Winn Claybaugh Interviews Diana Schmidtke

Winn Claybaugh is the dean and cofounder of Paul Mitchell Schools and the founder of MASTERS audio club. He recently interviewed Los Angeles-based freelance stylist Diana Schmidtke, who specializes in men’s grooming, style, and hair care. Her clients include celebrities George Clooney, Viggo Mortensen, Matt Damon, Christian Bale, John Travolta, and Taylor Lautner, with whom Diana completed two Twilight movie press tours. Diana has styled clients on film sets and photo shoots, and her work has been featured in many consumer magazines. She was also featured in an Oprah Winfrey Show episode titled, "Oprah, Make Over My Man," along with Carson Kressley and Project Runway's Tim Gunn. Her book, Shortcuts to a Successful Career as a Stylist or Makeup Artist for the Fashion and Entertainment Industry, features inside advice for anyone interested in breaking into the business.

Diana's "anything is possible" message will leave you knowing all the options in the world of beauty.

WC:  You work with a veritable who’s-who list of Hollywood stars, and you styled George Clooney for the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. What was George like?

DS:  Amazing. He’s just as nice as everyone says he is. He’s classy and a gentleman to everyone. From the person who cleans up the food to the photographer who’s also the star on set that day, he treats everyone the same. He’s unbelievable.

WC:   You’ve been on the Oprah show twice. The “Make Over My Man” episode with you, Tim Gunn, and Carson Kressley was the highest episode ever. Didn’t they invite you back a second time? 

DS:   Yes, we came back less than six months later for Sweeps Week, which was a huge compliment. Thankfully, Oprah’s producers didn’t tell me until I got there that Carson and Tim were on the show. It was really overwhelming and a huge career highlight and blessing.

Continue to Stylist Voice for the full interview

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