Legendary Drag Queen Art Simone Shares Her Best Makeup Tips & Tricks
Nando’s. Now that’s Legendary.
You’ve baked more bread than you can possibly eat, played hours of Animal Crossing, and conquered every TikTok challenge. If you’re wondering “now what?” then it’s time to explore drag.
Drag is all about expressing the hidden parts of yourself and the possibilities are endless. To help your journey into the wonderful world of drag, we chatted to Melbourne queen Art Simone, Australia’s Drag Performer of the Year two years in a row. You might recognise her from Matt’s season of The Bachelor, where she gave Chelsie a much-needed pep-talk.
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She shared her top three makeup tips and tricks for fabulous drag transformations, but we’re not the only ones who can benefit from unlocking a whole new side of ourselves. PERi-PERi chicken legend Nando’s has also unlocked a new side of its epic menu with the Great Pretender Protein, a meat-free alternative that looks, tastes, and caramelises on the grill just like real chicken.
It’s packed with protein and uses ingredients from their signature PERi-PERi recipe including lemon, herbs, garlic, and Nando’s African Bird’s Eye Chilli.
Here are Art’s best tips to help you express the hidden parts of yourself. At the very least, you’ll have fun transforming your face into a visage-mirage.
#1 Enrol In The Drag School Of YouTube
“I know that watching Drag Race [feels like] all the information you’d ever need to know to do with drag, but it’s really just the tip of the iceberg,” Art says.
“I tell people constantly that I learned from the school of YouTube and that’s seriously what I did when I first started. All the information you ever need to know about drag makeup and creating costumes, hip pads, styling wigs, creating your own custom lashes – it’s out there for free.”
Art honed her face for a full year at home before the world saw it, but she’s a pro. Still, even if you’re just messing around for fun, it’s trying new tutorials and making makeup a hobby that’ll see the best results. Hot tip: order in from Nando’s to keep the energy high during a night of drag makeup tutorials. You deserve it.
“[But also], glitter can solve every single issue in a drag look, because it distracts everyone. Get yourself a ton of glitter, and you’ll be fine – and a giant pair of lashes! Trust and believe, if you have a massive set of lashes on and you meet someone, they say, “Oh my God your lashes! Oh wow!”
Art loves Glitter Girl, a Gold Coast brand that makes eco-friendly glitter.
#2 Base Makes The Face
“I’m a strong believer that everything that goes on top – like eye-shadow and lipsticks – can be the cheapest stuff in the world,” Art says. “But if you invest in a great base, you’ll be set for a good night.”
Finding foundation and setting powder that match your skin is essential to creating a blank canvas for your drag. And while your impulse might be to go for something sheer, Art says you really need “a coat of paint” to transform your face. Her personal brand of choice is Kryolan, which creates makeup for TV and theatre – heavy-duty is perfect for drag.
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That means your regular make-up wipes won’t cut it when it comes to de-dragging. Art says an oil-based cleanser paired with a baby wipe is best. Then be sure to cleanse and tone to keep your skin fresh.
#3 Avoid The Sad Lash
Art’s drag pet peeve is the “sad lash” – when fake lashes droop down your eyelids. No-one wants a sad queen, so she advises gluing the end of the lashes a little higher than your natural line.
After all, it’s all about the drag energy – and that’s really Art’s biggest tip.
“Don’t walk out with an attitude and think that putting on a wig and some lipstick gives you the right to be a bitch! Be humble, positive, and camp!”
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That’s all you need to know to start your journey into the wonderful world of drag. While you’re experimenting with a new look, why not experiment with your food order and try the legendary Great Pretender Protein from Nando’s now.
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(Lead image courtesy of Art Simone)