ANARCHY Of BEAUTY

Exploring the art of make-up and its contribution in building an alter-ego with the coolest drag stars

- KONIKA DATTA

Drag has a long withstanding history with the rich tapestry of our culture. Creating their personas using make-up in the most artful manners possible, drag artists make every show and performance an exemplary example of creative expression. For the longest time in mainstream media, drag highlighted AMAB (assigned male at birth) feminising their faces, but drag as an art form, in its essence, goes beyond the binary narrative in our society. Make-up, for these performers, is not just a tool to feminise or masculinise – it’s a medium through which they project out into the world their inner emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Seven drag kings, queens, and non-binary artists discuss the role of make-up in their art form and their evolving relationship between gender and beauty.

DAME IMFALA

Born in Imphal, Yakihom Sushiel aka Dame Imfala works as a fashion stylist and educator.

ON BEING A CULTURAL MUTANT: Dame Imfala is representative of my hometown in Imphal. She’s a cultural mutant of sorts. I have been raised in many different cities and states, and I tend to pick up the culture, language, and music of those places. So, it represents all of that. I also don’t do very hyper-feminine realistic drag. A lot of my visual elements are inspired by medieval creatures or aliens.

ON PAINTING FACE: I have a signature way of painting my face when it is a quick drag. But usually, all my make-up looks are performance-based, keeping in mind how the visuals are going to be, what music I’m performing to, and what clothes I’m wearing. Of late, I have been adding a lot of face jewellery and other elements. I have a very personal character whose fantasy is to live vicariously through drag.