Insider Beauty with Scarlett BoBo
Scarlett BoBo,
Toronto based drag queen
and current finalist on
CANADA’S drag race,
sits down with us to share
her career, beauty secrets, and what’s next!
BY BRITTANY SINCLAIR
1. Can you share with us how you began your career in drag?
I started doing it for Halloween back in 2006. I went out with my mom. I was a slutty nurse and my mom was Marilyn. We went out to a few bars and someone said I was really good. Which I know was a lie because I looked like a mess. Then someone said I should do a show. I was like hmm…I don’t know. I don’t think I am up to doing something like that—a full time gig. But I went for it and started at Helsinki. I performed one of two numbers, Radar (Britney Spears) or Like Me by Girlicious. It was hilarious and I didn’t think I was good at all, but people started booking me. It was a hobby that turned more into a career when I moved to Toronto. The ball kept rolling and a lot of doors starting opening up for me.
2. With piles of online videos and social media outlets, drag has become more accessible now for individuals wanting to get into it. Back in 2006 when you started none of that really existed. How did you find your way into building your look?
Back when I started in 2006, you kind of needed to have your drag family. There was a place on Bang Street (Ottawa), where you would have to walk through a Chinese grocery store to the back and then go up this really seedy staircase. Upstairs there was this wig store. You would have never known where this random hidden wig store was. Everyone who didn’t want to go to the regular wig store and get made fun of, would go there. You would be able to try on wigs and no one would be like “Ew, what’s that guy doing trying on wigs.” You wouldn’t really know about that unless you had your drag family around you. I was really lucky because I had Janette BoBo, who has know passed, and Tenora BoBo with me. They really helped me set everything up and gave me the tools to work with and then say, “Go make some art with it.” Working at makeup counters gave me more knowledge of where to put things but I still made mistakes.
I remember the first time I tried to highlight and it was just white streaks that looked like I was going to war. I didn’t know how or what blending was. Now drag is more accessible fore sure. You can Google anything about drag. It gives people more opportunities to explore themselves more. When you used to start off in drag it was one thing you did. You were just a drag queen that wore a wig, lashes, and some heels and performed to some pop songs. Drag is so different now because there are so many different people online being like its ok, look at all the things you can do. You can be different. You can be weird. Back then you definitely needed someone to guide you along, but now I feel like YouTube and everything else online it’s more accessible, which I think is really cool. Even for me, when I need inspiration for something I want to do, I can scroll through online, find three things that inspire me and mash them together.
3. How would you describe your approach to drag?
There is so much about drag that I love. Before getting on drag race I said to myself, “I am not going to do one face the whole time.” I’m really happy I’ve already gotten to show multiple, different sides of my makeup. I do love makeup, and I am a makeup artist at heart. It makes me happy to create fun things out of nothing and look at a palette and see how I can use every single one of these colours in a way that’s going to be really cool. I’m really happy I get to showcase that.
4. Do you have any icons that inspire you?
I love the golden era of Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe. Just that soft glamorous beauty makeup. I love Charlize Theron, Pink, Bif Naked. I can go from getting so dolled up with the Marilyn hair and the specific makeup of her and someone like Lucille Ball. To then go to wearing short hair, smoky eyes, a big bold red lip, a leather jacket and a body suit, while hanging down off something. I feel like I get all of those parts from my mom. She would go from doing regular day makeup, to seeing her come home and get ready to go to the club. She would add that really fierce red lip and darken up her eye makeup. I thought that was really cool! She showed me there really isn’t a rule in makeup. You can always transform your looks into something else.
A bold red lip for sure. I love a big winged out liner and a cut crease that never touches. I’ve been doing that for a long time. A nice sharp glitter brow. I ALWAYS have a glitter brow on, no matter what. People hardly ever notice your brows. It’s a way to bring the look all the way up and recognize the full makeup.
5. Do you have a signature look?
6. Do you have any makeup tips and tricks for anyone starting out in drag?
Brows are an essential part to creating any drag look, but can also be one of the most difficult things to master. Using a brow stencil is a great way to help guide you through the process. I always tell people, your makeup isn’t going to be perfect when you start. It’s going to take you a couple months. Even makeup artists have a tough time. Try new things. Every time you do your makeup use a different product, until you get the hang of it and find what works for you.
7. We are excited to see what’s next in your career. Do you have any exciting projects you are working on?
I‘ve been asked to write a book, which I am really excited about. I’ve had a really crazy life and I want to show the other side of drag. A lot of people think drag is about makeup, hair, glamour, rhinestones, but drag has also a really crazy other world. Where queers have to fight harder than others to get ahead in life. People don’t really see that all the time. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I am going to start.
I have two new singles that dropped recently. Drop the Money with Goddexx and Qu’est Ce Que Fuck. The EP comes out in October. I’ve also got a few viewing parties coming up that people can come and attend My goal is to have a little makeup line. Maybe a palette or a Scarlett BoBo collection with an essential red lip and wing liner bullshit. I would LOVE that!
Check out @ScarlettBobo for more information on upcoming events, fierce looks, and hilarious content!