Bio
June Ambrose is an American celebrity stylist and author who has reshaped and re-launched the careers of hundreds of celebrities, including Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, and Will Smith, rebranding hip-hop as upscale in the 1990s.
She is best known to television viewers for starring in the reality makeover television series Styled by June, in 2012. She was also the costume designer for the reality competition television series The X Factor.
Whether designing custom metallic leather pants for Sean "Diddy" Combs and Busta Rhymes, one-of-a-kind pieces for Jay-Z and Will Smith or styling and crafting couture outfits for divas such as Zoe Saldana, Missy Elliott, Kelly Ripa, Kim Cattrall, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Estelle, Garcelle Beauvais and Ciara, June has left an indelible mark on today's youth, inspiring countless trends and major fashion statements found in popular culture.
She's been recognised continually for her unparalleled ability to create original looks; deemed a visionary by Vibe and dubbed by New York Magazine as a modern-day hip-hop Holly Golightly, she has forecasted style trends for MTV, as well as hosted fashion segments for VH1, MTV, Regis & Kelly, The View, The Today Show and has been a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
June's memorable, innovative looks have resonated globally with the public more than any other music stylist around. She is a seasoned veteran of the business, having worked in the music industry, the fashion business, and even finance.
Through a friend, she landed an internship at Uptown MCA Records in 1990. At the time Sean "Diddy" Combs was little more than a talent scout and party promoter. One day, someone walked into the office and asked for a fashion stylist. "I asked what's that?" says June. And after explained to me, I thought, I could do that."
As her interest piqued, June's determination and unyielding work ethic led her to compile a look book that included everything from her favourite magazine clippings to pictures of her friends wearing outfits she meticulously put together.
Fascinated by her milieu, June made it a priority to create and foster relationships with everyone from photographers and showrooms to stores and fashion editors, cultivating invaluable connections and generating exponential exposure for her evolving brand.
In no time at all, she was styling photo shoots for publications such as Rolling Stone!, Vibe Magazine and British publications such as The Face and Arena.
June even landed a marketing gig with Cross Colors, which was launched in 1989 by Carl Jones as one of the first brands that targeted African-American youth in urban areas.
In the years that followed, in a revolutionary, pivotal point in her already flourishing career, June eventually built a strong working relationship and partnership with renowned video director Hype Williams which came to be one of June's defining moments.
The two teamed up for Missy Elliot's now infamous debut video, "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", casting her as a futuristic black superhero with a Japanese anime twist. It was a look even the most oversaturated MTV fans had never seen before, and it radicalized the way female Hip Hop artists were portrayed in videos.
June's landmark work also earned her high-profile jobs with industry bigwigs such as Luther Vandross, Backstreet Boys and Mariah Carey, whose style transformation spearheaded by June, contributed to the success of The Emancipation of Mimi, making it the biggest come-back in music history.
June also upped the ante for music videos, bringing luxury high fashion to a genre known mostly for low-budget, street looks.
June has also left her indelible mark on the corporate world, serving as spokesperson for widely recognised campaigns and brands including Degree Deodorant, McDonalds' Southwest Salad, and Tide Total Care Detergent.
June served as the Creative Director for Missy Elliot's deal with sneaker giant Adidas for four consecutive seasons as well as resident Style Architect for urban fashion juggernaut, Rocawear and its marketing campaigns.
Her unique touch earned the style guru countless awards and she was dubbed "The Architect of Style" by Jay Z, for her ability to turn the urban look into a high end lifestyle.
In 2005, June inked a coveted book deal with Simon Spotlight Entertainment, a division of Simon & Schuster Publishing, to release a book that illustrated June's full body of work. The book was entitled Effortless Style, which was released in the Fall of 2006.
The book launch event took place at swanky NYC celebrity hotspot Tenjune, marking the still smoking hot nightclub's inaugural event, which was hosted by June's longtime client and friend Sean "Diddy" Combs, and attended by entertainment and fashion luminaries including Beyoncé, Jay Z, Penelope Cruz, Zac Posen, Kanye West, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, Philip Bloch, Busta Rhymes, Stephon Marbury, Timbaland, Robert Verdi, Sky Nellor, Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo, and Perez Hilton.
Furthermore, having done her fair share of television appearances over the years, the Producers at Freemantle (American Idol) and MTV recognised June's talent and casted her as one of the judges on the reality show Rock The Cradle.