Kathryn Butler is a professional makeup artist who spent years behind the scenes glamming celebrities, traveling with JWOWW, and working award shows and TV before reinventing herself as a mom of two, a business owner, and the founder of the Paradise lip gloss line. Leslie pulls her out from behind the chair and into the talent seat to talk about what she's learned on set, the professionalism that separates a real BFD from a D-lister, and her years-long journey growing up inside Leslie's ecosystem.

In this episode:

Why the talent who's truly a BFD never leads with ego, and how the ones who do give themselves away

The unfiltered do's and don'ts of being on set (including what NOT to do while the cameras are rolling)

Years in JWOWW's makeup chair: friendship vs. professionalism, and knowing the difference

Kathryn's reinvention from celebrity MUA to doula to grounded mom who's allowed to love both makeup and motherhood

Leaving the all-or-nothing extremes (and the crunchy-mom rabbit hole) for nuance and autonomy

How motherhood checked her ego and made her better at the work

Her arc through Leslie's world: the first event, Brunch with Babes, Summer's Point, Nashville, Headliners Week

Building the Paradise lip gloss line, and why "Bombshell" is the bestseller that works on every skin tone

Connect with Kathryn Butler:💄 GlambyKathrynXO (Instagram) — best way to book or buy is a DM🏖️

Paradise — @welcometoparadisexo on Instagram

Connect with The BFD Show:

📺 Watch the network: watchbfdtv.com

📩 [email protected]

Welcome to the bfd show, hosted by leslie jefferson.

Welcome back to the BFD Show.

I'm your host, Leslie Jesperson, and I am joined today by someone who is used to being behind the scenes, and I'm making her the talent today.

Please welcome Katherine Butler to the show.

Hi.

Thank you for having me.

Thank you for having me.

It's been a very long time since I've been in front of a camera, so it might be a little rusty.

You're good.

I'm excited for other people to get to know you, because I feel like people.

You have, like, such a fun social media, and you.

You also get to know people when you're doing their makeup, but it just takes longer because you learn.

Yes.

We joke that, like, if we're on a time crunch, I got to keep it quiet.

I'm Italian, so I'm talking like this.

I can't, like, do makeup and talk and, like, process both things.

So it's either we're hanging out or it's like, no, girl, be quiet.

We got to be done.

So.

So you are a professional makeup artist.

You are a mom of two.

You are a wife, but you had, like, a full circle moment doing your makeup because you just.

Only recently, I would say, like, what, two years now, did you go full time into makeup again.

When we first connected, you were a doula.

You were doing doula work.

Yes.

You were doing all the things.

It really seems like a different lifetime, like, a different person, because it's.

It just sounds so weird, but, like, just so different.

Like, after becoming pregnant with my first, that was, like, a journey in itself.

I was told I could never have children, so we were, like, not gonna accept that as, like, a reality once my husband and I, you know, got engaged and everything.

And he's, like, such a health nut, so he's like, all right, well, we're gonna detox and do this and do this and do this.

And I'm like, okay, sure, whatever.

And it worked, but it put me down this, like, rabbit hole of, like, the crunchy world, which, like, I'm for.

But I recently realized, like, I'm not for it.

At the same time, it's nuanced, and.

I think that's the beauty of, like, autonomy in our lives.

Like, I believed in this.

I believe some things from this.

Yeah.

And I also believe some things from this.

And, like, that's okay.

Yeah.

And that's what was hard for me to be okay with because I'm, like, such a person of, like, I'm either obsessed with Something or I don't give a shit.

So, like, when I, you know, did this detoxing and healthy and, like, oh, my gosh, we got pregnant, like, okay, I have to be crunchy.

I have to do this.

I have to do that.

Which put me down, like, all these other rabbit holes.

Which, like, if you don't know by now, I'm like, that crazy conspiracy friend.

But I love some of your posts.

I'm like, oh, she's real in there.

She's gone down that.

Yeah.

My friends are either like, chill out, or they're like, tell me more.

And I'm like, whatever you want, babe.

But once getting pregnant and, like, seeing this cringy stuff, then, like, I went down, like, the pregnancy rabbit hole and the birth rabbit hole and, like, all this crazy stuff, which then led me to be like, okay, well, I'm a mom now.

I have to be a certain way.

I have to look a certain way.

I have to have a certain job.

Like, I have to do certain things that make a mom a mom, you know?

So that's where, like, me being like, oh, no, makeup's just, like, so egotistical and so toxic and, like, blah, blah, blah, blah.

To, like, okay, now on the total opposite spectrum, like, absolutely, like, nothing.

Like, let's be a doula and, like, celebrate like, this and that, and there's no shade.

Like, I love doulas.

Like, I still love that.

But I was just, like, obsess.

Opposite spectrums.

Right, Right.

And I really wasn't happy with it.

Like, I still found myself, like, miserable and all this stuff.

And it wasn't until I had my second baby that I was just, like, grounded and realized, like, it's okay to like, makeup.

It's okay to be artistic.

It's okay to, like, put it on sometimes and not be, like, full glam 24 7.

But, like, not, you know, a stinky, dirty, like, smelly, like, crunchy hippie.

Like, I live in the forest or something.

You know what I mean?

And again, I'm not, like, shading anyone, but, like, it's your own journey.

Yeah.

Like, having to learn that nuance.

And I think I saw that too, because I love being able to follow people on their journeys.

And, like, when I invited you to come to my first event in Summer's Point, and you could only come for, like, an hour because you had the new baby.

Yeah, he was, like, a couple months old at that point.

Like, just.

Yeah, but I think that's when you.

First of all, motherhood will make you question anything that you ever believed, seriously, or thought I was just telling her off camera, I was like, by the way, wait till they're teenagers.

And I hate to be that guy who's like, oh, just you wait.

No, I don't want that to, like, happen.

Can we not?

Yeah, but I think, like, each of the seasons, as we get to experience motherhood in each of those seasons and see them experience that.

Like, you also had that because, yeah, you as a makeup artist, like, you worked with, like, your JWOWs, so, like, you worked with celebs a lot of celebrities before.

So, like, tell them about kind of that side of you.

Yeah, basically, this is your.

Your shot to talk about why you are a big fucking deal.

So tell them why you are a bfd.

Thank you.

And I thank you for that.

Because since reentering it and, like, especially at a different stage of my life, like, before, as a makeup artist, like, I was traveling with jl, like, all the time.

I was doing other celebrities as well, maybe just not as much as her, like, doing award shows and tv, whatever.

And, like, here I am, like, just, like, partying all the time, and, like, I'm this big fucking deal.

But it was coming from, like, a place of ego again.

Like, I was super egotistical.

And how old were you, too?

Right.

Well, and that's.

But that's the thing.

Like, we don't.

I've.

I've had my own journey, like, post divorce in my 20s.

Yeah.

You know, exactly.

Like, you're like.

And that was the other thing, too.

Was like, right at the peak of my makeup career, I was coming out of this, like, super toxic relationship that I had for, like, probably about seven or eight years.

So it was like, okay, now I'm, like, out of that.

I'm doing this.

Like, I get to travel and get paid all this money and, like, party and, like, all this crazy stuff.

So it was, like, definitely just, like, for fun.

And I wasn't taking it seriously at all, but it was.

It was an amazing experience.

I learned a lot, for sure.

You know, like, what it's like to be on set and, like, you know this, of course, like, how you deal with celebrities and, like, what's okay and what's not okay and all that kind of stuff.

So, like, now, like, I don't.

I don't mention it too often.

I mean, you can see on my Instagram, like, I do have, like, some plugs of, like, where I was published and, like, some pin posts, but I don't always lead with that.

But it was really, really Cool To.

To do, you know?

Well, you said something really important that I'm gonna ask you to go a little deeper on.

Because it's one thing for them to hear it from me, but to hear from other people, like, no one can take away your experience on set.

And, like, what do you think are some do's and don'ts that you've seen talent do?

This was, like, what I wanted the show to be around about originally, by the way, is like, getting people who have worked in this industry to as women entrepreneurs.

Like, we're.

The industry is shifting.

We're getting on TV shows, we're getting this press, we're getting this media.

And some people can, like, harm their reputations by just not acting correct.

So I can speak to that.

Right.

So, like, if.

If someone were to say, like, Catherine, what have you learned from being on set and working with the celebrities?

Like, I always say, for me, there is a reason why I'll use Jordan Sparks, for example.

There is a reason why Jordan Sparks is Jordan Sparks.

And like, the local celebrity is still a local celebrity, because I have seen the way she acts, the way she treats people, the way her team treats people, and I've seen the ego led, that energy that, like, D listers lead with.

Yes, yes, there is a reason.

So talk a little bit about that level of professionalism that is required that you have seen so all up in their face.

I have.

I definitely have.

And there have been moments where I was extremely unprofessional, and there have been moments where I was extremely professional.

So, like, for example, with.

With Jenny, jwow, her and I first started out as friends, so we had a different kind of relationship.

It wasn't necessarily based off of professionalism.

Like, we traveled together for work, but we also traveled together to go to, like, our best friend's wedding.

You know, we're away in Mexico, like, partying all night.

So when I would go on jobs with her, I was much more laid back because I'm like, oh, I'm with my best friend.

Like, it's totally fine.

In hindsight, I see that there were times where I'm sure she wanted to smack me and be like, bitch, what are you doing?

Like, why are you trauma dumping to the other makeup artist right now while you're behind the scenes and we're filming for Food Network?

What are you doing?

So there were times where I was definitely not doing it right, but there were also times where I was working with a few celebrities that I didn't know on that level.

So immediately I was going to be much more professional.

I knew, like, we're not supposed to make friends and chat and do this and do that.

Like, you're there, you're quiet, you go up and do touch ups when you're needed.

You know, even when you're doing their makeup, like, there really isn't small talk happening.

They're either on their phone or they're talking to like, someone on their team or they're rehearsing something.

So it's like you have your place and that's totally cool and that's okay.

Like, you don't have to prove yourself to anything.

You just do your thing and then you bounce or you stay, you touch up and that's it.

You don't trauma dump on other people on the team.

So I, again, like I said, I've definitely been on both sides of that.

But whether you're good friends with a talent or not, I know this now.

You always want to be professional because you're not doing anything other than risking their job, risking their reputation.

Like, they're not going to want to bring someone around who makes them look bad in any way at all.

So you really just have to let them do their thing and you do your thing and keep it at that 100.

And I think that level of professionalism, like, sure, you can be yourself and when you're on set, like, it's just a different energy.

And I've seen, like, I was actually just recently thinking about, like an event that I emceed and like, the talent is coming up to me, like, oh, can you say this about me?

Can you say that?

Like, that's not how it works.

Like, you would not be on a TV set for a morning show and go up to the TV host and be like, oh, can you make sure you say this about me?

No, they cannot.

Like, they're not.

I think the ego thing, like you said, like, has to be checked at the door because at the end of the day, we're all working.

Like, this is a job and we're working and it doesn't mean that we can't be gassing each other up in the Instagram DMS or like, become friends.

Sure, for sure.

Like, I think you and I, like, we're friends and we also, like, get done too.

Yeah, we have a professional relationship when that time comes too, which I love.

And respect because, like, the people that get it, get it, you know, and like, you can have that friendship and still respect what you do, respect your boundaries, respect your business and all of that.

And, like, still show love and appreciate and everything.

Like, it's really cool.

And that's.

That's one thing that, like, motherhood definitely helped me with was, like, drop my ego, see things for what they are.

You know, be more professional and responsible and appreciative and understanding and all of this.

So, like, me.

If I was me back then, like, it would been different.

If I was me back then, now, it would have been different.

You know what I mean?

So we have.

We have age.

We have maturity.

Yeah.

We have life experience, and, like, we.

Maybe we wouldn't be here at all.

Exactly.

Exactly.

We didn't have any of those experiences.

No.

For sure.

For sure.

And it is.

It is really cool to, like, go from your first event, which Mandy brought me to when I was a doula.

Oh, my gosh.

Right.

To your brunch with babes when you were doing that.

And that's when I was a duel.

And, like, that's when I first met Kaylin, who does, like, all the content and everything now.

And.

And it was just cool to, like, be able to stay friends and, like, on your level and Kaylyn's level and everybody grow and not, like, care or worry about it.

You know what I mean?

I love that you said grow, because I just made a Facebook post about this and, like, how the reason why I don't do brunch with babes anymore, because we have.

That was several years ago now.

Like, we have all grown and evolved, and I realized that I was doing a disservice to everybody in my community by continuing to stay at that surface level.

Like, it is.

Not everybody came with us, but you have seen from.

From that event to the event, you know, in Summer's Point, where I made mistakes and I booked a venue way too big, and, you know, you came to Nashville, which was like, yeah, that was amazing.

Other, you know, experience for.

For all of us.

We all took big risks there.

Yeah, that was amazing.

But even still, like, going to brunch with babes to the Summer's Point event to Nashville, like, they all serve such a great purpose in their own way.

Like, the energy was always there, you know?

Like, everything you do was always there, and it was always felt, and that's what, like, made me want to keep, like, being around you.

Like, something about Leslie, like, this woman's awesome.

Like, thank you, Mandy, for bringing me, because I don't know if I would have ever, like, had the balls to just be like, yeah, I'm gonna go to this networking event, you know, or whatever, because yeah.

But you've also grown and evolved so much since then.

Like, you go to things by yourself, like, because you are your whole ass brand now.

Yeah.

Yeah, you are.

Like, I loved having you as our makeup artist for Headliners Week, and, like, having you work with my clients and just, like, it's been really cool.

So it's an honor.

Thank you.

Seriously,.

Tell everybody what you specialize in.

You all.

Wait, timeout.

We forgot you have a.

A line now.

Like, your own product line.

Like, which I forget.

I was ready to wrap it up.

I was like, wait a minute here.

It's so funny because I always, like, forget about things like that.

My mom brain is just like, oh, yeah.

So, okay.

I've been doing makeup.

That was my first job.

I will always brag about that, but I've always been super picky with lip glosses.

Like, that's one product that I don't like.

Sticky, heavy, but I still want shiny.

I want a little bit of color there.

I don't want to look at, like, a pretty colored gloss.

Put it on and it's clear.

Like, why?

You know, like, I want something cute.

So even since, like, coming back into makeup and you were my first client, which, like, was amazing.

But literally from that moment until I started my own lip gloss line, I was on the hunt for nude lip glosses that, like, weren't clear or weren't just, like, chalk on your lips.

Like, it was so difficult to find anything.

So I was like, let me just make my own.

So I'm much more involved now.

And I have three colors.

They're like staple colors.

They work on every skin tone.

Especially, like, the number one seller, Bombshell.

It's, like, everyone's favorite, and it does work on every skin tone, but that's something that I forget to, like, tell people about what they call, oh, paradise.

So my story was called Paradise Beauty Bar back in the day.

And I just always love that, like, the beach is, like, my entire personality.

I see that all the time because, like, I'm just that basic girl that loves the beach and paradise and, like, anything like, Lana Del Rey by.

But like, you know, beachy streetwear, chilling, chic kind of vibe.

So, yeah, so I was like, let's just bring paradise back and start with some lip glosses.

And I plan on growing the lip gloss collection.

Just not yet, but I love it.

So they can purchase Paradise.

Yeah.

So hit me up on Instagram.

I.

The Instagram dedicated to paradise is welcome to paradise, all one word.

Or you can come to my page, which is Glam by Katherine xo.

I'm hoping we'll.

We'll link.

Yeah.

Because everyone butchers my name.

My mom decided to spell my name.

Hello.

Yeah, same.

Yeah, no, we'll pull all of Catherine's information.

She does the best makeup, she travels, as long as she's not booked with me.

And Leslie's first.

But just message me, like, DM me.

I do have, like, a website of sorts, but I'm very, like, on the whole Gen Z level, which, like, I've been, like, in different groups figuring out they're more into.

Just, like, let's keep it simple and chat in the DMS book in the DMs, buy in the DMS.

So I like to keep it simple.

Yeah.

Some people are like, no, you got to be organized.

Do emails, whatever.

I don't have time for all that.

Just your kids are in school or something when they're older and they can entertain themselves.

Yeah, we'll talk, but for now, just DM me.

It has been such an honor to, like, just in the couple years that we've known each other, to see you grow and expand, and I'm so excited for all the things to come.

Thank you.

Keep bringing you with us as we, I don't know, take over the world.

Yeah, well, it's happening.

It's happening.

I mean, seeing your growth, like, is wild.

Like, literally wild.

So thank you.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

Thank you to Katherine, and we will see you on the next episode of bfd.