow characters to live and breathe. From prosthetic transformations to period-perfect coiffures, the night honored the artisans whose work defines genre, era, and emotional depth.
Click below for The Hollywood Times’ exclusive interview with Frankenstein’s award-winning team, Mike Hill and Megan Many, as they share insights into the creative challenges and triumphs behind their celebrated prosthetic work.
Click Here to watch on our YouTube Channel
To see all the winners click HERE:
