Marianela Nuñez is the face of L’Oréal Paris, the Royal Ballet and Opera’s first beauty partnership
L’Oréal Paris products will be used by the Covent Garden wigs, hair and make-up team this season, and a £100 backstage tour ending in afternoon tea launches in November.
The Royal Ballet and Opera has named L’Oréal Paris as its first official beauty partner for the 2026/27 season, with the Royal Ballet principal Marianela Nuñez as the face of the collaboration.
Under the deal, announced today, L’Oréal Paris will support the house’s wigs, hair and make-up team with its products, which the company says were chosen for formulas built to withstand intense stage conditions.
A tour behind the curtain
In November the two organisations will launch You’re Worth It: Beauty, Ballet and Behind the Scenes, a limited-run tour of backstage spaces at the Royal Opera House. Shaped by conversations with dancers of The Royal Ballet, it follows the preparation, beauty rituals and craftsmanship behind a performance, from morning class and rehearsal to curtain-up.
The tour ends with afternoon tea in the Paul Hamlyn Hall and a gift from L’Oréal Paris. It runs on a limited number of dates, and tickets – £100, or £115 with a sparkling option – are on sale on the Royal Ballet and Opera website from 1 October.
What they said
Nuñez called it “a great honour” to be the face of the partnership and said she was excited to bring the two worlds together. “I have long admired L’Oréal and its commitment to celebrating beauty in all its forms,” she said, “and I can’t wait to share this special connection with you all.”
Sophie Wybrew-Bond, the Royal Ballet and Opera’s chief commercial officer, said the deal united two globally recognised brands that shared a belief in confidence, self-expression and excellence. “From the artistry seen on stage to the dedication and craftsmanship behind the scenes, together we are creating new ways for audiences to connect with the magic of performance and celebrate the people who make it possible,” she added.
Laura Cross, general manager of L’Oréal Paris UK and Ireland, said the brand was “immensely proud” of the partnership, which she described as “a true celebration of dedication, artistry, and the craft that brings world-class performances to life”.
The partners plan further experiences, content, and collaborations throughout the season, focusing on the preparation behind each performance and the role stage makeup plays in it.
You’re Worth It: Beauty, Ballet and Behind the Scenes, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from November 2026 on selected dates. Tickets £100 (£115 with sparkling) from rbo.org.uk.
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Italian ballerina Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
