Ziwe’s known for her high-octane and dynamic aesthetic as much as her sharp cultural commentary. And while her bold sense of style is eye-catching on its own, Ziwe’s full look wouldn’t be complete without a full face beat. When it comes to makeup, similar to her outfit choices, Ziwe is able to keep things pretty and playful without sacrificing sophistication. (Think striking finishes and pops of color.) In e.l.f.'s new social-first show, Vanity Table Talk, Ziwe deconstructs her makeup look, sharing all of her beauty secrets for the audience. Below, Ziwe spills even more tea including what middle school was like for her, how My Super Sweet Sixteen influenced her makeup journey, and more.
Photo: e.l.f. Cosmetics
Photo: e.l.f. Cosmetics
What was middle school like for you?
“That is such a triggering question. I was really into As Told by Ginger and all of those coming of age shows, like Clarissa Explains It All. Middle school was me living my main character fantasy, thinking I was this super emotive pre-teen. I had a band. I played the electric guitar. I really wanted that kitschy, Nickelodeon teen life so badly.”
You’ve mentioned in a previous interview that, growing up, you had an aversion towards pink. What was your relationship with makeup like when you were younger?
“My mother was a beauty queen so I kind of rebelled against her and I didn't want to put on makeup. Then I started watching America's Next Top Model and I remember watching Tyra [Banks], and then Naomi [Campbell] had this show called The Face. Then I got really into doing my makeup with eyeshadow and lots of glitter and painting my nails. I started off as a real big tomboy then slowly found my real self.”
How old were you when you became more comfortable with playing around with makeup?
“I would say freshman year of high school. Because when you're a freshman in high school, you see the seniors at the dining hall and you're like, ‘Wow, Brit is so cool. She has blush? I should get blush.’ And I would go to CVS with my allowance and buy e.l.f. products.”
When you were first shopping for makeup, did you run into the issue of not being able to find shades that worked on your skin tone?
“It definitely took me a minute to find my color match. What was really nice actually about the shoot we did for this e.l.f., Vanity Table Talk, was that there were so many shades that matched my color exactly. And we kind of mixed and matched so I could have the perfect blend on my face. But yeah, it took me a minute to find my skin tone, but once I got in my bag, I never looked back.”
My mother was a beauty queen so I kind of rebelled against her and I didn't want to put on makeup...I started off as a real big tomboy then slowly found my real self.
I know you mentioned your mom was a beauty queen. Did you have any other beauty icons or influences growing up?
“Absolutely. I mean, Naomi Campbell is the single reason I love beauty and fashion. She was a huge influence on me. But I think I dress as a character. I like to wear pink and I feel like Barbie. So Barbie was probably a big influence for me, and Bratz as well. "I wanted to be a doll, I feel like I am a doll, and I was influenced by the dolls."
Did you want to recreate their looks or were you just inspired by them in general?
“I think I was inspired. I don't even find makeup to be extra. It was so complimentary to my daily life as a teenager. I saw these really regal women and I wanted to be regal as well. I grew up at the boom of reality TV. My Super Sweet Sixteen was really popular when I was a kid. You'd see these regular kids and they'd have their big birthday moment and they'd get full glam. And the way that it was scored, the music was so triumphant, I wanted to have that same feeling as well. Makeup helped me feel that way.”
When you do your everyday makeup look, are you still in that mode of creating a character or is it a more stripped-down version?
“Both. I can do high-low. So I'll put on some [e.l.f.] Camo Concealer when I'm going to the grocery store or running errands. But then when I go to a birthday party, I'm going to do a full contour with a highlight and blush on the cheeks, and a nice winged brow. So it really depends on the event; I exist wherever my mood finds me.”
What is your definition of beauty now?
“I think that beauty is when you can honor yourself. Honestly, I remember being a kid and wanting to look so much like the people I saw on MTV. Now, the older I get, the more I’ve found who I was, what I wanted to do, and what beauty habits I enjoyed and gravitated towards. So for me, beauty is the true self.”