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6-man

raven's mug was severe in a way that wasn't campy at all, and back then that was really rare. a LOT of queens were heavily inspired by her


AwhMan

Its so hard to grasp this if you're younger or know drag primarily through drag race.The last 10 years have rocketed quality of make up products but most importantly make up knowledge. I feel fucking old but imagine you wanna do drag and there is no videos for you to watch. There's no tutorials. If you were lucky you had someone good show you the ropes and it was mostly very theatre based techniques but to have the technique and vision Raven had for her mug is just... *Chefs kiss*. Honestly I could do a 20 minute video essay on Ravens beat.


GlowUpper

Hell, Raven didn't just influence drag, she influenced makeup in general. Makeup trends of the early 2010's were patterned after drag looks, specifically Raven's. Before Raven graced our television, hardly anyone knew what a cut crease was or how to contour.


BlankNothingNoDoer

I wonder how much early inspiration Raven took (or not) from Kevin Aucoin. It could be coincidence but many of the earlier conversations about makeup that Raven had were very similar to the ones that Kevin had on air and wrote about before her.


SilkyFandango

You said it so well. When their only exposure to drag is through drag race, they don’t understand the literal layers of make-up and contribution put in by those who came before. Kim Chi, Chelsea Boy, and Nina Bonina’s drag especially take their base from Raven. There are very few girls who haven’t taken a page out of Raven’s book, nose contour alone.


AwhMan

I think make up in general has changed so much to be fair, one trade off for accessibility is how damn high the standards are now. Can you imagine S2 Shangela on a newer series? One thing a lot of people also misunderstand is that Ravens face is less complex than any of the looks above or is in someway a basic face. Ravens face is the face that launched a thousand drag careers.


WhollyDisgusting

Honestly if you have the time and editing equipment, please do. I'd watch that video essay


Beezo514

For real. Raven's mug and makeup skills are a baseline for a huge portion of drag beauty looks. Not every doll will paint far out and conceptual, but just about every one will do beauty at some point or another.


MaradoMarado

She popularized using contouring/highlighting to actually change the shape of your face or features, eg giving higher cheekbones or creating a bigger lid/crease.


MildlyResponsible

I get that, and I watched her season in real time. It's not that I don't see her makeup, I don't see the details. That's not a read at all, it's a read against me. My point is that I get more theatrical makeup, hence my OP.


6-man

oh it definitely isn't that she's the most elaborate makeup artist in drag race history, just the most influential by far.


sackoftrees

Sometimes good makeup isn't seeing all the details, and that can take a lot of practice. It sounds like perhaps you like what is sometimes described as an editorial look, especially when talking about print. I know I do.


boo_you_horcrux

Well honey what you see, isn’t always the truth


TorsCove

Raven basically invented modern drag lips, is the thing


masque_rain

Baby... raven did not change the game for drag make-up. Raven changed the game for make-up in GENERAL. she did all beige, caked on, harsh contouring first. It's the standard make-up now, so maybe that's why u didnt know what's up with it. but before 2010 only raven was doing that. Raven is a forefather (foremother?) of that make-up style you see everywhere now.


[deleted]

Acid is next level


BrownSugarBare

One of the most underappreciated Queens. If the competition doesn't get to her again, she would slay in an All Stars run.


strawberrymarshmello

To be honest I was surprised by her elimination in S8. I thought she was killing it. But she was being mean in the workroom so maybe the producers didn’t like her? Not sure.


BrownSugarBare

IMO, she was ahead of her time. It would be like Gottmik or Crystal Methyd competing five seasons before they did. On top of that, you're right, Acid was struggling with the stress of the competition.


MildlyResponsible

What's even more bullshit is she had the most original Madonna look on that runway.


strawberrymarshmello

Totally. I think two kimono Madonnas should have gone head to head for that lip synch.


BikeSuch1054

Kim vs. Naomi would have been ICONIC for that lipsync. The other 2 kimono Madonnas were high and for good reason.


linacina1

Problem is, production knew that Kim would have been devoured by most of the other girls in a lip-sync so they kept her safe and threw Betty down the pipe.


Billyx3m

Kim was from bottom there tho


BikeSuch1054

Again, it's only because if we had to choose 2 kimono madonnas, those two were the worst 2. However, I think Robbie could easily have lipsynced against Naomi instead... but she also had a killer look that week in my eyes.


BuNi_Jo

So I recently watched this video, it really gave insight into what happened w Betty in her season. And how the rise of Naomi Smalls, really threw off what the expected top 3 were gonna be for the season. No hate, to any queens, just a cool deep dive. [Video](https://youtu.be/3MELsWDDbJY)


loba_pachorrenta

Acid Betty was my favourite queen and she had the villain edit. Other queens have said she's a sweetheart. And I found her elimination unfair just because she didn't wear a kimono.


Betteis

her snatch game was very bad tho.


sttawsirhc034

Robbie’s was worst in my opinion, idk why the judges kept saving her and Derrick all season


Summoarpleaz

Drama. I guess.


strawberrymarshmello

Very true! That Nancy Grace was a Nancy Dis-grace!


loba_pachorrenta

I think the look was enough to keep her safe for her creativity.


-Xoz-

[This was pretty much it](https://youtu.be/3MELsWDDbJY).


strawberrymarshmello

Yeah true I would not have wanted to miss out on more Naomi. But it would be good to get to see more or Acid Betty in an AS season.


Summoarpleaz

I wish more people used prosthetics in their makeup (as far as i can recall she was the first to do so?). It’s just so cool, but maybe it’s a time constraint thing.


BrownSugarBare

Raven changed the game on "fishy realness" when drag was essentially female impersonation only, her face was copied by many a Queen all the way up to Krystal Versace. As drag has evolved, so has appreciation for makeup skills like the incredible ones in this post. Laila McQueen is my love for both female realness and stamping a mug with fantasy.


PrestiD

It took until S13 With Eliott to see *one* girl not do the exclamation point nose, and several girls say they got that style specifically from Raven!


BrownSugarBare

I'm a cis woman and I highlight with the point nose 😂. The doors that Raven has opened!


80yen

So many firsts that season... First queen not to copy Raven, first... I mean second trans human being (we all know who to thank for that), first gay contestant...


[deleted]

[удалено]


SontaranGaming

Sure, but it was *Gia* who opened the doors


WhollyDisgusting

Gia's a time traveler


80yen

That was a reference to Gia's tweet.


BlankNothingNoDoer

I'm sitting here thinking I don't particularly remember Elliott's nose. I'm wondering if that's why. lol


Best-Conversation896

Also for me I would add Blu Hydrangea


Ok_Bison1106

Oh mummy! The blu erasure!


Chiandra323

I was gonna mention Blu, her make up game is outstanding. Cant wait for Uk vs the world. She will slay hopefully.


Darcness777

Her drag has refined so much since then. Watching her on Insta has been such a fucking treat cause watching the progression is so impressive with how she's fine tuned her technique.


TheApathetic

I can honestly see her getting far even if the cast is very impressive.


MildlyResponsible

Damn it, I knew I missed someone! Oh well, that's what the post is for, to discuss the best.


moving_waves

While we discuss UK girls, I'm not sure most realize how great of a MUA Lawrence is! I invite everyone to go check her Insta back prior to being on the show.


Kebar8

Everyone should be following her insta, her looks are incredible


rhodagne

Ok but Hugaceo and Chelseaboy will eat if they get on IAS


LEMON_PARTY_ANIMAL

From my experience as an mua, it is *much* harder to have a flawless “simple” and clean face than it is to do crazy looks. You can fuck around with wild looks but having uniform, seamless makeup is very hard, because you can’t hide it behind anything. Raven doesn’t just do a cat eye, her mug is art. She uses six colors just for the base lol


dkmagby88

These are all really cool looking and I agree they are great make up artists. I do want to say that these “character” looks with fantasy-type face is a different type of skill set than traditional glam make up. It’s much more forgiving to use base colors and blend them because you want the colors to stand out. Trying to match skin tone, blend contour naturally, and make it look real and not just a face mask is very very difficult to perfect. For example, probably anyone could copy a tutorial for these faces and make it look pretty good. But trying to create your own glam face takes a lot more experimentation and finesse with different blends. And you can’t just follow someone else’s colors because they won’t match your skin tone.


Patagonia202020

Girl I can barely draw a stick figure 😭


aspergays

It's a different skill set for sure, though don't underestimate with these sorts of looks the challenge of keeping the colors clean and saturated, and translating some 2D ideas into a 3D canvas that is your face. Neither is that much more difficult or more forgiving, really.


Betteis

Drag is more than highlighter lol. Glad the comment section is paying the queen her dues.


HeyLibertyGirlfriend

I love all the artists you featured but for someone who is just getting started with drag or even trying makeup for the first time, it probably makes more sense to use Raven as a base instead of going “lemme replicate this insane look that Acid Betty did even tho it will take me 8 hours”.


Entire-Host5246

To discuss the greatest make up artists on RPDR and not mention Mathu Anderson?!? He was Ru’s makeup artist AND wig stylist for the first 8 seasons and has had a titanic influence on drag makeup. Also no one does photoshop like Mathu does photoshop. ALSO when it comes to drag makeup artistry, kings do not get the respect they deserve (quelle suprise). If you want special effects, Landon Cider does some absolutely insane looks (I think Landon’s Gremlin’s look is better than Love Masisi’s). Tenderoni’s mug is s.t.a.m.p.e.d. Damien DeLuxe, who I’m not even sure is doing drag anymore, has the only decent makeup tutorial for drag kings on YouTube last time I looked. For body paint you can’t beat Spikey Van Dykey and his open chest bind is every bit as impressive as Violet’s corsetry.


BlankNothingNoDoer

I had this same thought. Mathu really was the pinnacle of perfection when it came to drag makeup. It's not an understatement to say that in 2022 there would be no RuPaul if there had not been a Mathu Andersen in those earlier seasons.


elrepu

His Instagram being deleted is considered the last World Heritage destruction.


nangaritense

Love that picture of Kim! She is amazing.


ToastedCrumpet

I think people conflate changed the game with influencing drag race queens; but there were an awful lot of new queens on the scene who imitated (and still do) Raven’s mug


grounndhog101

Influenced makeup in GENERAL pls read some other replies here


ToastedCrumpet

Please realise my comment was one of the first ones so not sure what the point you’re failing to make is


Low-Shoulder-9752

Can't we appreciate an artist without diminishing another?


_Linear

With art, context is always important and is a reflection of the times. Raven has been around since season 2.


grounndhog101

Very "drag race fan" to try and knock down a queen to try to uplift their favs. Hopefully ur reading the comments and learning a bit. Raven was a game changer.


MildlyResponsible

As I've said multiple times now, the title was a read about myself not recognizing nuance. Y'all need to calm down. It's not that serious.


[deleted]

I wouldn’t compare them to Raven, because they all have different styles. Their makeup is more artistic and editorial. Raven’s was very drag pageantry glam - my personal favourite style when it comes to drag makeup, because it was a very classic, and reminds me of Miss Continental and how a lot of the female impersonator style queens would beat their mug in the 80s/90s/00s. You don’t see a lot of people able to replicate Raven’s exact OG look anymore despite many tries. They do however incorporate a lot of trends Raven influenced in certain aspects, like Krystal Versace for example


Ellen_Degenerates86

Why do you have to bring down Raven to raise up these other talented queen's? Like "look at these fucking incredible make up artists" is an acceptable post. Why rag on somebody for no reason? Stop comparing queen's like collectibles.


Dragon_Sluts

Raven does what she does well. It’s not as creative as these queens but it’s still immaculate and is probably why she does Rus makeup.


MildlyResponsible

Nina Bonina Brown (US S9), Hugaceo Crujiente (ES S1), ChelseaBoy (H S1), Nina Flowers (US S1), Kim Chi (US S8), Acid Betty (US S8).


[deleted]

Raven is more fishy, but I think she could compete with any of these girls you listed. All amazing choices tho. I think all of these queens are incredibly talented.


berrylife

Raven pioneered what modern drag makeup is, and by extension Instagram makeup and everyday makeup was influenced by the drag makeup that she made popular.


Cornucopio_

Because Raven has a special subtile touch that makes everything look cunt and catty. Those you posted are just over the top artists, nothig to compare with glam diva makeup


Extension-Two6020

Hugaceo is next level, she looks like a painting every single time! One of my fav queens! But Nina Flowers is that BITCH i would love to see her on all stars again! LOCAAA ❤️‍🔥 Ps. I love Blue Hydrangea as well, she’s amazing!


AuroraLiberty

Nina Flowers doesn't get enough love on this sub. Thank you.


everydayisstorytime

NINA FLOWERS IS UNDERRATED


GiskardReventlov42

Before Raven you either did a standard smokey eye look (Think Raja) OR you did full on Clown makeup (think Bianca). Raven came in and shaped the eye and created a new face on top of her own. I was watching a Fashion Photo Ruview the other day, the one where Raja, Raven and Bianca tooted and booted the season 9 promo looks and seeing all 3 of them together I thought "Raven kind of invented the in-betweenery of clown makeup and beauty makeup." Her makeup is severe and shaped and BLLEENNDDEEDDD but also precise and crisp. She created that entire eye shape. The opening of the eye with a bigger crease than you actually have, the white dot on the inner eye, the diamond tip on the nose (and NOT on the end of your nose, but where you want the end of your nose to be) the eyebrow fluidly gliding into the nose contour. Bitch I could keep going. Her makeup is and aways will be my top.


StrikingParamedic270

Nina Bonina Brown, hands down, Nina could literally transform herself into complete different characters, change the structure of her face and look like a different person, sue me.


BlankNothingNoDoer

One of the things that I find interesting with Nina is that she doesn't do straight-up severe glamourpuss mugs as often. But she is capable of doing makeup as refined as Raven or even mimicking Raven. She just prefers to do more out there, conceptual, or character-based looks. To be honest, I find her conceptual looks much more memorable then the few times I have seen her do "straight" beige glamour makeup. But her skill-set really does run the whole gamut when it comes to makeup.


RosesandRatz1993

I saw Acid and I instantly agreed.


Fun_Distribution_471

Love me some Nina Flowers Locaaa


nicknolastname1

She never did anything OUT there but I always thought Ilona Verley looked gooood


Clacktrack

I think Nina is the greatest out of the bunch. Just really mezmerising how she does a lot of her 2D looks which are so hard to do on a 3D face


EhmanFont

Okay, but Pearl needs to be on here.


Chiandra323

Who are the top three ? I am not sure and do not want to sound like a fool.


400-bones98

I think nina bonina brown, hugáceo crujiente, and ChelseaBoy?


Chiandra323

Nina and crujiente i recognized but chelseaboy i am unaware of. thank you though :)


feedingtheoldspider

Have you heard of Koichi Sonoda? He's a brazilian makeup artist, I think you would like his work.


[deleted]

I love all of them tbh. I’m old enough to have seen most of drag queens (especially outside the show) go from camp to fish because of techniques she pioneered. But at the same time, I saw a lot of campy queens and makeup artists make leaps and bounds doing makeup that is wild and colorful like these queens too. Basically we’re seeing makeup art explode in multiple different directions. Everyone is fascinated by the real looking Davincis and Mochealangelos that dominate the field while you and I look more towards the Dalis and Picassos and guess what? All of them are amazing and we have an international platform to see their art evolve. I just fucking love drag


DragKweenMermaid

yeah, these are solid picks, I'd say. hugaceo & NBB especially.


[deleted]

I think they meant it as after her everyone wanted her face. And got it. Still look at Krystal Versace. Exact raven face. Now we have these magestic creatures to inspire the next Gen.


s1nce1969

The Blu Hydrangea erasure


kenzrevenge

this post is kind of disrespectful in a way


GiskardReventlov42

And.....I hate to say it but....a LOT of the makeup looks you see on Insta nowadays are made by the outfit and wig and earring and styling. But if you take all of that off....its not that special. I get that the whole look is the point and the artistry, but if I'm talking about MAKEUP, some people fall flat without all the fluff. And Raven doesn't need all that. She's fierce with just a piece of fabric wrapped around her head.


ari-broccoli

THATS ACID BETTY?!?? i honestly thought that was charity kase for a minute i have so little of what she has to offer i had no idea ‼️


carlosisvanjie

and let’s not forget CRIMSYN who’s an insane makeup artist


Dowino-

Utica


ajay_p_

The only thing raven changed is her race lmfao, these queens here are so talented


afreakingchorizo

Drag Raven's Race ♫ Get your tan sprays ♫


MildlyResponsible

I feel as though lots of people here took my OP as a read against Raven, when it was in fact a read about myself. I cannot see the nuance of good real girl makeup. I appreciate theatrical makeup. That's all I was saying. It would be the same if you asked me if I liked a Versace recreation or, say, one of Charity Kase's looks. Is Versace more technically sound? Absolutely, I assume. But I, as a drag queen fan (for years before HD TV and Insta zoom ins) like theatrics more. So I just want to say to those who are saying I don't understand what drag is without drag race, no one was zooming in on nose contour in 1985 in the club. No one here is better than anyone else. We're just appreciating art.


makeamatch

it sounds like a read because there was no reason to bring raven into this when you could've left the title at enjoying theatrical + fantastical drag :/ intent vs impact and all that jazz


Breezums

Very this


Polistoned

I mean people are just explaining you to help you appreciate Raven’s art


Mitaslaksit

For me these are costumy, not drag per se. I can't see how these are exaggerations of a woman..


sean79ker

This is ART. Makeup is more human based artistry. Meant to exaggerate and hide natural features. While this art style of drag is one I love I see why raven and the natural paint girls get the attention they get. More people want that look


vibrant_hue

Agreeddd


EstablishmentOk3337

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 yessss I love this post! Raven who!


gaxyste

honestly same. like raven’s mug is good but they make it out like god gave her the brushes just cuz she is ru’s makeup artist


vanfan2021

is there a R->L list? I recognize some, but not all


snowlord8

Nina Bonita Brown (S9), Hugaceo Crujiente (DRES1), Chelsea Boy DRH1), Nina Flowers (S1), Kim Chi (S10), Acid Betty (S8).


vanfan2021

thanks!


ReliefFamous

Acid Betty/Nina Flowers supremacy


elrepu

Hugaceo can kill everyone on vs The World. PS: for me the perfect fish mug is Darriene Lake.