Drag Queen Transformation & Beauty Tips with Gothy Kendoll

Drag culture has become somewhat of a phenomenon! The elaborate makeup, hair, clothing, and performances have come a long way from their beginnings when women weren't allowed on stage so men would dress up as the female parts to bridge the gap. Thankfully, we're a long way from those days now and drag culture has gone on to become a worldwide celebrated form of entertainment!

But with that being said, drag is not just a type of performance or what you see on stage or the TV, but it is a form of self-expression and a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and Pride.

In honour of the gender-bending form of beauty and expressionism, we have teamed up with UK drag queen and DJ Gothy Kendoll to shares their drag transformation with us, plus a few insider beauty tips and tricks!

Drag Queen Transformation

Ever since Gothy was first persuaded by their friends to go out in drag on New Year’s Eve 2016, they've been hooked! The self-taught makeup artist, who appeared on the UK’s first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race, describes their transformation into Gothy as ‘a constant journey’. Having learnt the basics from their drag family, affectionally called the Haus of Kendoll, and by watching YouTube tutorials, Gothy makes it look easy transforming into their full-glam drag look!

Check out the video below to see how they do it, from glueing their eyebrows to creating the most mesmerising eye look!

Gothy’s Drag Queen Beauty Tips

We couldn’t sit down with Gothy for a chat about all things drag without asking them to reveal some of their top beauty tips and tricks!

How do you prep your skin ready for drag makeup?

"I shave around 5 minutes before getting into drag, and I always find a bit of aloe vera helps reduce irritation. Plus, I apply lots of moisturisers too!"

How do you create the best drag brows?

"I love a super arched thin brow in drag and super thick bushy brows out of drag; a glue stick is a drag queens’ best friend for blocking out your brows. After covering the brows, I usually go in with an under brow highlight and set that with super-stark white powder. That way, you can gauge where the drag brow needs to be and how much eyeshadow you need to fill the space between your eye and new brow."

What’s your trick for creating a flawless base every time?

"Use the most full-coverage foundation you can find and set it with copious amounts of powder applied with a powder puff to ensure it stays in place for as long as you need it to. A mist of setting spray helps eliminate any powder left on the face."

Drag queen gothy kendoll posing on shoot infront of an orange background

What’s your top tip for creating statement eyes?

"Glitter! It just adds to the drama!"

Is there such a thing as too many pairs of fake lashes?

"Yes! Many drag queens pile on the lashes, and it hides all the hard work you put into creating a new eye shape (or, for some, covers the mess they made!). I favour lashes that give a bit of drama, but you can also see the crease and shadow work you spent a long time on!"

Top tips to ensure your lips stay in place all night?

"Straws! No one wants their lips all around the edge of a glass. Lip gloss can be a nightmare too, but we all love it! Just be sure to take your gloss out with you and keep reapplying."