It is Trans Awareness Week from November 12-19!

As a part of Trans Awareness Week programming, the Columbia and Barnard trans support and advocacy group GendeRevolution hosted a panel and workshop with many trans femme people of color from the New York area. The guests answered questions about self-discovery, survival, and visibility all in the context of makeup as resistance. Bwogger Miyoki Walker covered the event.

In a room filled with laughter, curiosity, and welcoming spirits, dancer DeJayé, activist Krystal ‘LaBeija’ Conyers, and makeup artists Deja Smith, Slater Stanley, and Ada Blake were just as eager to teach as attendees were eager to learn.

The event started out with food courtesy of Dig Inn, introductions, and a Q&A session with all of the guests. To start, accomplished makeup artist Deja Smith detailed the path she took to where she is today. Smith started out as a dancer in Long Island, ultimately going on to receive a BFA in dance performance at the Southern Methodist University. After spending years playing with her mother’s eyeshadow and blush, Smith decided to venture out into the world of makeup on her own. At some point while working at a MAC counter, Smith made the difficult decision to transition. Today, Smith has gone on to work with notable figures from Laverne Cox to Kehinde Wiley to the cast from the FX show Pose.

Following Smith, artist Slater Stanley who’s worked with the likes of Bjork, Princess Nokia, and Mykki Blanco, described the struggle with their gender identity and belonging. Stanley started in the world of drag makeup, eventually going on to practice on other models as opposed to themselves. DeJayé started her own journey of self-discovery by means of the New York cabaret and disco tech scene, Conyers found herself through beauty pageants, and Blake started in the world of fashion, later realizing she really wanted to wear the dresses rather than make them.

Although each of the guests had their own unique experiences, they all easily found common ground when it came to the topic of searching for acceptance in the makeup community. Soon enough, what was once a panel meant for questions and answers became a conversation between people aiming to teach, learn, and listen.

An overarching theme of the conversation leaned towards the negative ways in which the makeup industry treats the TGNC (transgender and non-conforming) community. Both Smith and Slater voiced irritations about the way in which people doubt and deem trans and/or non-conforming artists as temporary or incapable of the same things that cisgender people do every day. They both also explained that there are certain standards to meet in order to integrate yourself in the makeup industry, most being unrealistic for trans people to meet. This, as they both stated, is why it is important to support brands that place trans and non-conforming models and artists at the forefront, allowing the space necessary to work outside of rigid beauty standards and the gender binary. Conyers then responded by emphasizing just how important it is to provide support and guidance to youths that are struggling with their own gender identities in order to ease this process.

In response to a question posed by one attendee, the guests then began to list certain brands that support the TGNC community, some of which included ADVEKET Cosmetics, Miss Fame Beauty, Fenty Beauty, Color Me Chad, and Atomic Makeup.

The last question addressed by the panel had to do with creating change through makeup. Although it is unlikely that positive change will happen overnight, some of the guests suggested that showing the different faces of the TGNC community would be a start. Conyers made it clear that there are trans people everywhere, yet the narrative currently seen is narrow and monolithic. Smith added on by saying that, because we exist in a society guided by capitalism, it is important to give money only to brands and companies that are invested in this change, not just smart marketing strategies. Stanley ended by saying that it is also important to make sure trans and non-conforming clients are comfortable as everyone has their own unique needs.

To conclude the program, Smith, Stanley, and Blake completed a few makeup tutorials for the attendees including how to fix inconsistent undereye tones, how to fill in eyebrows, and a quick eyeshadow shimmer look. Embedded in these tutorials included tips like what brushes are cheapest and most effective, why using a damp beauty blender is better, how to cancel out different tones with concealer, and how to ensure your makeup stays on throughout the day.

At the very end, all of the attendees and guests gathered around for a photo in order to remember and celebrate everything that went on in the last two hours and to serve as a reminder that this work must go on. Just as the impact of the guests’ words go beyond last night’s programming, so does the importance of programs like these in general. Although Trans Awareness Week is an incredible opportunity to promote understanding, awareness, and advocacy for the TGNC community, it is important to continue this work all throughout the year. Posting a photo on social media to show support is not enough, we all must also put as much thought and action as possible into supporting one another.

For more information, click the link here to learn about the Trans Lifeline organization, and click here to donate.

Trans Makeup as Resistance poster courtesy of Facebook