By Staged in collaboration with Sasha Velour (who also art directed the presentation), the winner of season nine of Rupaul's Drag Race, Opening Ceremony's Spring/Summer 2019 line was a celebration of the LGBTQ community, inspired by the 'art of drag—both in New York and around the world.' It would seem only natural, then, that the show's theme would be reflected in the beauty and hair and draw references from drag makeup.
Lead make-up artist Thomas de Kluyver explains that the beauty was tailored to each individual model and took references from history and the LGBT community.
The collection featured 40 different performers, in addition to the runway show, and while the 20 models had different make-up looks, all wore Maybelline's Superstay Matte Ink Lip Colour in varying hues. One model, Jazzelle, sported '80s-inspired pink eyeshadow from Maybelline's Lemonade Craze Eyeshadow Palette and a bold red lip while another had his face completely covered in rhinestones and press-on crystals.
'Everyone who's working on the show is LGBT, so all the hair and make-up team, the casting director, and all of the models so it's a really nice thing to be a part of,' de Kluyver says.
'We're celebrating how far we've come and celebrating individuality. It's about everyone having their own look and being defined by themselves. I love the idea that people don't wear make-up to cover up and hide behind a mask of make-up, it's about celebrating the creativity that you feel in the inside.'
