The Queen's the Thing

If you had asked me at age twelve what one object I would bring with me if stranded on a desert island, my answer would have been mascara.

I do not kid.

It never occurred to me that makeup was about looking better for other people. It was, to an awkward and befreckled tweenaged girl, a way to comfort myself, a way to discover and revel in my rareness, and the most immediate outlet I could find for my creative need. A dear friend of mine once told me that everyone needs some form of art in their life that doesn't require permission- for me, this is the art of face-painting.

Now, why call myself a bio-queen? I’ll save you the trip to Google search- a “bio-queen,” or “faux-queen,” is a woman who dresses like a man who dresses like a woman.  I have always found drag queens ethereal- magical- in their bravery, their senses of humor, and, perhaps most importantly to an awkward young girl, their ability to completely (I mean, from five o’clock shadow to looking better than Cher herself) alter their appearances to look like they feel on the inside. So, yes, I layer it on thick, yes, I love wearing false lashes during the day, yes, I have spent more on makeup than on my college tuition, and yes, I run the risk of being confused for an honest-to-god drag queen if I overdo it on the eyeliner and walk into Boystown on a Saturday night (this is part of being large-chested and almost six feet tall out of my heels), but I’d take it as a compliment. There is, more than fear of facial failure, the hope that every new look you try will unlock a new side of you- a new form of beautiful- a new way of looking at yourself. It’s about hope, honey. Drag is about hope.

And that’s what makeup is all about, too.

I have, in addition to loving makeup and hairstyling since I was a wee one, worked in the beauty/hair industry in one way or another since I was 18. From styling wigs for summer theatre to applying makeup to thirteen-year-old girls getting ready to go to school dances, I have spent a good portion of my adult years researching, buying, trying and loving beauty products. I've loved getting to talk to customers, roommates, family members and close friends about the tricks of my trade- and now, I’m happy to get to share what I've learned with you.

So let’s venture, you and I, into the wealth of love, beauty, and light that is found in the perfect shade of lipstick, the divine flicked eyeliner, and most importantly, the knowledge of what makes you unique and beautiful. Let’s take the mystery out of technique, the embarrassment out of experimentation, and the doubt out of what makes your face amazing. Because I guarantee you, baby, you’re just fabulous.

Welcome to The Bio Queen Chronicles.