Meet The Inspiring Creators From The LGBTQIA+ Community Taking Over Our IG

Empowerment
by HB Team |
Mon, 28 Jun 2021

MUA interviews

June is a month very close to our hearts, a month dedicated to celebrating, honoring and uplifting the LQBTQIA+ Community. The month is celebrated to remember the June 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which became the catalyst for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States and worldwide!

While Pride Month is coming to a close and rainbows begin to dwindle, that doesn’t mean everything we’ve learned and all that we celebrate ends here. It is important to continue championing LBTQIA+ voices and learning, and doing as much as possible to support and be an ally to this beautiful community.

Among the parties and parades, we’ve been shouting out some ways to celebrate the LQBTQIA+ community this month and beyond (check out this blog post) and highlight some incredible creatives from the community – check out our interview with Plastik Magazine founder Eli Rezkellah here. We’ve been honored to host some fire takeovers on both our Huda Beauty and Huda Beauty Shop Instagram accounts (watch the takeovers here), and today we’re sharing more from these incredible creators. Scroll down to read stories from these amazing LQBTQIA+ MUAs, and stay tuned to see more from us.

Meet Kenny Cain

 

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Watch Kenny’s Huda Beauty takeover here.

1. Tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now? What have been some of the most pivotal & challenging moments for you?

I always wanted to be a beauty content creator. And I work so hard to get where I am right now. Dream big! Don’t give up. Trust yourself ! I feel like my biggest challenge is myself. I have to fight with my own demons and conquer my insecurities. Till this day, I’m still trying to learn to love myself fully!

2. What do you think the beauty industry can do to create more visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community?

Be more accepting to everyone in the community! Try to see the beauty and uniqueness in everyone.

3. Who are 3 of your fave creators from the community?

Huda! The OG beauty blogger! She truly has inspired me and everyone else so much! Her story gave me hope to go chase my dream.

Mmmmitchell: So young! So talented! Amazing artistry!

Gabxxrielle: Just love her artistry as well too!

4. What does beauty mean to you?

Confidence, creativity, freedom.

 

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5. During Pride Month, what message would you like to share with our readers?

Be kind. Always! We don’t need more negativity in this world! Love is the answer.

6. What are your goals and dreams for the future?

Having my own brand one day!

Meet Brynne ODonnell

 

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Watch Brynne’s Huda Beauty takeover here.

1. Tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now? What have been some of the most pivotal & challenging moments for you?

I’ve always loved makeup and sharing different forms of art with other people. Human connection is so important to me; being there for others through makeup advice or life advice is where I thrive.

2. What do you think the beauty industry can do to create more visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community?

I think brands have recently become better about being more inclusive and showcasing more members of the LGBTQIA+ community, but there can always be more representation. Makeup has been gendered in the social eye for years, and we need to continue to tear that down and show that makeup is for anyone and everyone.

3. Who are 3 of your fave creators from the community?

Trixie Mattel, an absolute icon not only for her makeup but also in comedy and music.

Alex Renee on TikTok. They showcase androgynous looks and how makeup can make you feel like yourself in any form.

Gabe Adams Wheatley who creates incredible looks without the use of hands or arms and displays pride and confidence.

4. What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty, to me, is about feeling confident within yourself. When you’re confident, you feel beautiful, which will radiate off you, and I think that’s the definition of true beauty.

 

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5. During Pride Month, what message would you like to share with our readers?

During Pride Month, I want every person to remember how valid and loved they are. Wherever you’re at in your journey is where you’re meant to be.

6. What are your goals and dreams for the future?

I hope in the future to become someone others look up to for support and love. I want to be able to spread positivity while continuing to hear others’ stories and learn through them. I’d also love to make others feel confident and beautiful through the power of makeup, whether it’s inspiring them through my looks or doing theirs for them!

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Meet Khai 

 

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Stay tuned to watch our takeover with Khai on our @hudabeautyshop page here.

1. Tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now? What have been some of the most pivotal & challenging moments for you? 

The initial challenge I faced was the lack of support from my parents. At the start of my journey, I experienced homelessness. I went to college as a necessity. Instead of using my college refund for books, I bought makeup and a light ring.

2. What do you think the beauty industry can do to create more visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community? 

Not just commission us during Pride Month and just want to hear what we say during that time. Visibility should be year-round.

3. Who are 3 of your fave creators from the community?

@KennethSenegal, aka HeFlawless! He’s been one of the most influential creators. I used to listen to his storytime videos when I did my make-up. I’ve followed him since high school. He was always vocal about his sexual orientation and recently began speaking about his gender identity as well. (he/she/they)

@ArtMuva – I’ve followed her for a while as well. When I first started off she was doing paintings, and I admire how she was able to use her skills to transition from painting to doing nails.

@K6Mil – They really inspired me this Pride Month when they shared their top surgery story. It’s the fact that Kamil is also gender fluid and an Ifa Olorisha [initiated priests and priestesses of Orisa tradition]. I definitely feel the impact of recognizing the diversity of gender in African spiritual religions.

4. What does beauty mean to you? 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, for real. It’s about that energy that comes. When you feel beautiful, it resonates. It feels ethereal, magical, healthy. Beauty is health.

 

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5. During Pride Month, what message would you like to share with our readers? 

I would like to share that gender and sexuality are a spectrum, and you don’t have to understand things to see the beauty in it and give respect.

6. What are your goals and dreams for the future? 

My goals and dreams for the future are to do commercial modeling, transition into music, and retire somewhere near a beach.

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Meet @missmixed

 

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Watch Celia’s Huda Beauty takeover here.

1. Tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now? What have been some of the most pivotal & challenging moments for you?

Four years ago, I made a big decision to move from my home in Toronto to Zagreb, Croatia. Unfortunately, I quickly got into a psychologically abusive relationship and found myself feeling really isolated and lonely. It was very hard. I was alone in a new country with someone who was manipulating and controlling me. In my difficulties, I turned to art.

I started my beauty account, @missmixed, on Instagram because I was hoping to find friends and people to talk to. It evolved into this space where I could be creative and explore my artistic side with makeup. In some of my worst moments, I created art as a way of managing my emotions. I suffer from a mental health disorder called Borderline Personality Disorder, and makeup turned into a coping mechanism for my symptoms. Some of my favorite all-time looks were products of depressive episodes where I just desperately needed to express myself.

When I started getting followers, it was pretty surprising! I never expected to be an “influencer” per se, but I was excited for the opportunity. I wanted my community to be an inclusive space in beauty during years where the beauty community didn’t really recognize or give the time of day to minorities like LGBTQIA+ and people of color. At the time, it was a challenge to find shades that catered to my skin tone and even harder to find opportunities in beauty for POC. I created the #colorcontourchallenge as a way to bring attention to the lack of inclusivity I struggled with using my art. Thousands of creators joined in by doing their contour in an unexpected color (green, blue, etc.) to show that all colors belong in our community.

I realized that my passion was creating art and contributing to important conversations happening in the world. I want to make people think with my art and transform people’s perspectives of what’s possible. As a pansexual, half Jamaican, and half Irish girl living with BPD, I want to use my unique situation and voice to help others feel seen. I want people like me to know that the “weirdness” they’ve been bullied for in the past is actually what makes them great.

Thankfully, I was able to get out of my toxic relationship, and I’m learning to balance self-care. I hope to continue to do this in the future too.

2. What do you think the beauty industry can do to create more visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community?

My biggest suggestion would be to give us opportunities outside of Pride Month. Recognize us outside of Pride Month. So many brands will connect with our community during Pride when it is beneficial to do so, but then have very little representation outside of that. I want to see more non-binary faces. More trans men and women sharing their image of “beauty.” More avant-garde perspectives and expressions of beauty.

For so long, the beauty community consisted of one look, one style, one energy. It’s time for the beauty world to embrace the culture of the LGBTQIA+ community and not assimilate it but appreciate it. Highlighting our differences and appreciating them. Raising the voices of those who have felt silenced for so long. It’s more than rainbows; it’s about making the community feel seen.

I would love to see creator-led campaigns highlighting the incredibly wide variety of artists we have. Collaborations with LGBTQIA+ creators that really represent them and tell their stories. More art with a story, with a purpose.

3. Who are 3 of your fave creators from the community?

One newer artist I have been obsessed with is @adultsdrink. They have such a flair and energy, with a creative and fresh perspective on their art. I love seeing Black creators getting recognition, especially when their content goes against the norm. They really inspire me.

@poeticdrugs is another creator I really admire. He embodies sexual control to me, something I would like to exude myself. Every time I see his photos of his newest neon-leather-clad outfit, it’s like I see stars! I’m so inspired, and in love with the feeling his content gives me. It’s a feeling I want to give to others, too.

One of my favorite all-time creators is actually a Youtuber who goes by the name Bussy Queen. I am an AVID drag race fan who’s watched every episode multiple times, so I love his recap videos. Even more so though, I absolutely love his comedy and character in drag. His videos inspire me to play into a comedic character and get bigger with my makeup creations.

4. What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty, to me, is a feeling. It’s a tingly feeling in your stomach, a rush in your brain. It’s an inability to look away and a desire to consume. The physical manifestation of “Beauty” is different to everyone, but the feeling we all experience is the same.

That’s why I don’t believe there is one answer of what “beauty” is. Beauty can be ugly, it can be confusing and hard to take. But beauty has no gender, no preference, and most amazingly, no rules. As long as it gives you that good feeling in the pit of your stomach, it’s beautiful.

5. During Pride Month, what message would you like to share with our readers?

Pride isn’t just about the month of June and token rainbows. Pride is a celebration of who we are and our rights to be ourselves in totality. Pride Month ending shouldn’t change that. In every other month of the year, we need to uplift and support the minority communities that need it.

And that speaks to our LGBTQ allies, too. We all have responsibility in protecting the right to live and love with freedom. Check in on your trans friends of color. Respect your non-binary friend’s pronouns. Give love to those in transition and learning about who they are. Share love. That’s what Pride is really about, 365 days a year.

6. What are your goals and dreams for the future?

I would love to become a bigger creator in the beauty community one day. I really enjoy hosting makeup challenges that get people thinking creatively and embracing their artistic nature. It would be a dream to turn my public image into a hub for creators to connect and get inspired.

In recent years the beauty community has been very fragmented after so many scandals and unfortunate situations. I want to change that, and raise up the positivity that exists in the beauty world. The same way I have always felt accepted and valued in the LGBTQIA+ community, I want to inspire that feeling of acceptance in others. Success to me has always included the success of others, and I believe that together we can infuse positivity, inclusivity, and love into beauty.

Thank you to all of these incredible creators for sharing their stories and messages so openly. We are honored to share them!

We encourage you to continue reading and learning from a diverse spectrum of creatives from the community and check out more ways you can support the LGBTQIA+ community all year round here. We at Huda Beauty are dedicated to continued advocacy for the community, and we look forward to showing you more in the future.