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March 2006 Edition Of ExcellenceDu'Bois' Dish By Nicole DuBois (MGA 2006)
From the desk of Larry & Terry
As many of you are preparing for your preliminaries, you must ask yourself many questions about your competition package to ensure that you do not loose any points, for as the Miss Gay America 2006 pageant revealed, every point mattered, therefore you should look for ways to improve your overall competition package to ensure that you are not giving “point advantage” to your competitors. One of the most common questions that we continue to receive is concerning evening gown. We are constantly asked if, during Gown Competition, do we prefer a sequined/beaded gown, when compared to the fabric gown. Our answer is always that it is not necessarily what we prefer to see in Gown Competition, as we are not the judges however, we are of opinion that either can be very elegant and compliment a contestant. Also, either can be harmful to the overall score of the contestant. The answer to the question of beaded or fabric is not clear and should not be given as a “blanket answer”. It all depends on the particular contestant. The Miss Gay America system is known for being the best of the best and while most of the winners have won with beaded/sequined gowns, we see times changing and more often, we see contestants competing (especially in preliminary contests) in fabric gowns during competition (some with success and some without). We caution that careful consideration should be made regarding gown selection. We have heard many state that a particular style gown is not suited for the “Miss Gay America system” when in fact it may not be the gown that is the issue but rather the contestant. A gown in and of itself can be a very elegant creation…until it is placed on the contestant, then it takes a personality of its own. Gown category is comprised of a possible 150 points (with four (4) subcategories as detailed below): Suitability of the gown (0-30 possible points)- You must remember than not every style of gown will look great on every contest. Questions you should ask yourself include…
You should not attempt to remedy an ill fitted gown with pads, as usually this creates an unnatural look. A sleeveless gown may look great on one contestant, and awful on another. A fabric gown may compliment the figures of some, while insult the figure of others. Suitability of the hairstyle (0 to 20 possible
points)- Presentation (modeling, poise, smile) (0-40 possible points)- Questions you should ask yourself include… We have seen some contestants that can put on a pair of tennis shoes and walk like a princess, then put on a pair of heels and walk like a “linebacker”. Typically, gowns that look and sound heavy, while being modeled do not score as well, when compared to gowns that look lighter. General appearance (makeup, hair, condition of gown,
accessories, shoes etc) (0-60 possible points)-Questions you should ask
yourself include… The only general advice that should be given regarding Gown competition is that gown is the most elegant phase of competition and is clearly THE category that you must completely, without question, show the judges the illusion of a female. Other categories can disguise the illusion with costuming, props dancers etc., but again, gown competition focuses on the contestant and his ability to create the illusion of a woman, not the illusion of a man in a dress. We see far too many times, that someone has purchased a gown from a person who scored well in that particular gown, only to see that the person who recently purchased the gown did not score well because the particular style of gown was not flattering to the body and was not tailored. WE rarely hear of someone purchasing a gown that does not require alterations? We even see some who have pads sown into their gown to ensure that their look in the gown is consistent. It is all about fit, color of gown compared to color of hair, accessories (although not over powering), smile, poise, relaxation and naturalness in modeling that comprise the overall look that will score well. The judges immediately know whether they like, or dislike, your gown competition as soon as you step onto the stage. The first impression is certainly lasting during gown and if there is a prominent flaw to your gown presentation, that flaw will be evident at first glance. In conclusion, that you must practice, practice and practice again. Practice walking in the shoes (or a pair exactly like them) to ensure familiarity with choice of shoe. Practice modeling in the gown, to ensure comfortable familiarity with the choice of gown? Practice modeling to different types of music. Gown is the one category, for which you have complete control, including makeup, hair, fit and modeling technique. Other categories such as talent, there is always the risk of dancer error, prop setup error, wardrobe malfunction but again, there is little or no reason for not being prepared for gown competition. The answers for gown lie with you the contestant, and your level of comfort with your gown competition, therefore you should plan ahead to ensure the highest possible gown score. Until next time… TAKE IT OFF....... by Sherrie Thrasher, MAC Artist Wash the makeup on your face away........or it adds 10 days. That's what my grandmother use to tell me as a young girl growing up. I use to laugh at the thought but still listened to her advice. Well.....she couldn't have more right. Removing your makeup after a long day or performance is just as important and applying it. We get caught up in the transformation of makeup and the confidence it gives us, sometimes we never want to take it off, or its been a long night and we decide to be lazy and fail to remove it. Makeup can completely change the way we look while we wear it, and if we don't properly remove it, the changes it makes to our skin are less attractive. As a makeup artist, I know there is nothing more important than the skin on which makeup is applied. Cosmetics can change the shape of our eyes, lips, and face, but the skin is the canvas on which we create our art. Are you treating it with the respect it deserves? I work with MAC cosmetics
exclusively, so I will speak in terms and products of which I am familiar.
Having said that......I am not saying there are not many products from different
companies one can use to remove makeup. The most important message in this
article is to remove the makeup. First of all......soap won't cut it. Think of
it as taking a shower with your clothes on. Most all soaps and facial
cleansers are designed to be used on a makeup free face. Whatever you use to
remove your makeup, it must say on the product that it is designed to do this.
Read the writing carefully on the packaging, you may be surprised that nowhere
on your cleanser does it specify it is capable of removing cosmetics. 1. MAC wipes - These lightweight, durable wipes are designed to be used on both sides. They can be used to remove all makeup on your face except around the eyes. They can cut thru creamy foundations as well as liquids and powders. These are great for those of us who need an extra push from time to time to remove our makeup before bed. I keep them on my nightstand. Great for performers.....just wipe down after your last gig, and walk outside with your skin feeling incredibly soft and clean. They are non-drying to the skin and no need to follow up with water because they leave no residue. Great for your gym bag as well. 2. Everyday Lotion Cleanser - Great for all skin types......but a normal to drier skin will love it. Removes all traces of makeup but should not be used around the eye. A drier skin may prefer not to rinse with water, but instead just wipe off the skin. It leaves skin feeling incredible soft. 3. Green Gel Cleanser - Great for all skin types......but a normal to oilier skin will favor the foaming action of the gel cleanser. This cleanser removes makeup while leaving the skin fresh and clean. It has soothing ingredients and can calm over- stressed skin. This product must be rinsed off with water. It should not be used to remove eye makeup. 4. Rinse off Cleansing Oil - This is the product all performers love. While any skin type can use it, the feel of an oil can turn some people off. This product is non-comedogenic and will not clog pores. It takes all cosmetics off with ease. Drier skins may choose not to rinse afterward, while an oilier skin may want to wash and rinse their skin after using this product. Oilier skins tend to like a more squeaky, clean feeling on their face. This product can be used all over the face. 5. Pro Eye Makeup Remover - This clear, water-like product works quickly and easily to remove all eye makeup while being safe to use around the eye area. It won't irritate your eyes and works great for contact wearers. You should use cotton pads to remove your eye makeup properly, using gentle swipes instead of a back and forth motion. Remember, the skin around your eyes is the most delicate on your face. I hope these tips help all of you to understand and practice safe makeup removal. Please remember that all of the products listed above are allergy tested, non-comedogenic, and fragrance free. You will notice a smoother, softer skin with less imperfection in only a short time. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding cosmetics at sthrashermacartist@yahoo.com. I will answer your questions as quickly as possible. Sherrie Thrasher has been a professional makeup artist for 12 yrs. She has worked exclusively for MAC Cosmetics for the last 9 yrs. She lives and works in Memphis, TN.
Hello my
friends, my name is Darrell Cantu, AKA Lauren Taylor and I wanted to share with
you some great tips to beautiful make up. A Note From The Editor
The Excellence strives to be an informative newsletter delivered to the promoters of the Miss Gay America Pageant System throughout the year. Should there be any issue or topic of discussion a promoter would like to see addressed (or to write an article to be published) in a future newsletter, please contact the editor via
Email.
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Article
By Darrell Cantu, AKA Lauren Taylor (MGA 1997)
