Makeup as storytelling, rebellion, and self-expression.

At Fashioned by Identity, we celebrate the powerful connection between creativity and identity. Makeup is often seen through the lens of beauty alone, but for many artists it becomes something much deeper- a language of emotion, resistance, storytelling, and self-discovery.  

In this article, we speak with an emerging makeup artist whose journey began in childhood curiosity and has evolved into a bold creative practice rooted in fashion, politics, and personal meaning.  

From childhood fascination to creative calling  

For many creative, passion begins early- and this artists story is no different.  

Her first memories of makeup take her back to girlhood, when she received her very first makeup kit: a pink fold up suitcase filled with powders and glittery lip balms. That early excitement quickly grew into experimentation, often sneaking into her mother's room with friends to use expensive products and inevitably getting in trouble, something I’m sure we are all guilty of. 

As she entered her teenage years, YouTube beauty culture became a huge source of inspiration. Influencers such as Nikki Tutorials, James Charles and RCL Beauty 101 helped shape her early understanding of artistry and transformation. During lockdown, receiving her first James Charles palette became a turning point.  

What started as play soon became purpose. She began researching college courses and realised makeup artistry could become more than a hobby- it could become her future.  

When makeup became more than beauty  

For this artist, makeup took on a deeper meaning during one of the most difficult period of her life.  

In 2020, after experiencing emotional trauma of having an incarcerated parent, she found herself struggle to process overwhelming emotions at just fourteen years old. During that time, makeup became sanctuary.  

For a few hours at a time, creativity offered escape, healing, and control. It was through this process that she discovered makeup did not need to exist purely to make someone look “presentable” to society.  

Instead, it could become storytelling. It could communicate pain, politics, strength, and emotion.  

Evolving style; from special effects to fashion activism 

Like many artists, her style had shifted dramatically overtime.  

She initially believed her path would lead to special effects makeup for television and film. She dedicated herself to learning those techniques and refining the craft. But as her education progressed, she realised her true passion lay elsewhere- in fashion.  

Inspired by designers such as Vivienne Westwood, whose work challenged power structures and used clothing as protest, she recognised that makeup could do the same.  

Now her focus is fashion makeup with purpose looks that not only captivate visually but say something powerful.  

Identity at the heart of every look 

For this artist, makeup is never random.  

Every concept she invests in must reflect something she genuinely believes in. Her identity values and political awareness strongly shape the work she creates.  

A major example of this was a zine she produced for university, exploring the commercialisation of women’s sexuality and how women are often treated as products rather than people.  

The project also examined the rise of AI girlfriends and the disturbing expectation that “perfect women “- real or artificial- should be submissive, agreeable and build around male ideology. 

Through makeup imagery, she transformed critique into visual art.  

The creative process  

When asked how a look begins, she explains there is no single formula.  

Sometimes inspiration starts with an outfit, a location, an accessory, or current events. Other times it may come from art or a feeling.  

From there, she builds mood-boards gathers visual references and develops face charts with detailed annotations. She then collaborates with other creatives to bring the concept fully to life through styling, photography, posing, and editing.  

For her, makeup is only one part of a larger artistic vision.  

Challenging beauty standards  

One of the most striking ways she challenges traditional beauty expectations is through removing or bleaching brows.  

Brows are often framed as essential to femininity and attractiveness through the lens of the male gaze. By blocking them out entirely, she intentionally strips away one of those expected features.  

The result is a form of reclamation- proving beauty does not need to conform to conventional standards.  

Her work asks viewers to reconsider what they have been taught to find beautiful.  

Colour, history and meaning  

Colour also plays a powerful role in her work, particularly blue tones.  

She frequently uses classic blues as a nod to the rich history of cosmetics. Across ancient cultures, including ancient Egypt, blue eye makeup symbolised identity, class and status.  

By incorporating these tones into modern editorial looks, she pays a homage to beauty history while reinterpreting it for today.  

Advice for those exploring identity through makeup 

Her message to anyone wanting to express themselves through makeup is simple: 

Have fun. 

Play with colour. Experiment with texture. Ignore the pressure to look “conventionally good.” Makeup does not need to please anyone else- it only needs to reflect you.  

You only live once, and self-expression should be enjoyed, not feared.  

This perfectly reflects what Fashioned by Identity stands for: style as self-definition.  

Makeup can be glamour. It can be rebellion. It can be healing. It can be political. It can be deeply personal.  

Most importantly, it can belong entirely to the person wearing it.