There’s much to learn from the drag culture when it comes to beauty. For one, we know they take their makeup routine seriously; and not simply because it’s necessary. Sure, it’s about putting on a show so theatrical and elaborate it's imprinted in the minds of the audience long-after it’s over; but also about being who you want to be in that moment, setting no boundaries as you free fall under the force of your own creativity and imagination. “Drag allows me to show the variety in my performances as well as represent different types of women, queer and trans people,” says performing artiste, actor and drag queen Sushant Divgikr a.k.a Rani Kohenur. “I always knew I wanted to create change and drag allows me to do this through performance art whenever I take to stage or get into drag as RANI KO-HE-NUR.” As you scroll through Divgikr’s virtual life on social media, you’ll witness splashes of his bright, bold, real-life moments that speak of their flamboyant, unrestrained persona. Drag queens inspire you to embrace your individuality, use makeup as a tool to express yourself uninhibitedly, and take very good care of your skin. So we asked Divgikr a.k.a Rani Kohenur how he/she/they does it all.
From Sushant to Rani, a transformational journey through makeup
“Make up plays a very important role in my transformation process from Sushant to Rani. It allows me to express and experiment with different looks and this is beautiful because on one day I might feel like doing a certain makeup look but on another day for another performance, I might want to do something completely different. Makeup gives me the power to do that.”
A drag queen’s makeup routine
“Oh my God! It is hectic. It takes much longer than the makeup other artistes do. Personally, it takes me about 2-3 hours to get into makeup and hair. I start with colour correction and blocking my eyebrows, and end with my lipstick and highlighter. Once my face is done, I start my hair. Sometimes I use wigs depending on what the look requires.”
What inspires Rani
“I have too many inspirations but I especially love Bollywood actresses from the ‘70s and ’80s. I also love the way our goddesses have been portrayed in Indian mythology. My favourite makeup look is the one where I portrayed the Ardhanareshwara avatar of Lord Shiva. I also research and reference international performing drag queens like Violet Chachki, Scarlet Envy, Kim Chi and many others.”
What drag makeup taught me
“I’ve learned that you can never put on enough mascara and that the process of baking can really do wonders for a drag artiste. As for the most important product, I’ll have to say the fixing spray if you don’t want your makeup to crack and seem cakey eventually.”
Taking the drag off
“I have a very very intensive skin care routine. CTM—cleanse, tone, moisturise are the three words that can be a drag artiste’s every day mantra. I usually use baby oil and wet wipes to take my drag makeup off, then apply loads of moisturiser so that my skin to keep my skin supple and not dry after a whole face of makeup through the day.”
Home remedies and skin foods for happy skin
“I drink a lot of milk with turmeric and at least 4 litres of water every day. It works wonders for the skin. I don’t experiment too much with my products because over the years I have understood what products work well on my skin. I’ve also realised that if I keep changing products, my skin tends to break out, so I stick to a consistent routine. I also avoid very oily food and alcohol.”
Also Read:
In conversation with Indian drag's indisputable superstar, Sushant Divgikar
Vogue speaks to the superstar queens at RuPaul’s DragCon
How Maya The Drag Queen is using drag to educate and empower Indian audiences
