Aarani Stoneham – ModiFace

From the coastal town of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, to the global stage of artificial intelligence and augmented reality, Aarani Stoneham’s journey is rooted in resilience, purpose, and a deep belief in the potential of technology.

Aarani Stoneham | ModiFace | General Counsel & Head of Legal, Data Privacy, AI Governance and Ethics

Today, as General Counsel and head of legal, data privacy, AI governance, and ethics for ModiFace, Stoneham finds herself at the heart of one of the most dynamic intersections of the beauty industry and technological innovation: Beauty Tech.

ModiFace, a Toronto-based subsidiary of L’Oréal, is a world leader in applying augmented reality and artificial intelligence to beauty. Known for its patented virtual try-on technology and AI-powered skin diagnostics, ModiFace works with more than 100 partners in numerous countries across the globe, reaching nearly a billion consumers.

With limited headcount, ModiFace’s impact is enormous—blending advanced science, inclusive design, and global brand partnerships with Maybelline, L’Oreal Paris, Prada, Lancome, Urban Decay and many more. And Stoneham is helping to guide that growth with a firm hand on legal compliance and a focus on ethical AI.

Values & versatility

Stoneham didn’t always envision herself at the legal forefront of Beauty Tech. But her career has always been shaped by the same core values that now define her role: Adaptability, a strong work ethic, and a passion for building frameworks that serve and support people.

After earning a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, an M.A. from the University of Sydney (Australia), and a law degree from the University of Windsor, Stoneham began her legal journey in private practice before moving in-house—first as Legal Counsel at Stewart Title, a leader in the Canadian title insurance industry, and then as General Counsel at MDG Canada, where she built the legal department from scratch. Later, at Whirlpool Corporation, she managed Canadian legal affairs, working across both global and Canadian regulatory, contractual, and compliance domains.

Looking back on her career, she says the biggest challenge was not having a mentor early on to guide her choices.

“I explored many industries and practice areas without a clear north star,” she reflects. “But that journey gave me perspective. Each role prepared me to meet the legal needs of diverse organizations and build internal capacity that reduces reliance on external counsel.”

This diversity of experience ultimately prepared her for what she calls her “dream job” at ModiFace—a place where the law, technology, and ethical considerations converge in real-time.

Governing innovation in an AI-powered world

Since joining ModiFace in 2022, Stoneham has taken on a formidable portfolio. She leads all legal matters for the company, including contracts, litigation, data privacy, intellectual property, and AI governance. As the legal conscience of a company that operates at the bleeding edge of augmented reality and generative AI, she’s not just responding to regulatory developments—she’s anticipating them.

“We focus on risk mitigation,” she says. “Given the nature of the AI systems we develop, we’re committed to establishing strong governance practices today, even as we develop technology for tomorrow.”

This philosophy is embedded in the company’s multi-stakeholder approach to AI governance. Stoneham works closely with teams from the Lab or R&D, the retail team in Sales, and the AI leads, to embed responsible design and accountability into every development phase. A particular area of focus is bias—preventing skewed datasets from training AI, creating inequitable outcomes for technology users.

“Although I am a strong proponent of technological innovation, I recognize that the AI we build is only as effective and impactful as its alignment with existing laws and evolving regulations. This is a balance we set as a goal to achieve and maintain,” she explains.

One recent highlight of the ModiFace team’s work is Beauty Genius, a generative AI-powered virtual assistant on the L’Oréal Paris U.S. website. The tool allows users to access personalized diagnostics and product recommendations across more than 750 items, and real-time virtual try-ons—all through an intuitive and private digital assistant.

“It’s designed to be both empowering and inclusive,” Stoneham says. “We’re using technology to enhance confidence, not just appearance.”

While several upcoming projects are still under wraps, she hints that 2025 will be a transformative year for ModiFace—and by extension, the industry.

“Innovation must be ethical,” she says. “That’s not optional. It’s the foundation of trust with the users of our technology.”

A culture of collaboration & depth

Despite its global reach, ModiFace retains a tight-knit, agile culture. Acquired by L’Oréal but arguably still operating like a startup, the company blends intelligence and speed with structure. For Stoneham, that environment has been ideal.

“We’re nimble,” she says. “I have the luxury of being an in-house lawyer who works closely with, and learns daily from, teams in research, retail, and AI. We don’t work in silos.”

This proximity allows for fast decision-making and a truly collaborative atmosphere—something she prizes, especially as a lawyer who doesn’t always have legal peers in the same office to bounce ideas off.

The support she receives from the broader L’Oréal legal community—especially colleagues in Paris and privacy teams in the U.S.—has also been key.

“I’m fortunate to have strong relationships across L’Oréal’s global legal network. For example, the L’Oreal’s Tech & Digital Innovation GC and L’Oreal Canada’s GC have been the most supportive, phenomenal allies and sounding boards during my time with ModiFace.”

Stoneham also values the loyalty and tenure of the ModiFace team. Many employees have been around since the company’s early years, some staying on since before the acquisition. Furthermore, the company’s internship pipeline continues to bring in top-tier talent from the University of Toronto.

“It speaks volumes about our culture,” she says. “There’s a deep-rooted dedication here.”

Rooted in humanity, driven by legacy

Stoneham’s belief in ethics is more than professional—it’s personal. Born in Sri Lanka, Stoneham fled with her family as a child when the civil war erupted. She was raised in Canada by a single mother who requalified as a lawyer while raising three young children, providing a home and putting them through university. Stoneham was taught early on the value of dignity, grit, and service. Her mother, Yaso, remains her inspiration— “a woman who built a life for us from nothing,” she says.

Before starting law school, Stoneham completed a Government of Canada internship in Ecuador, where she delivered IT classes through Ecuador’s Department of Education to impoverished communities in rural Quito. She’s also a certified advanced open-water scuba diver with a passion for all sharks and has traveled extensively since her first trip to Japan at age 15. This includes New Zealand, where she tandem sky-dived 15,000 feet from a plane, and Thailand, where she spent a month during and after the 2004 tsunami. These experiences, particularly memories of Sri Lanka, and those in Ecuador and Thailand, have only deepened her sense of responsibility toward others.

“At the end of our lives, we don’t reflect on our earnings or accolades—we reflect on our relationships and how we treated the people around us,” she says. “The way we behave becomes our legacy.”

That philosophy guides her leadership style, how she engages with peers, and how she raises her three children alongside her partner of 20 years.

“I am raising my sons to be future husbands, fathers and all-around good men, like their father. I want my daughter to grow up in a world where she knows she can be anything,” she says. “I work hard to model that for her.”

Her drive aligns seamlessly with L’Oreal’s mission of “creating the beauty that moves the world”. For Stoneham, beauty is not just aesthetic—it’s about inclusion, confidence, and how we treat one another in every interaction, digital or human.

In a world grappling with the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence, Aarani Stoneham is a steady hand and a clear voice. Her work at ModiFace is not just about compliance—it’s about conscience. She’s shaping legal frameworks that will determine how AI interacts with society, and she’s doing so with integrity, foresight, and an unwavering focus on equity.

“There is no path to progress where we leave technology behind,” she says—a motto she came across that encapsulates her legal approach and general belief.

At the crossroads of innovation and ethics, Stoneham stands as a powerful example of how leaders can ensure that technology doesn’t just move forward and uplifts as it does. In her hands, the future of Beauty Tech is not just smarter—it’s more equitable, safer, and more human.