It has always been extremely crucial for Black, queer people to exemplify fearlessness in the face of adversity. Going against oppression has usually meant the quintessential form of protest, which involves clashing with the opposition, whether peacefully or violently. However, it’s been made painfully clear throughout our history that Black, queer existence in and of itself is political. The politics usually result in us unsubscribing from societal expectations, then being met with shock.
Blackness is radical. Queerness is radical. The Black LGBTQ community creating avenues for ourselves is radical. One of those avenues is the beauty industry, where the mere presence of Black influencers impact product variety and the presence of queer influencers shift the paradigm closer toward inclusion and acceptance.
For Pride Month, I want to push the emerging talent that stands in the intersection of these identities. There’s much to celebrate about Black, queer disruption in the makeup industry. One example is the surge of Black, queer makeup artists (MUAs) causing quite the buzz on the social scene. It’s only right to highlight some of the excellence emerging in the beauty community. Take 25-year-old beauty enthusiast, model and dancer Devin Seldon, for example. Their work has garnered over 14K Instagram followers and been profiled by Elite Daily and Paper Magazine.
1. Devin Seldon | @devdoee
Photo credit: Devin Seldon.
Blavity: How have you used social media to bolster your platform?
Seldon: I really made sure to lean into the community that supports me, rather than trying to cater to the mainstream. My platform is focused on nonbinary, trans and queer people as a whole — specifically people of color. I know that my aesthetic and overall look is not for everyone, so I've tried to unapologetically cater to people like me.
Blavity: What is your makeup specialty?
Seldon: I'd say my specialty is complexion. I put a lot of focus on the skin and creating a defined cheekbone. I love a Grace Jones fantasy!
Blavity: Who is your dream client?
Seldon: Indya Moore.
Blavity: Which do you prefer — matte or glossy lips?
Seldon: Definitely glossy!
Blavity: What are you celebrating this Pride month?
Seldon: This Pride I am unapologetically celebrating my resilience as a Black, nonbinary person. who often leaves the house in ways that aren't the safest or most comfortable. I'm celebrating my queer ancestors like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, whose resistance and bravery are the reason I can be who I am today. Lastly, I'm celebrating Nigel Shelby and my many trans sisters of color whose lives were lost too soon, as a reminder of why I need to stay loud and proud.
2. Turrelle 'Suede' Harris | @TheKingOfSoftGlam
Photo credit: Troy Mattison. Makeup by Turrelle Harris. Model: @bigbuttbaldy.
Blavity: What is your makeup specialty?
Harris: I specialize in soft glamorous looks. I focus mostly on the skin and the shapes on the face.
Blavity: Who is your dream client?
Harris: My dream clients are all of my current clients, to be honest. They really let me do my thing and trust my ideas — that is the best way to be with a creative person, in my opinion. Giving too much direction can easily deter one from their vision and then they’ll mess up. I know I sure have.
Blavity: Which do you prefer, matte or glossy lips?
Harris: Gloss all day!
Blavity: What are you celebrating this Pride month?
Harris: I’m celebrating my friends and all of their journeys. I have a really broad selection of people that I hang out with and they all have helped me break out and love myself no matter how small or large the contribution. They all deserve to be celebrated.
3. Michael Williams | @mickivicious_
Photo credit: Micheal Williams.
Blavity: What is your makeup specialty?
Williams: I have an infatuation with creative and colorful, yet everyday wearable makeup.
Blavity: Who is your dream client?
Williams: I would love to do my mom’s makeup one day. She absolutely hates makeup. I was surprised when she loved the first look I ever wore publicly. I really want to see her do a full transformation and make her feel glammed up for one day.
Blavity: Which do you prefer — matte or glossy lips?
Williams: Definitely glossy. But I love a good matte/glossy lip combo. My standard lip is using my Fenty Match Stix in espresso to line my lip, then using Morphe lipgloss in groupie to set it off. Thank me later.
Blavity: What are you celebrating this Pride month?
Williams: My fearlessness. I’m going to New York Pride this year, and it’ll be the first Pride I’ve attended since I was 18. My outfit is going to make a statement that I clearly don’t care about what anyone has to say or how they feel about me. I love the androgynous figure that I’ve discovered and become. This is me in my purest form yet. I’m completely true to myself at this point in my life. Take my confidence as a lesson to be your most true, authentic self and enjoy who you are now and who you are becoming.
4. Darius McKiver | @NeonMUA
Photo credit: Darius McKiver.
Blavity: Do you feel part of the MUA community at large?
McKiver: I am starting to feel more and more included lately. The combination of my work and craft, as well as me using my voice to spark important conversations in our community, have really caught the attention of many enthusiasts, influencers and brands and have opened their eyes to the world of Black, queer artists.
Blavity: What is your makeup specialty?
McKiver: If I had to describe my work, I would say it's high conceptual yet wearable glam.
Blavity: Who is your dream client?
McKiver: The entire cast of Pose, especially Billy Porter.
Blavity: Which do you prefer — matte or glossy lips?
McKiver: As of recent, glossy lips.
Blavity: What are you celebrating this Pride month?
McKiver: This year, I am celebrating the right to be vocal and responsible. At the beginning of the month, I did a Pride look in collaboration with The Bragz in memory of Nigel Shelby. In that post, I made it important to note that this month and onward, I want to rededicate myself to being a leader, mentor and friend to young queer, Black people so that we don’t have to experience that trauma again.
5. Markevious Harris | @poeticdrugs
Photo credit: Markevious Harris.
Blavity: What is your makeup specialty?
Markevious: Creative looks.
Blavity: Who is your dream client?
Markevious: Rihanna, Grace Jones and Lil' Kim.
Blavity: Which do you prefer — matte or glossy lips?
Markevious: Definitely glossy.
Blavity: What are you celebrating this Pride month?
Markevious: Creating colorful makeup looks.
6. Jacen Bowman | @JacenBowman
Image of client Nene Leakes. Photo credit: Jacen Bowmen.
Blavity: Do you feel part of the MUA community at large?
Bowman: I do feel part of the community but I sometimes feel misrepresented. I think a lot of times brands use a lot of influencers who don’t have my aesthetic. Yes, I am a male. Yes, I am openly gay, but I happen to be someone who doesn’t wear lipstick, lashes and eyeshadow, though I love and support my fellow MUAs who do so. I just think oftentimes they feel like the guys who don’t wear that style of makeup don’t have the same influence or appeal.
Blavity: What is your makeup specialty?
Bowman: I have a wide range: From costume/theater makeup to commercial and television, red carpet and photo shoots, and everyday glam.
Blavity: Who is your dream client?
Bowman: Halle Berry or Lupita Nyong’o.
Blavity: Which do you prefer — matte or glossy lips?
Bowman: Matte lips for sure!
Blavity: What are you celebrating this Pride month?
Bowman: I celebrate Pride every day. Growing up in Philadelphia, being a Black man was hard, but being a Black, gay man was even harder. Over the years, I have been able to stand tall and firm in my [sexuality] and pump in all its glory! This month, I am also enjoying the amount of love the LGTBIAQ community is receiving.
7. Kareem Maleik Rogers | @facedbykareem
Image of Kareem Rogers. Photo credit: Tokyo Lense.
Blavity: What is your makeup specialty?
Rogers: My specialty is aesthetics. I don’t only do my makeup looks, I pair them with color-coordinated backgrounds, hair and accessories. I create short visuals to ultimately show the attitude, beauty and depth in the looks I create.
Blavity: Who is your dream client?
Rogers: Asian Da Brat (formally Asian Doll), Megan Thee Stallion, Ariana Grande and Solange.
Blavity: Which do you prefer — matte or glossy lips?
Rogers: Even though I have [a thousand] matte lipsticks, it’s glossy lips always! I absolutely adore the ’90s lip whether it’s brown with a clear gloss or with a nude gloss.
Blavity: What are you celebrating this Pride month?
Rogers: I’m celebrating hard work, perseverance and bravery. I’m potentially going to be attending NYC World Pride Parade with a very big brand and to even get that opportunity shows that I deserve to celebrate just that. I’m also celebrating for our members of the community that we lost. Nigel Shelby and Muhlaysia Booker deserve to be here this month celebrating with us, as well as the many gay and trans identities that we’ve lost this year.
8. Bird Saintclaire | @birdsaintclaire
Photo credit: Bird Saintclaire.
Blavity: What is your makeup specialty?
Saintclaire:I like to think my specialty as a makeup artist would be finding inspiration for my looks or thinking up an idea and making it adaptable for myself in order for it to work for me.
Blavity: Who is your dream client?
Saintclaire: Fenty Beauty or NYX Cosmetics would have to be my dream clients.
Blavity: Which do you prefer — matte or glossy lips?
Saintclaire: A few weeks ago, I would have said matte. But recently, I'm loving glossy. Definitely a glossy lip.
Blavity: What are you celebrating this Pride month?
Saintclaire:This Pride onth, I am celebrating me and my growth as a queer, nonbinary person. This month, it'll be a year since I discovered I was nonbinary and came out.
Doors within the beauty industry are beginning to open a bit wider. There are brands that cater to Black skin, allowing artists to shine. Both McKiver and Markevious Harris have credited major beauty companies like Fenty Beauty, Maybelline and Anastasia Beverly Hills as brands that have openly supported, worked with or done both for Black, queer MUAs.
With an obvious shift in perception over the last few decades, more progressive times remain on the horizon. Younger generations of queer people of color (QPOC) have more opportunities to see themselves properly represented in the media and pop culture.
For Pride, it’s crucial to stand on the right side of history simply by accepting and embracing those who’ve opted to stand in their truth. At the same time, acceptance and embrace should be extended to those still fighting to find the courage to live authentically. The recent emergence of amazing Black, queer MUAs who are also fearlessly embracing themselves, in all their uniqueness, should be recognized and celebrated.
