Throughout the evolution of the beauty industry, LGBTQ+ creatives have consistently been at the forefront, driving innovation and redefining what glamour means. From the earliest modern makeup artists to today's digital trailblazers, queer brilliance has shaped how we perceive beauty, challenging rigid gender norms and proving that cosmetics are a powerful tool for self-expression rather than concealment.
Celebrating Queer Visionaries During Pride Month
As Pride Month highlights themes of identity and visibility, it's the perfect moment to acknowledge these iconic figures. Their contributions remind us that the contemporary beauty landscape would look profoundly different without their artistic vision and courage. These pioneers have not only mastered their craft but also used their platforms to foster inclusivity and authenticity.
1. Way Bandy: The Architect of Modern Makeup Artistry
Often celebrated as one of the world's first professional makeup artists, Way Bandy played a pivotal role in establishing makeup application as a respected profession. In 1966, he attended the Christine Valmy Beauty School, the first aesthetician school in the United States, where he was soon invited to teach makeup techniques—a novel concept in New York at that time.
Bandy became renowned for his impeccable, precise methods, working with legendary figures such as Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Farrah Fawcett, and First Lady Nancy Reagan. His artistry helped elevate makeup from a backstage necessity to a recognised creative art form.
Tragically, Bandy passed away in 1986 during the height of the AIDS crisis, which was devastating the LGBTQ+ community. In an era marked by secrecy and stigma, he made a bold and courageous decision. He instructed his lawyer to explicitly list AIDS as the cause of death in his obituary, an act of defiance aimed at replacing fear with honesty and understanding.
His enduring legacy continues through the generations of artists he inspired, including Kevyn Aucoin, Troy Surratt, and Bobbi Brown, fundamentally shaping what it means to be a modern makeup artist today.
2. Nikkie de Jager (NikkieTutorials): The Digital Trailblazer
Nikkie de Jager began reshaping beauty perceptions with her first YouTube upload in 2008. Her 2015 viral sensation, The Power of Makeup, amassed over 40 million views and powerfully challenged the notion that makeup stems from insecurity, instead framing it as a creative outlet.
In 2019, her influence was formally recognised when she was appointed as Marc Jacobs Beauty's Global Artistry Advisor. The following year, de Jager publicly shared that she is a transgender woman. Although forced into coming out due to blackmail, she transformed a threatening situation into one of empowerment, becoming a global role model for confidence and authenticity.
Today, de Jager stands not only as a makeup icon but also as a pioneering figure for trans visibility within the mainstream beauty industry, inspiring millions with her joy and openness.
3. Kevyn Aucoin: The Glamour Redefiner
Kevyn Aucoin revolutionised glamour in the 1990s and remains one of the most influential makeup artists in history. Collaborating with supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford, as well as icons such as Cher, he introduced a fresh, luminous approach that celebrated individuality over perfection.
Aucoin authored a series of groundbreaking books that democratised professional techniques, including contouring—a method largely unknown in mainstream culture at the time, despite its long history in drag and stage performance.
He viewed makeup as transformative art, with works like Making Faces and Face Forward teaching a generation that beauty is about storytelling, not symmetry. Aucoin championed diversity long before it became an industry buzzword, featuring drag queens, trans women, and individuals of all genders in his projects.
After his passing in 2002 at age 40 due to kidney and liver failure, his legacy endures through Kevyn Aucoin Beauty and the countless artists who see makeup as a form of self-expression rather than correction.
4. Mario Dedivanovic: The Soft-Glam Architect
Best known as the creative force behind Kim Kardashian's signature look, Mario Dedivanovic has fundamentally altered global makeup application trends. His sculpted, flawless style popularised the "soft-glam" aesthetic, characterised by warm contouring, fluffy lashes, and bronzed eyes, ushering in the era of social-media-driven beauty.
Starting as the Kardashian family's go-to makeup artist, Dedivanovic later launched his own luxury line, Makeup By Mario. What truly sets him apart is his dedication to education; through MasterClass tutorials and extensive online content, he has shared professional techniques with millions, making an once-exclusive industry more accessible.
As an openly gay artist at the pinnacle of his field, Dedivanovic represents a generation of LGBTQ+ creatives who have built global influence through skill, community, and digital connectivity.
5. RuPaul: The Cultural Icon
RuPaul's impact on beauty, drag, and popular culture is undeniable. In 1994, he made history as the first drag queen to front a major cosmetics campaign, starring in MAC's Viva Glam initiative, which raised vital funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS.
However, RuPaul's most significant legacy is undoubtedly RuPaul's Drag Race. Since its 2009 debut, the show has provided drag artists with a global platform, celebrating makeup as performance, identity, and art. It has introduced millions to the idea that beauty transcends gender, rules, and singular aesthetics.
Hundreds of gay, bisexual, non-binary, and trans performers have competed, with the show continually evolving—welcoming its first trans man drag queen, Gottmik, in 2021. Through RuPaul, beauty has become louder, bolder, and more liberated, teaching an entire generation that glamour truly belongs to everyone.
