The pandemic might have put a damper on gleefully crowded Pride celebrations, but stars hailing from the television, film and music industries came together virtually to honor and recognize the LGBTQ community at Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter’s second annual Pride Summit and Prom on Saturday.
Following a day full of insightful conversations about LGBTQ representation in the media, social justice and mentorship, YouTube makeup artist Patrick Starrr, Jennifer Lopez’s hairstylist Chris Appleton and style expert/TV personality George Kotsiopoulos shared tips on how to achieve Pride Prom-ready looks.
The beauty gurus showed off their favorite Pride looks, including Appleton’s wavy half-up half-down hairdo, and Starrr’s glittery rainbow eye makeup. To complete his Pride mug, Starrr used all Black-owned beauty products, ranging from Rihanna’s Fenty foundation and face mist to Pat McGrath’s eyeliner, in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Kotsiopoulos put a few of his friends and colleagues in everything from a sequined blazer to metallic pumps to a rainbow cape: “I love a cape, it’s like going out wrapped in a blanket and it kind of makes you feel like a superhero,” he said.
“We’re here to support Pride, we’re here to support trans lives, we’re here to support the LGBTQ+ lives, and most of all we’re here to support Black lives,” Starrr said during the livestream.
Starrr also urged his viewers to vote and to be agents of change, mentioning a number of organizations, including The Trevor Project. The second annual Pride Prom and Summit also supports The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.
“I believe beyond makeup, we can make the world a little bit more colorful by being inclusive, by making political change and that starts with all of us right here,” Starrr added during his tutorial.
Pride Prom, emceed by Shea Diamond and DJ’d by Tracy Young, saw a number of uplifting messages, prom memories and words of advice from influencers and industry names, many of whom are part of the LGBTQ community themselves. Billy Porter, Hayley Kiyoko, Noah Cyrus, Cyndi Lauper and Margaret Cho were among the stars who encouraged viewers to keep the party going safely, despite circumstances.
A version of this article originally appeared in The Hollywood Reporter.
