TikTokIt's time to get you glam on because this weekend we’re heading to Manchester for Pride! 👑🌈
We’re pleased to announce our partnership with Manchester Pride, a historic weekend that seeks to recognise the historic global impact of the LGBTQIA+ community and to raise awareness on issues affecting them today. In the lead up, we are excited to spotlight creators and spaces that showcase the amazing visibility and power of the LGBTQIA+ community on TikTok!
To kick things off, we’re super excited to introduce @KardiBlacMUA! As a makeup artist and drag queen, she’s all parts iconic and the perfect creator to welcome in the weekend!
Whether you’re a cut-crease connoisseur or an eyeliner entrant, Kardi Blac has you covered with videos ranging from how to contour to a bold and dramatic drag look. She also takes us through behind-the-scenes moments including photoshoot footage, go-to products to get started with drag, and the classic TikTok beauty transformation.
If, like us, you can’t get enough of Kardi Blac, make sure to go find her at the TikTok Sanctuary at Manchester Pride this weekend for a safe space to relax, recharge and reflect!
Having joined the platform only last year, Kardi’s growth has been nothing short of incredible and we can’t wait to see where she goes from here! This week we chatted with Kardi about the best bits of Manchester Pride, her favourite queer creators and what Pride means to her.
What does Pride mean to you?:
Pride to me is a celebration of being yourself. It's sticking up for your right to be you. No matter your gender, sexuality, race or culture, Pride is for everyone. Pride to me is also a protest to society's way of pulling us down, with casual everyday homophobia, transphobia and racism which is found in every major media outlet these days. LGBTQ+ people are always at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to human rights and equality, so Pride is our time to stand up for ourselves and celebrate who we are.
What are you most looking forward to about Manchester Pride this year?
This will be my second time at Manchester Pride! I am looking forward to a fabulous event with a strong message behind it. I believe now more than ever that people are not afraid to be who they are. People are no longer afraid to speak their truth. I am looking forward to being a part of a strong community of people who love to celebrate who they are.
What first inspired you to create on TikTok?
To be completely honest, I was super late joining TikTok! I began creating video content for other platforms back in 2017. I joined TikTok in 2021 as I saw a large group of LGBTQ+ creators creating fabulous content on the platform. I could learn makeup, hair tips and all sorts of amazing life hacks, whilst also being entertained! I saw this as a fabulous opportunity to create my makeup tutorials for drag queen beginners on the platform. Creating tutorials is what I do best, and a quicker, easier-to-access tutorial is much more beneficial to my audience whilst also being incredibly entertaining!
Why do you think TikTok works for your content?
I believe TikTok has the best algorithm for queer creators right now. We don't get shoved away because of what we do or who we are, our content gets seen by thousands of people who are looking for very specific content. For example, my content is Drag Queen Makeup Tutorials and hacks, which is very specific and hard to search for, but TikTok makes it incredibly easy for me to be found, and for my content to be appreciated by thousands of people.
What is your goal on TikTok?
My goal on TikTok is to teach beginners in makeup and drag how to do it like a pro. All I wish for is to teach new queens, crossdressers, and trans women that makeup does not have to be difficult or expensive! I want people to think of me when they need to know how to do a makeup technique, or where to find the best makeup products.
What other queer creators are on your For You feed?
I actually think most of my feed is queer creators! I follow fabulous artists who create similar content to myself such as @styledbyesther, @baileyjayemills, @officialkalo and @victoriamykles0.
What do you love most about the TikTok community?
I love the fact my content gets seen by new people every time I upload, and the love they share for my content and other queer creators too. There are a lot of drag fans on TikTok who don't do drag themselves, but love the transformations! There is a unique sense of love on TikTok, which you can't find anywhere else!
What is your favourite TikTok you have made to date and why?
One of my favourite TikToks I have ever made is my Drag Queen Body tutorial! This is because I am always insecure about my body, and to show it on camera for 20K+ people to see is absolutely nerve-wracking! However I knew this tutorial was never done before on TikTok, and it is one of those videos people can go back to and look again and again. It's a staple video that will be around for a long time.
New to TikTok and want to learn more about Manchester Pride? It couldn't be easier, simply download the app for free via the Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon!
