Is Makeup Really “One Size Fits All”?
In the past, many different people, including both men and women, used makeup. For example, the first people who indulged in a form of makeup were the ancient Egyptians. Most men and women wore makeup because they believed doing so would earn them the protection of the gods, Horus and Ra. In today’s society, the online queer community is growing, as we can see through several famous queer YouTubers such as Patrick Simondac. Patrick, more commonly known as PatrickStarrr, has a YouTube channel and works as an influencer in the makeup industry. He uploads videos for his three million subscribers that include makeup tutorials, reviews of new products, and video logs of his business trips with large, corporate makeup companies. Some of his other videos bring attention to deeper issues such as gender, sexuality, and heteronormativity.
On September 25, 2016, Patrick uploaded a video titled “I AM A MAN”. This video, along with several others, was meant to bring attention to these issues as well as spark the interest of groups of people who are considering makeup either professionally or as a hobby but who cannot because they are afraid of the criticism of people who contemn those that do not fall into the stereotypical category of people who wear makeup. Many people seem to be afraid to or even attempt to enter the realm of makeup because of the social stigma related to queerness and the queer makeup industry. “I AM A MAN” is a video that brings attention to and encourages the growing community of people who find joy in doing makeup no matter their gender or sexuality. It instills ideas that these people should feel comfortable in their own skin and feel free to let it out because it is okay to and that so many people who have come out are doing so much better than they were before.
In the video, Patrick begins by talking about how so many people from all over the world continue to ask him the same questions regarding his gender and sexuality. He proudly confirms his identity as a gay male individual who loves wearing and working with makeup. He also tells his viewers that he is taking the opportunity to use the YouTube platform to promote more than just makeup. He wants to accentuate the importance of equality and openness by promoting “men in makeup”. He repeats “makeup has no gender,” and “makeup is a one size fits all,” to reinforce that makeup can be for everyone. Everyone should feel safe in their happy places, which for some is makeup. They should feel safe and relaxed because makeup is not something that is only for a certain gender or certain types of people. It really is a form of art for everyone to enjoy and not feel the need to be embarrassed or uneasy about liking.
Patrick is wearing his signature turban, acrylic nails, a choker and a mesh top. Most of his outfit is what a woman would wear, based on heteronormative standards. His makeup is bold, with dark, prominent colors, which shows that he is comfortable in even bold makeup — not afraid of criticism. His nails are very colorful, bright, and flashy, which show his confidence in his own skin to be able to wear acrylic nails, which historically have been mainly seen on women. At the end of the video, he takes off his makeup to further emphasize that he is a man who is different, that he is proud to be who he is and that everyone else should be too.
He even influences very young children. He says that parents often approach him and tell him that they watch his videos with their children. And he thinks by his display of confidence in his own skin as a gay, male makeup artist, he can inspire people, and even children, to pursue their passion even if it is not widely accepted. Also, because he has so many people loyal to him who watch every one of his uploads, these kinds of videos are very effective in spreading the importance of inclusiveness, even to children, and keeping an open mind about everything — people in makeup in particular.
The video makes viewers think more in depth about the judgment and criticism that male makeup artists receive for not conforming to ideal gender norms. “Heterosexuality — like masculinity and femininity — is taken for granted as a natural occurrence derived from biological sex” (Schilt and Westbrook 443). In the heteronormative society, people born with physical characteristics of biological males are expected to behave a certain way different from the way people born with physical characteristics of biological females are expected to. A blog post on Social Pop argues that “role expectations within Western culture have led people to trust in the belief that they must perform certain acts within certain structures to avoid conflict.” Because today’s society is so constructed upon heteronormative standards, behaving or appearing otherwise often causes conflict or controversy. This causes people to feel “emotions of shame, insecurity, or even fear” (SOCIALPOPBLOG), which in turn, can cause them to be silent about their passions and interests. In the case of men in makeup, they become unable to express their true feelings and enthusiasm for makeup, which Patrick is working to change and prevent. Culturally and historically, women in America have been devalued and the socialization of this belief has brought some men to commit crimes victimizing men who show any signs of femininity (Schilt and Westbrook 443). This also would deter many men who aspire to indulge in makeup because it is generally seen as a tool used by women.
The devaluation of homosexuality can even be seen in social, professional settings. Schilt and Westbrook say that “transmen could be fired for making a stigmatized identity public…or they could be repatriated as men by being expected to follow the men’s dress and behavioral codes and being moved into new jobs or positions that employers see as better suited to masculine abilities and interests” (Schilt and Westbrook 446–447). Even in professional settings biological women who transitioned to be men are pressured to conform to the standards of being a heteronormative man if he/she/they does not want to lose his/her/their job. This is absurd in so many ways because a person should be able to express what they feel in any way they wish and this is exactly what PatrickStarrr is trying to instill in the public mindset through these videos.
Historically, people who identified as homosexual were widely condemned and were, as Spargo argues, “subject to systematic inquiry in a wide range of discursive fields including demography, education and the law” (Spargo 19). They would be generalized as a certain group rather than individual people and were “seen as being totally suffused with sexuality (Spargo 20). Spargo mentions that the homosexual individual’s actions would all be generalized as coming from his homosexual nature. Many people have “come out,” meaning coming out of the “closet of concealed sexuality” (Spargo 47), and have transformed their lives for the better or for the worse. Spargo says that coming out of this closet may be liberating, but that entails acknowledging the prevalence of heterosexuality, which reinforces the fact that people who remain “in the closet” are still marginalized (Spargo 47). However, this is what PatrickStarrr is trying to change. He wants people who are still “in the closet” as well as those who have come out with their sexuality to feel comfortable and confident no matter their situation. He influences many people, through his vast experiences and connections, to be positive and assures them that being different is completely fine.
Patrick shows that he is very proud of what he does which makes him successful as an individual in the makeup industry. He is very popular in the realm of makeup and works with a large variety of famous celebrities and companies. He travels around the world working with numerous well known makeup brands including Too Faced, Urban Decay, and M.A.C. Cosmetics. He has over 2.9 million subscribers and, on average, earns over 1.9 million views on his videos which means he has over 2 million devoted, loyal fans who watch all of his uploads.
Because he is one of the most popular and renowned male makeup artists, he has the ability to influence this large number of people through making YouTube videos. Encouraging people to embrace who they are and what they love to do no matter what other people think or say, Patrick plays a very significant part in broadening the scope of who does makeup and altering the stereotypical characteristics of a makeup artist.
There are many other beauty influencers just like Patrick who continue to spread awareness and influence the queer makeup industry in a positive way. One of these influencers is Ingrid Nilsen.
Along with her beauty, fashion, and travel videos, she has several others that shed light on her and others’ lives, whether they are in or out of the closet. She posted a coming out video about two years ago on YouTube, and it has attracted a great amount of attention — more specifically, 16 million views. She spoke about her life experiences being gay, as she has been gay for as long as she remembers, and how she had so much trouble suppressing her true feelings and emotions while growing up in a community where homosexuality was not universally accepted. She had to push many people away, especially women, because she was afraid that she would develop feelings for them if she got too close. This video was mostly about her troubles; she had not really experienced life as a confidently gay individual because it had only been a year since she came out to one of her friends and she was only then, through the video, revealing her true self publicly.
Then, a year later, she uploaded a video called, “Coming Out: One Year Later ◈ Ingrid Nilsen,” where she spoke about her experiences being an unyielding, gay individual for a year and how her life has changed. These two videos have influenced many people to become comfortable with themselves, following her as a role model. One such case is my friend from high school. This girl had been the friendliest, most cheerful person you could ever meet. However, after watching these two videos about a year ago, she confidently told everyone the truth about herself and how hard it had been for her to suppress her feelings. She stated that she was indeed influenced by Ingrid Nilsen and that she had had similar experiences such as being in relationships with guys when she knew it was selfish to not be giving her all because it was not was she really wanted. This opened my eyes to how much of a positive impact YouTubers can have on certain people and how they have the power and ability to do so for so many more.
Makeup is a form of expression and everyone deserves the right to express themselves in any way they please. Patrick, as well as Ingrid, continuously works to encourage and build confidence in these people who lack the confidence to come out of their shells. “I AM A MAN,” and similar videos made by others, instills a more welcoming mindset in viewers to be more and continue to be understanding towards difference and diversity. Patrick, as well as all of the other makeup artists who speak out against discrimination, is respected by those who support queer culture, uniqueness, and equality. Thanks to these makeup artists, “men in makeup” are quickly becoming more widely recognized and accepted.
Works Cited
Spargo, Tamsin. The Construction of Homosexuality. Foucault and Queer Theory, Icon Books, 2000, pp. 19–47.
SOCIALPOPBLOG. “Compulsory Heterosexuality and the Social Construction of Sexuality and Gender.” Social Pop, 29 May 2013, socialpopblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/compulsory-heterosexuality-and-the-social-construction-of-sexuality-and-gender/.
Schilt, Kristen and Westbrook, Laurel, “Doing Gender, Doing Heteronormativity: ‘Gender Normals,’ Transgender People, and the Social Maintenance of Heterosexuality” (2009). Peer Reviewed Articles. Paper 7.
