Aretha Franklin's Longtime Makeup Artist Shares Personal Photos and Memories of the Late Singer

As friends, family and the music communitymourn the lossof the Queen of Soul,Aretha Franklin, who died on Thursday at the age of 76 fromadvance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, herlongtime fashionand beauty collaborators are also remembering the legendary star they knew and loved.

Much like her larger-than-life voice and stage presence, Franklin was similarly drawn to bold style and beauty looks, says her longtime makeup artist Robin Manoogian, who opened up to PEOPLE.

Courtesy Robin Manoogian

“She was quirky. She would dance to her own tune,” Manoogian tells PEOPLE about Franklin’s sense of style. “When she performed at the Grammy in the ’90s, it was the grunge movement, all neutrals, matte, brown, taupe makeup,” but Franklin took her look in another direction. “I took about 10 cabs to every costume store in the city because she wanted glitter. On her face, on her lips… She wanted color and glitter,” Manoogian remembers.

She recalls another time when Franklin performed at the Music Hall in Detroit on Valentine’s Day and instead of wearing traditional pink and red colors, she chose yellow and turquoise. “It amazed me that she just wanted to do what she wanted to do,” Manoogian says. “Whatever was the trend she’d always fly the opposite. That’s how she rolled.”

While traveling with Franklin, Manoogian was able to meet many of Franklin’s famous friends (includingWhitney Houston,Quincy Jonesand Bill and Hillary Clinton) and no matter how famous or powerful, Manoogian says she could “sense the level of respect they had for her.”

“I remember thatBill Clintonwas a big fan and they would all just fawn over her and praise her,” she recalls. “As the English bow down to the Queen, everyone in the music business virtually stopped and took a bow to her. She commanded such respect and you could feel it in the air when other people came into her presence. She usually just sat very quiet and to herself.”

But despite the glitz and glamour, Manoogian says music was always the main priority for Franklin. “She always took an extra day for her rehearsal. She took it very seriously. And the joy of just watching her sit at the piano, she was in her glory. I think when she went to the piano that was her solace,” Manoogian says.

To this day, Manoogian is thankful for everything Franklin gave her. “It exceeded my own career dreams,” she says. “I don’t know how I was lucky enough.”

source: people.com