Apparently Mariah Carey Knew About Ring Lights Way Before Everyone Else
According to Britney Spears, her early aughts lighting setup was "otherworldly."
They say to never meet your heroes, but when you're Britney Spears and said hero is Mariah Carey the rules don't necessarily apply. In Spears' new memoir, The Woman In Me, the 41-year-old superstar detailed the beauty advice she picked up upon meeting Carey for the first time during an awards show in the early 2000s.
"I knocked on Mariah Carey's dressing room door. She opened it and out poured the most beautiful, otherworldly light. You know how we all have ring lights now? Well, more than twenty years ago, only Mariah Carey knew about ring lights," writes Spears in the book.
According to the "Gimme More" singer, Carey took it upon herself to coach the pop star on how to take the perfect photo. "I asked if we could take a photo together and tried to take one where we were standing, and she said, 'No! Come stand here, darling. This is my light. This is my side. I want you to stand here so I can get my good side, girl.'"
While Spears won an award that night, "the real prize" was getting a snap with the Songbird Supreme. "I did everything Mariah Carey told me to do," Spears adds in Chapter 10 of the book, which was released Tuesday, October 24. "Of course she was completely right about everything—the photo looked incredible."
A photo posted by mariahcarey
In an August 2020 Instagram post, the "Fantasy" singer gave fans a peek at her current selfie lighting setup. Technology has advanced since that fateful day with the Princess of Pop, and Carey has taken full advantage, now boasting two bulbs to illuminate her lovely complexion.
If you look at any of her recent photos, it's obvious she knows where to find the light—and which side (it's the right) remains her favorite.
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Sophia Vilensky is a Freelance Beauty Writer at Marie Claire with a beauty, wellness, and entertainment journalism portfolio that includes contributions to Byrdie, Bravo, Teen Vogue, and Us Weekly. Growing up in a family of beauticians—and through her own personal studies—she developed an in-depth understanding of aesthetics, cosmetic product formulation, and beauty treatment development and has also held roles as a senior copywriter, content strategist, and proofreader for top beauty and wellness brands. Even so, you'd be hard pressed to find her with her hair and makeup actually done. Sophia is based in Minneapolis and is a 2019 graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she majored in English and minored in cinema studies. During her time at the university, she was the Arts & Entertainment Editor for the Minnesota Daily, earning the 2019 Editor of the Year award for her work. She connected deeply with the Twin Cities arts scene, collaborating with leading beauty professionals, designers, and artists. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, her thesis—a close-reading of Vanderpump Rules—was featured on NPR. When not immersed in writing or testing new products, Sophia enjoys watching reality TV, reading, and exploring the newest woo-woo wellness trends. Keep up with her on Instagram @sophiavilensky.