RuPaul’s Makeup Artist Raven Talks Beauty, Drag & Queer Power This Pride Month
Raven has become one of the most influential figures in the world of drag beauty. Before the spotlight, she was blending at beauty counters and backstage in theatres. Today, her glam is legendary, her artistry award-winning. This Pride Month, we’re celebrating Raven, the face behind RuPaul’s iconic looks.
Beauty & beginnings
Do you remember the first time you put on makeup? What did that moment unlock for you?
Yes, I do. I was, I want to say, probably 10 years old, 11 years old. My sister and I were going to be doing a show for my grandparents. And of course, all I could do was think, “No, I want to put makeup, I want to put makeup on.” It made me realise how glamorous I felt. I didn’t really feel beautiful because it wasn’t that pretty, but I just remember thinking how glamorous I felt, and I loved watching the transformation.
Before the Emmy and the glam, you were a cosmetics salesperson – what’s one lesson from the counter that still serves you today?
The one lesson that I learned from working at a cosmetic counter was hygiene. I’ve always been a very hygienic person, and I always make sure I keep everything clean, and I wipe things up, and I’m taking care of everything, but the biggest thing that I took from working at a cosmetics counter was cleaning everything. So, I’m big on cleaning my brushes, wiping down lipsticks, cleaning, just cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.
What was your very first drag look, and if you could redo it today with your current skills, what would you change?
The very first drag look I did on myself was for a friend’s amateur contest, and I remember I was wearing one colour of foundation with just blushes that I tried to create contour with, and you could see my 5 o’clock shadow. It was kind of a smoky eye, a very, very polite, and conservative eyelash, but I would have added a little more warmth to the foundation then and added some highlighter. I would have worn a larger lash. That’s probably about it. But I’ll never forget it.
I just remember thinking how glamorous I felt, and I loved watching the transformation.
Drag & identity
How has drag empowered your identity, and how does makeup play a role in that evolution?
I think that drag has not really altered my identity. I think that it’s just enhanced it. I think that it’s helped me realise years ago, there’s more in here than just being the little boy that’s supposed to be out, playing with, you know, sports and cars and all this. I never really was that kid anyway. I was always tinkering with art supplies, and I loved styling Barbie dolls and playing with things of that nature. So, it just helped me unlock and realise that this is what you’re supposed to be doing. You’re creative. You’re an effeminate person who likes to play with creativity.
This Pride Month, what does the word transformation mean to you, both personally and creatively?
I’ve done a lot of transforming over the last several years, but the last few years with therapy and really digging deep inside myself, that’s been a huge transformation, looking at things from a different perspective and point of view and making sure that I can be a better person. I don’t think it all comes down to just transformation with makeup and wigs, and costumes. I think that it really does start inside.
You paint RuPaul himself – tell us more about his signature look and yours.
Personally, I like more, more is, is more. I like thicker eyeliner, bigger lashes, overdrawn lips, harsh contours, and Ru doesn’t like a harsh contour. He does like an overdrawn lip, but one a little more natural. He likes a full lash, but not too big.
Tools of the trade
Name the one product you’d grab if your kit were on fire?
My face lift tapes! You can do so much with other products in an emergency, but those face lift tapes are gold. I’ve used surgical tape, I’ve used masking tape, but that would be the first thing I would grab.
Matte, dewy, or full-on glitter bomb — what’s your go-to finish when you want to feel invincible?
Matte, Matte, Matte! Matte is one of your best friends, especially for drag queens. When it comes to drag, you want to keep things more matte because you’re creating illusions with highlights and contours, and when you don’t, when you have too much dewiness or too much shimmer on top of that, it makes all of that disappear. So, I like to stay matte with a little bit of shimmer here and there, but only on higher parts of the face that aren’t going to diminish the contour.
You’re creating illusions with highlights and contours
You’ve had access to every product under the sun — what’s one gem that never leaves your side?
Anastasia liquid lipsticks are my favourite. They are amazing at drawing and creating a mouth that will withstand the entire night, eating, drinking, kissing, etc.
They’re super buildable and blendable too.
Secrets & techniques
What’s the most underrated part of a beauty routine that makes the biggest impact?
Skincare. Skincare is the biggest, biggest thing you can do for yourself that has a huge impact on your beauty routine. You’ve got to lay down a great foundation. You’ve got to lay down the groundwork before you can actually build on it. So, taking care of your skin, I’m a firm believer in exfoliating, moisturising, sleep, and a ton of water. And then, dermal fillers, Botox, surgery, whatever else. But I say skincare takes priority.
What’s one pro tip that instantly levels up anyone’s makeup game?
The best makeup tip and advice I can give anyone is to take your time. If you know you must be on stage at 9 p.m., figure out how long it takes you to get fully ready without having to rush, without having to throw things together, and, if there is a hurdle or obstacle, you need to overcome. I say, give yourself time. I see way too many people, mainly queens, who like to try and start getting ready 30 minutes before the show, and they look like they got ready 30 minutes before the show. So, give yourself time.
If someone’s nervous to play with bold colour, what’s the baby step you’d suggest they try first?
Putting it on in full force, just going for it and grabbing a huge, huge brush and just slapping it on, and then blending it out, and then go, oh, I like this, instead of just trying to do a little bit out of time.
Pride, play & power
You’ve made a career out of artistry, but when do you feel most yourself in makeup?
I feel most myself in makeup when I’m not actually completely in drag. When I don’t have on the pads in the corset and the contact lenses. Once I put the contact lenses in, I can still see David, which is strange, but once I put those in, I feel like I’ve transformed, but I still feel myself when I’m not in the full thing. Once my hair, my nails and everything else begin to take shape, I start to feel a little more like a… like a Barbie doll or an experiment or a science project where I feel a little more… inhibited.
How do you hope queer creativity continues to shape the beauty industry?
I believe we are the ones who have created the beauty industry. Without us, it would not be thriving. Plain and simple. I’m not going to take away from anyone who adds to it, but if you really dissect the beauty industry and you look at everything from hair and makeup to fashion, all of it has a huge, huge queer influence, and a lot of people who work in it are of that ilk.
What message do you hope your face — your canvas — sends to the world this Pride Month?
That you can be anything you want to be. Makeup is not meant to be taken too seriously or used in an offensive way, and you should put it on, wear it, enjoy it, love it, live it, and stay fabulous!
Touch Ups With Raven is available to stream on WOW Presents Plus now
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