Celebrity makeup artist David Velasquez, best known for his work with Saweetie, Doja Cat, Rico Nasty, and India Love, recently took over The Advocate's Instagram Live for a makeup tutorial with special guest Kimora Blac.
"Cheers to being out and gay and happy and living your best life!" David said, as they drank champagne and walked viewers through a full drag makeover. They also took questions about drag culture and how they got started in their careers.
"I started practicing [makeup] on myself when I was 13 years old. When I went to middle school I was wearing makeup and eyeliner," David said. "I used to be a drag queen; we used to perform in West Hollywood. I've known Kimora from the party scene since we were 15, running around in West Hollywood, Upland, San Bernardino. We were just doing the most, and we became really good friends."
By age 16 he'd met Priscilla Ono, global makeup artist for Fenty Beauty and the woman behind many of Rihanna's iconic makeup looks. He got a job with her working in cosmetics, and a few years later he was teaching with Ono in her makeup courses.
Asked for tips about getting into drag, Kimora said, "You just really have to get out there and do it. Ain't nobody can sit here and tell you how to do drag, because I feel like when people do, you make it this right or wrong situation. Drag doesn't really have a wrong or right thing."
Later on, David shared his experience of being a gay Latinx makeup artist. "For me I've always had a support system, and I thank God that I was able to have that, because a lot of my [Latino] friends didn't growing up. All my friends were at 13 and 14 coming out, and my mom was the house that people would run to, saying 'My mom just kicked me out because I told her I was gay.'"
"I feel like I found myself in the last few years and I've been going hard with my career, and I'm so thankful for the opportunities I've had to work with celebrities and stuff like that."
For anyone interested in recreating Kimora's look, David provided a list of the products he used:
Skin Prep: CHARLOTTE TILBURY Magic Cream "Light" + TATCHA Silk Eye Cream + BENEFIT POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer
Foundation: HOURGLASS Foundation Stick
Concealer: TARTE Shape Tape
Setting Powder: FENTY Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder in "Honey"
Cheeks: MAC "Deep Dark" + TOO FACED "Chocolate" bronzer - KAJA Cheeky Stamp Blendable Blush
Highlight: CHARLOTTE TILBURY Highlighter Superstar Glow
Beauty Sponge + Lashes: CAMMY NGUYEN Sponge + lashes in "Dime Piece"
Lips: MAC liner "Cork" & ARTIST COUTURE clear gloss lipstick
Eyes: DOSE OF COLORS Eyeshadow & ONE SIZE eye shade toppers
Watch the full tutorial and Q&A below, and keep an eye on our IGTV channel for more interviews and events.
