As she joins the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City for Season 16, Daisy Toye brings an impressive résumé. The newest Housewife has also spent more than two decades as Martha Stewart’s personal makeup artist and confidante. A born-and-raised New Yorker with a self-proclaimed taste for shopping, Toye built her career on trust, but this season brings a different kind of pressure as her professional demands begin to strain her marriage.
Joining the cast also meant an unfamiliar role reversal. After years spent behind the scenes checking lighting and angles for someone else, Toye found herself in front of the camera instead. Ahead, Toye shares more about her career, her own beauty routine and what she’s most looking forward to this season.
You’ve been Martha Stewart’s makeup artist for almost 20 years. What’s changed the most about her look—and your approach to it—over that time?
“It has definitely evolved over the years, and Martha trusts me to do what I want. We’ve worked together for so long that there’s a real trust there, and I know what works for her.”
You’ve spent your career making other women look camera-ready. What was it like being on the other side of that for the first time, joining RHONY?
“I was definitely vulnerable. I’m always on the other side checking the lighting, checking the angles and making sure everything looks right, so it was very different for me to have to trust the cinematographers.”
Did anything about your own beauty routine change once you knew you’d be filming?
“Definitely more pressed powder than I ever imagined!”
What does your own no-makeup, day-off routine actually look like?
“Cooking dinner in the morning, convincing myself to go to a workout class, and usually making some sort of purchase.”
What do you want people to know about you beyond ‘Martha Stewart’s makeup artist’ and ‘the new RHONY cast member?’
“I’m a born-and-raised New Yorker who loves fashion and making other people look great—even complete strangers. I love my family, and cooking is a huge passion of mine.”
What are you most excited about as the season rolls on?
“I’m most excited for people to see the dynamic between all of the girls. We’re all very different, which makes it amazing, fun and unpredictable.”
