Resistance need not always translate into placard-wielding activism—sometimes, the simple act of painting your nails in a mood-enhancing hue of cherry red can serve as a silent rebellion against decades of societal conditioning that deems beauty as a female domain. Indeed, for a new generation of creatives in the queer community, beauty serves as an essential form of self-expression, the mere act of applying lip gloss serving as permission to feel their best and represent their authentic self.
While it is always a good time to celebrate and uplift voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Month serves as an essential reminder to commemorate the impact that an oft-marginalised community has had on our collective cultural consciousness. Ahead, Tira Beauty asks three LGBTQ+ creatives to define what makeup and skincare mean to them:
“Each time I walk out of the house with makeup, I am paving the way for a future generation that feels empowered in their choices.” - Rahil Sayed, beauty content creator
“I still remember the heady rush of fear and excitement when a friend gifted me my first eyeshadow palette from Makeup Revolution,” recounts Sayed. With his parents still coming to terms with him coming out, the Mumbai-based content creator wasn’t sure of how they would react. “Coming from a Muslim family, coming out and using makeup as a means of self-expression posed additional challenges. Convincing my family of the importance of makeup in my life and its potential as a successful career choice was a struggle,” he reminisces.
While he has chosen to embrace the highs and lows of the journey, Sayed concedes that walking out of the house with a full face of makeup is not the blissful experience that he would like it to be. “It can be absolutely terrifying, considering the lack of positive experiences and support for the queer community. With each step, I carry a fear of potential attacks. However, it is also empowering to stand up for what is right, exude confidence and be part of the normalisation of a once-taboo subject,” he smiles.
“I have never looked at beauty as a male versus female concept.” - Mitesh Rajani, hair and makeup artist
“The first time I purchased a foundation and scarlet red lipstick from Revlon, I was in disbelief at how much money I had spent,” recounts the hair and makeup artist. Having been between two jobs at the time without any leads on where his next paycheck would come from, the little indulgence served as a pick-me-up.
Since then, he has tapped into the universal, self-affirming power of beauty—one that he believes isn’t restricted to a specific gender. “My male cousins who have used the same face soap and powder all their lives are now requesting me for a 3-step beauty routine that they can easily follow, so beauty is on its way to becoming a household practice regardless of gender,” he observes.
“Using concealer feels good to me—as it should.” - Prayag Menon, stylist and creative consultant
“The first item of beauty that I ever dabbled with was a concealer, and I remember the time it took for me to get used to it and find the right shade,” recalls the Mumbai-based stylist. While he recalls feeling othered during his adolescent years, he has since found a supportive family on Instagram that allows him to be his true self—as witnessed in the heartwarming snapshots that he frequently shares with his partner and photographer, Porus Vimadalal.
Menon shares, “It feels good to receive the kind of support and acceptance that I have online; there is something empowering and enriching to be yourself.” He is also glad to report that the industry has started taking notice and featuring male beauty in an almost-equal capacity. “Makeup for me is basically just a hand of concealer, but it feels good—as it should,” he signs off.
