Makeup: Celebrating authenticity and paving the way for a gender-neutral future

Rahil Sayed, and Deep Pathare are two of the most unapologetic stars in the beauty creator space today. Sayed's self-taught skills and Pathare's eye for colour have earned them followers and awards in equal measure. Both creators identify as queer, Pathare as a non-binary gay man and Sayed as a cis-gay man. Their journey towards self-acceptance and fluid gender-expression has echoed with, and inspired thousands of followers and pushes the boundaries imposed by gender binaries. However, while their content continues to break stereotypes, they are also subjected to hateful comments on the social media platforms.

Mid-Day Online spoke to them about the backlash of challenging traditional beauty standards, celebrating their authentic selves, unlearning masculinity, using makeup act as a tool of gender expression and more.

Here are the edited excerpts

By channeling your inner selves through makeup, you challenge traditional beauty standards. Your fabulous content has been irksome to some, who subject you to online bullying and hateful remarks. Tell us about your journey of accepting and celebrating your fabulous authentic self?

Sayed: As creators, we receive a lot of criticism regardless of our gender or sexual orientation. However, being a male beauty creator comes with its own cons. I have faced bullying on the internet in all shapes and forms. From being gay, to being a gay beauty content creator, to being a Muslim gay beauty content creator, there is not one day that goes by without me receiving a hate comment. Over the years, I have almost become immune to these comments. Mostly because of the fact that almost all of them come from kids who have yet to see the world and be educated about things outside of the four walls of their homes. However, it is important to remember that creators play a vital role in visual representation. People get educated about queer identities and the new queer generation can have someone to relate to.

I personally do not indulge in responding to hateful comments for a lot of reasons, mainly, the fact that I see no point. Most of the time, haters do not have a base to make a point on and nothing irks them more than knowing they are unheard. Secondly, you don't bark back at the dogs on the streets. I am also a firm believer that if you don't get hate for your work, you're not doing it right. As a queer artist, I am bound to trigger extremists just by living authentically and if that is going to be a reason for the change, then I'm going to live my life and trigger haters unapologetically and also look fabulous while I'm at it.

Pathare: In my journey of channeling my inner self through makeup, I have faced online bullying and unpleasant remarks for challenging traditional beauty standards. However, I have developed strategies to handle such situations. I fearlessly call out negativity and block trolls when necessary while also choosing to prioritise my mental well-being by ignoring them at times. As an influencer representing the LGBTQIA+ community, I proudly embrace and celebrate my authentic self. I have been fortunate to have a supportive and open-minded network of family, friends and followers. I have always been open and proud about my identity, both offline and on social media. Thanks to the nurturing environment created by the people in my life, I never had to face the dilemma of whether to come out or not. Their acceptance and support have allowed me to freely express myself and embrace who I am.

How does makeup act as a tool of gender expression for you?

Sayed: Makeup has a very important role in my life. I have always been a very creative child growing up. I love learning new things and exploring my creative boundaries. It was my aha moment when I discovered makeup. At first, it was just about how cool it is to be able to transform with makeup, but as the years went by, I realised it was more than just painting my face to transform. I felt a lot more confident with makeup on. I felt more of myself when I wore makeup. It is liberating and it makes me feel beautiful.

Pathare: Makeup allows me to explore and express different facets of my identity, breaking away from traditional gender norms. It is an extremely powerful tool. By using makeup, I can enhance certain features or experiment with different styles that align with my personal sense of self-expression and identity.

As a queer individual, what would you say to those who claim you are ‘redefining masculinity'?

Sayed: Gender expression is subjective. For me, makeup makes me feel just as confident in my masculinity as much as I would feel when I'm not wearing it. The definition of masculinity right now caters to the fragile, egotistical, sexist cis het men that believe men have to look and act a certain way to validate their masculinity. Men can't show emotions, men go to the gym, men don't wear makeup, etc. Anything else is considered ‘feminine'. To the people who claim that I am ‘redefining masculinity' I want to say, that I am not. If anything, I have chosen to unlearn and un-define and choose to live without labels.

Pathare: To those who claim I am ‘redefining masculinity,' I would say that gender is not a rigid construct but rather a spectrum. Masculinity, like femininity, is not fixed and can be expressed in various ways. By embracing my own authentic self and exploring my identity through makeup, I am challenging societal expectations and encouraging others to do the same. Redefining masculinity simply means broadening the understanding of what it means to be a man and creating space for diverse expressions of gender.

You've been creating content for years. Tell us about the evolution you've observed in the beauty creator space in terms of gender inclusivity. What is the one thing you'd like to change?

Sayed: The creative space has been extremely competitive, especially since the lockdown. However, it has also become very inclusive of male beauty creators for sure. It is great to see new and upcoming male creators come through and show their creativity and passion for makeup and do it extremely well. It is great to see them being recognised for their craft. I believe it is only the beginning and the world is yet to see queer excellence at its best.

Pathare: Over the years I have witnessed a significant evolution in the beauty creator space in terms of gender inclusivity. There has been a growing recognition and celebration of diverse gender identities and expressions. Many beauty brands and creators are actively embracing and representing people across the gender spectrum, breaking down traditional beauty standards.

However, there is still room for improvement. One thing I would like to change is the normalisation of gender-neutral beauty products and marketing. By promoting inclusivity and creating products that cater to people of all genders, we can foster a more accepting and diverse beauty industry.

In the Indian context, how far do you believe we are from accepting makeup to be gender neutral?

Sayed: Makeup is and always has been gender-neutral. Makeup dates all the way back to 6000 BCE, starting with the Egyptians. They created it as they believed makeup was next to godliness and that it appealed to the Gods; both men and women of all social classes wore makeup. A lot of things that are considered feminine, such as heels, jewellery, sari, etc were first invented for men. It is only after the colonisation that our country has forgotten its own history, our own culture and manuscripts that prove the existence of queer lives.

It is more about unlearning and going back to our roots to acknowledge the fact that what is considered as the ‘western influence' now is actually the gender fluid reality of our culture and history.

Pathare: In the Indian context, we have seen a gradual shift towards accepting makeup as a gender-neutral form of self-expression. However, there is still progress to be made. Societal attitudes and cultural norms can sometimes hinder the acceptance of gender-neutral makeup, as traditional gender roles and expectations are deeply ingrained. To achieve greater acceptance, it requires education, awareness and challenging stereotypes surrounding beauty and gender. By fostering conversations, promoting inclusivity and highlighting diverse voices, we can pave the way for a more gender-neutral approach to makeup in India. It may take time, but change is possible and we can work towards creating a more inclusive society.