TikTokAs part of TikTok's Pride Month celebrations, we recently spoke with Irish creator and makeup artist @iconicaidan to discuss his makeup journey and the Pride community on TikTok.
Q: What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means to me being confident and comfortable in who you are and what you do. As gay guy who is a makeup artist I can express all my emotions through my artistry and makeup and help others express their inner Pride and help them become confident and comfortable in whom they are with their Pride.
Q: What do you love most about the Pride TikTok community
The Pride TikTok community is so accepting and welcoming. It represents all variety within the LGBTQIA+ community and everyone helps each other express themselves and who they are.
Q: What first inspired you to create content on TikTok?
The first thing that inspired me to create on TikTok is obviously makeup. As a young version of myself who had no confidence TikTok was a very safe environment for me trying makeup for the first time. Creating my very first tutorials hooked me on makeup for life because makeup really expresses who you are as a person.
Q: How did you get into makeup and what other makeup creators inspire you?
I have always loved art and painting even as a kid but I first started getting into makeup was back in 2018 which feels like a century ago now. I started watching tutorials and kept practicing and practicing in a room by myself. When I felt like I was getting better I said I have only one life I might as well make the most of it. I created a public TikTok account and started posting which I nearly had an anxiety attack every time I posted as I was in school at the time and I didn’t even come out publicly yet. I guess TikTok was the way I came out as everyone saw me doing makeup so I guess TikTok really changed me as a person and helped me become and embrace the person I am here today. When I first started watching makeup tutorials the makeup creators were @jeffreestar and @jamescharles who were the biggest at the time.
Q: What other LGBTQIA+ creators are you loving on your For You feed?
There are so many LGBTQIA+ creators I love so much I have to say @max_balegde is an icon at the moment he doesn’t do much makeup but is absolutely hilarious and would make you laugh straight away. Makeup wise I say @zakheath who is a glam makeup icon!
Q: How do you like to celebrate Pride month?
As an introvert, I would love to go to the Pride parade and have promised myself that next year I will go. Usually I create colorful makeup moments and tutorials which others can recreate for their Pride celebrations.
Q: What is your favourite TikTok you have made to date and why?
There are so many makeup looks and videos that I have created, so it's hard to pick a favourite - but one of them would be I was to say my most recent lewk would be my Effie trinket hunger games recreation. Art wise, I would say my recreation of the starry night by Vincent Van Gogh I absolutely love this look so much I even did a pink version I loved it that much.
Q: What is your favourite recent trend on TikTok?
My Favorite Recent Trend on TikTok’s makeup wise is the #underpaintingmakeup technique that went viral it really can shape your face naturally rather that applying piles of makeup.
