In the summer of 2024, still soaking in the applause after her New York debut as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Chloe Misseldine found herself in another storybook moment. There, onstage before an audience on their feet, she learned she’d been promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. She was entirely surprised—this kind of public coronation was a first for the company—but no one else could have been. Misseldine is the real deal: a pristine technician with the regal gravitas to match.
Now 24, Misseldine has settled into her place in the company’s top ranks, earning a place on Forbes’s 30 Under 30 list. Later this month, she slips into a pair of tutus—one for Paquita, another for George Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial—as part of the company’s fall season. Though ABT’s makeup team oversees her performance glam, Misseldine makes time for a few personal touches—including the Westman Atelier lipstick given to her by fellow principal Isabella Boylston, which Misseldine used “to the very nub.”
On a recent afternoon in Manhattan, the ballet supernova shared a peek into her five-minute festive makeup routine using the new Petite Party set. Here, she talks about her low-maintenance lash secret, ballerina blush, her most rewarding role, and fondness for a pop of sparkle.
What is your earliest dance memory?
I’ve been doing ballet my whole life. My mom was a dancer with American Ballet Theatre, so it was always my dream to follow in her footsteps. My very first memory of dancing is in my living room wearing her pointe shoes. I would put them on and walk around the house all day long. I think that’s where I get my strong ankles!
What’s your go-to makeup routine when ABT is in season?
My skin care in the morning is very basic: moisturizer, facial spray, sunscreen, of course. I wear minimal makeup when I’m rehearsing—some lip gloss and occasionally mascara—because I’m sweating a lot. But I do like to have a nice glow, so I’ll put on powder or cream blush in the morning. That’s a staple. I might reapply it again before evening rehearsals.
I recently got a lash curl and tint at a spot near my apartment on the Upper West Side. It's one of the best things I’ve ever done—I’m obsessed. It lasts a few months, and I don’t even need mascara when I wake up.
What does performance makeup look like for you?
At American Ballet Theatre, the principal ballerinas get their hair and makeup done, so we all go to the makeup room. Every dancer is different. Personally, I like to wear more makeup onstage to enhance my features, and I’ll adjust it depending on the ballet. For Swan Lake, I really like to look like a swan, so I have the makeup artists do a heavy base, and then I often go back in. I don’t wear contour every day, but I like how it can accentuate the cheekbones and sharpen the jawline. For performances, I also add a little along my nose bridge.
What’s your take on a festive eye?
Ballerinas love a touch of glitter! I don’t wear much eyeshadow, but for an occasion, I like to add a little shimmer in the inner corners or even on the cheekbones. I picked up a palette in Korea that has the most beautiful glitter colors. And I love this Westman Atelier [champagne] shade on the lids. Onstage, I wear pretty heavy eyeliner; for everyday, I love the gray pencil [in the Petite Party set]. It’s very easy to apply and blend, and the gray shade melds with my eyes. I always curl my lashes before mascara, though right now I have the lash lift. Even with it, I still layer on mascara for more glam at night.
What do you consider your beauty must-have?
I love Westman Atelier’s Lip Suede Matte lipstick. My dear friend Isabella Boylston gifted me one, and it carried me through my whole Met season at Lincoln Center this past summer. I apply my favorite shade for every single performance, before every single act. It’s the perfect color for the stage. If I needed a slightly darker lip, I’ll use it as a base and mix something else in. I used the one Isabella gave me to the very nub.
What’s your career highlight so far?
This past summer, I danced three performances of Swan Lake in New York and two more in London. Swan Lake is so special to me because it’s the first full-length ballet that I ever danced. I wear this very special gold swan necklace every day that my sponsors gifted to me after my first performance. The White Swan [Odette] and the Black Swan [Odile] are very different characters. It’s just a dream to dance two parts like that in the same ballet.
