Episode 3

This week’s star-studded episode features global pop sensation and rapper Ashnikko, and the MUAs are on set of HBO's House of the Dragon.

The eight remaining make-up artists are whisked to the legendary Leavesden Studios to create special effects looks for global phenomenon TV series House of the Dragon. Under the expert instruction of acclaimed Bafta-winning make-up artist Amanda Knight, the MUAs must work in pairs to create realistic, battle-worn looks on supporting actors playing soldiers returning from war.

In a Glow Up first, the MUAs must not only apply prosthetics to create scars from battle, but also apply tricky, technical fake beards to their actors. While some of the MUAs are used to prosthetics, others are totally out of their comfort zone.

For the pair that performs the best in this assignment, there’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in store: an invitation back to set to assist Amanda and her team on the show. With such a jaw-dropping prize on offer, the competition ramps up, and all the MUAs are hungry to impress.

The next day at Glow Up Studios, the MUAs discover who failed to impress on set and who will be in the dreaded red chairs with a 15-minute time penalty.

For this week’s Creative Brief, the make-up artists are tasked to create a character inspired by folklore. The judges want to see a total transformation using prosthetic make-up. Making their first visit to the studio as today’s guest judge is global pop sensation and rapper Ashnikko.

In the presence of pop royalty, the MUAs create some truly spectacular looks, including a demonic tooth fairy, a human transforming into a dragon and an 'ank', a monstrous sea creature inspired by the sirens from Greek mythology. During judging, one MUA is moved to tears when Ashnikko praises their look, sharing that Ashnikko was a massive inspiration in their teenage years and helped them to navigate their sexuality and identity.

In the Face-Off Elimination, the two make-up artists who least impressed must go head to head in a nail-biting battle of nerves and technical skill. The challenge: to pull off a perfect baddie eye, one of the biggest social media trends of the last year. In the tightest race of the competition so far, both MUAs are neck and neck at the end of the Face-Off, leaving the judges with an incredibly tough decision.