David Capelle

Published on: 18 Apr. 2026 at 17:38

Born in Saint-Lô (Manche) in 1980, Audrey Lefèvre, daughter of former professional player and coach of FC Saint-Lô Henri Atamaniuk, recounts how she left France for the United States before becoming an independent makeup artist and entered the backstage of American power.

Returning to France in 2025, she published “La Confidente” and reflects on this extraordinary journey.

“Each time I come to Normandy, I receive a warm welcome”

Do you still feel like a Normandy resident?

From 0 to 7 years old, one doesn’t remember much, especially as I moved a lot during my childhood. But each time I come to Normandy, I receive a warm welcome. The people are warm, smiling, caring, and it feels good. I returned to Saint-Lô last year to receive a city’s honorary award. I recognized places, locations near my old house. I had very precise flashes.

What do you remember from this childhood marked by moves?

I was the youngest in the family. My brother and sister had already left, so I followed my father based on his job. I didn’t really have a choice. When you’ve experienced this instability, you then seek stability. There are many memories that come back, things I clung to that have remained engraved.

“We sold everything in France to try our luck over there”

Why did you move to the United States in 2013?

Initially, it was a family project. My ex-husband (Fabien Lefèvre, double Olympic medalist in kayaking) wanted to continue his career there. For me, I was going mainly for my children, so they could have dual nationality, dual culture, dual language. We sold everything in France to try our luck there, without a work contract or job promise. We managed on our own. It took me a year to a year and a half to understand how the American system worked. I didn’t speak English, I had no network, we didn’t know anyone.

How did you become a makeup artist there?

I have an artistic background. I was a singer, dancer, I always evolved in this universe. We quickly started running out of money. Life is very expensive in the United States, so I absolutely had to work. I had already had the idea of becoming a makeup artist in 2008, but it was never the right time. Now, I thought: it’s now. I returned to France to train in makeup in accelerated mode, then I went back to the United States, where I had to get the equivalence. Everything was ready, but I didn’t know where to go or who to ask. I was lost.

What was your training?

I have an artistic background. I was a singer, dancer, I did everything in music. I still had a baby, my daughter was 10 months old, and I faced many difficulties. After a year, I started to lose motivation. I thought we might have made a mistake. But my ex-husband was in his career, he was an Olympic champion, and for him, we had come here, so we had to go all the way. We quickly started running out of money. Life is very expensive in the United States, so I absolutely had to work. I had already had the idea of becoming a makeup artist in 2008, but with his job and the travel, it was complicated. Now, I thought: it’s now. I returned to France to train in makeup in accelerated mode because I couldn’t stay in school for a year. Then I went back to the United States, where I had to get the equivalence, as it was mandatory. Everything was ready, but I didn’t know where to go, who to ask, and I didn’t speak the language. Even the French embassy couldn’t help me because it wasn’t their domain. I was lost.

How did you eventually enter the circles of American power?

One evening, I searched the internet for a similar but larger beauty app. I came across Glamsquad. I applied online. Eight months later, they called me back. They were ready to come to Washington and wanted to start with the President’s 45^th inauguration. They arrived with a team of three makeup artists and three hairdressers and wanted me to be part of the team. I underwent many tests, both makeup and behavioral. A few weeks later, they said, “It’s good, we’ll take you on the team.”

“I enter the White House”

Do you remember your first entry into this world?

It’s January 19, 2017. The D-Day, I was told almost nothing. They gave me an address, a time, a name. I passed the Secret Service and found myself alone on the street. I saw the White House on the right, and I had to enter a house on the left. Suddenly, the Secret Service arrived in force, yelling at me to come down and get on the sidewalk. And then, the President and his wife arrived. They greeted me. I entered the house and discovered the whole family. They told me I was at the Blair House. Then we went through the gardens and the main entrance of the White House. At that moment, I thought: it’s not possible. Yet, I entered. That’s where the adventure began.

Did you work in this environment for a long time?

I was never assigned to the White House. I never wanted exclusivity with anyone. What I wanted was to experience as much as possible. I applied makeup to many people who worked for the White House. I was also brought in to work for other presidents, like Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton too. I was independent, with my own structure. I refused to be attached to anyone.

How did you approach these highly exposed personalities?

Exactly like any other client. I think that’s what they liked. I wasn’t impressed by their position. Of course, I knew who they were, I knew their role, but what interested me most was the man or woman behind it. I was very close to the person, twenty centimeters away, I even touched them. You can see a lot in the eyes, in the way they move, in their sweat. All these details allowed me to understand if the person was stressed, uncomfortable, very attached to their image. I created a kind of bubble, a secure space where the person could relax.

“I hope they will find the journey of a small Saint-Loise who dared”

What has this experience taught you?

A lot of things. Not just about the presidents, but also about the women in the presidential cabinet and those in important positions. I saw their humanity, their vulnerability. It doesn’t show on camera. But sometimes I saw them in an extremely fragile state. I realized that power also has its limits. It’s a world where execution speed must be instantaneous. Rigor and discipline are pushed to the extreme.

Why did you eventually decide to stop?

It didn’t happen overnight. It took me about a year. I was starting to get psychologically and emotionally tired. I wasn’t surprised anymore, I wasn’t stimulated in my work. I knew what I was going to face. And when it becomes burdensome for me, I become less effective. I no longer enjoyed it, so it was no longer acceptable.

Was the last inauguration the breaking point?

It was a gradual process. But after the last inauguration, which finished me off, I thought I had to stop. Not because they were Trumps. It’s because this inauguration was very complicated, with an unprecedented level of security. People were anxious, stressed. That night, I got in my car and literally broke down. I gave up everything. It was no longer “wow, this is amazing,” it was “I can’t take it anymore.”

Why return to France now?

The goal is also to offer everything I’ve learned back to France now. So far, I’ve written a book. It was very emotional for me. It took time to revisit anecdotes, also my private life, which had an impact on my work. It takes time.

What would you like to say to readers in Manche?

I hope they will find the journey of a small Saint-Loise who dared. That’s what I wrote this book for: to give back confidence, a boost. Many people have written to me saying, “You’ve given me the desire to resume my studies” or “You’ve inspired me to resume what I had abandoned ten years ago.” For me, that’s the greatest victory. I hope it will restore confidence to those who read me. I think we all have inexhaustible resources within us, regardless of age. We just have to find them and believe in ourselves.

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