Being a girl who wears makeup only once in a while, I give a lot of respect for those people who put in the time patience and effort into slaying the makeup game on a daily basis. The day I craft the perfect flick of winged liner without having to start over three times will be glorious day. If you haven't heard of James Charles, then please take a minute to admire the mastery that is his makeup capabilities.
Look at the blend on the smokey liner, the striking pop art, and that blinding highlight!
At 17 years young, James Charles has achieved what most makeup addicts dream about: his own campaign with the iconic beauty brand CoverGirl. Between high school and his new found fame, he's still battling the normal teenager struggles such as applying for colleges. In an interview with The New York Times, James explains how his humble roots and love of makeup helped him achieve his dreams:
Before I did makeup, I did hair. For one of my best friends, I did her hair for a military ball at a local school, and she was an hour late for her makeup appointment at a local counter, and she asked me to do her makeup.
I'd been watching makeup tutorials for years and years but I'd never actually done it. And I was like: "Girl, I will do your makeup. But if you look awful, I'm not taking credit for it." She was, like, "OK, we'll do it because I have no other option." And she ended up looking absolutely stunning.
I wanted to continue. I bought a starter set online. I did my friend's makeup for fun, not charging them anything. Then I started charging $5 or $10. And then I'd take that money to buy new brushes or new equipment. After about three months, I made my Instagram page. And here we are, one year later.
One of the biggest boosters to his Internet fame was his Senior pictures, originally shared on Twitter which were shared back in September. In order to show off the hard work put into his flawless makeup look, he retook his senior pictures, this time bringing his own ring light in order to ensure the photographer could capture the brilliance of his highlight. His pictures were tweeted and re-tweeted across Twitter and other social media platforms until they received the ultimate nod of approval from one of CoverGirl's elite, Zendaya.
James Charles isn't the only guy changing the face of the makeup industry. Big league influencers such as Jeffrey Star, Bretman Rock, Patrick Starr, and Manny MUA have all been educating the rest of us on their mastery.One scroll through a makeup addicts Instagram feed can show you that guys have been influencing the makeup game just as much as the girls have.
If you think male influencers in makeup trends are a recent occurrence than think again. Have you heard of contouring? Who hasn't. Unlike popular belief, Kim Kardashian did not invent contouring. Drag queens have been chiseling their cheeks bones for a long time and only recently has this technique caught on in mainstream makeup. Drag queen's influence can be seen in many of today most popular looks. Glittery eyeshadow, overlined lips, cut crease eyeshadows, highlights, and big hair have all been veteran secrets of the trade in the world of drag.
For now, James Charles is still in awe of his sudden rise to fame and hopes that his role as the newest spokesperson for CoverGirl inspires other girls and guys to find what makes them truly happy and pursue their dreams. Despite what any nay sayers or haters may think, James won't let it get the best of him and offers solid advice: "Everyone has the right to their own opinion. I'll just continue to do me."
