When it comes to drag artists having a strong aesthetic, few can touch the winner of Season 7 of RuPauls Drag Race; Miss Violet Chachki. Her unique, Bondage/Beauty aesthetic and tiny waist wowed the audience as did her debut single, the raunchy and provocative: Betty. (Anyone else left with a weird complex about jello after watching it?)
The starlet has just released her second single, titled Vanguard.Which is off of her newly released EP called GAGGED. (Review to follow).
The video is a visual masterpiece with outfits to die for, insane levels of creativity and ...fight choreography. Unlike many of the cliche drag music videos Vanguard does not feature twerking Andrew Christian models, instead it goes for provocative imagery and a detailed story arch.
It is also lovely to see some of Violet's aerial skills, one for the people who say the reigning queen lacks talent. Vanguard is a masterpiece and is certainly the best video to come from a drag race contender.
*This product was kindly sent to me by the lovely people at www.mypure.co.uk all opinions are my own.*
Hair removal is often a painful, laborious task and can often involve harsh chemicals or plastic based waxes which are bad for the skin and the environment. Because of this I wanted to try something more gentle and natural.
This wax is by Acorelle and is a natural sugar-based wax with soothing and moisturising Ylang Ylang oil. Included in the box is a 300g jar of sugar wax, a spatula, 12 washable waxing strips and written instructions.
The first thing I noticed about this wax is how GORGEOUS it smells. It smells so beautiful. Sugary and floral like an exotic desert it really is scrumptious smelling. I honestly would wear this as a perfume if I could.
The wax melts at a really low temperature which I really like. You can melt it in the microwave or over hot water (I prefer that method as you are much less likely to overheat the wax and burn yourself). It applies to the skin really smoothly and doesn't drag the hair as it is applied.
The wax removed 100% of hair first time for me which is really surprising to me as I usually have a horrific track record with waxing (despite my beauty therapy qualification). It left the skin feeling very soft and left behind some of the delicious scent.
Another amazing thing with this wax is it is water soluble. Meaning it is not the end of the world if you spill it on a towel, the carpet or anything else. It also makes removing any residue much easier.
This wax spreads very thinly on the skin so a little goes a long way with it making it great value for money!
If you have never tried waxing and are looking to ease into it, or you are a waxing veteran who is sick of the sticky, messy, traditional plastic-based waxes then this is PERFECT for you.
You can buy this product HERE from the lovely people at www.mypure.co.uk
When it comes to drag queens achieving mainstream success, few ever make it as far into the spotlight as Drag Race Season 4 contender Willam Belli.
Willam found infamy when she became the first (and only) queen to be disqualified from Drag Race for breaking the rules of her contract. Since then she has become hugely successful online with her comical parodies of chart songs and her Willams Beatdown series.
Willam's songs have millions of hits on YouTube and her song Boy Is A Bottom currently boasts over EIGHTEEN MILLION views. She has just released her eagerly anticipated second album titled Shartistry In Motion.
If the name doesn't give it away Shartistry In Motion is a crude comedy album with slick production and tongue firmly planted between cheeks. It would make any middle-aged housewife die of shock and it is tremendous fun.
The album opens with the retro number Coin On The Dresser. It is a heavenly slice of sordid disco realness. A song about prostitution has never sounded so damn good.
Next up is Ride For AIDS (feat Alaska 5000). It is a parody of Taylor Swifts blank space for HIV/AIDS awareness that manages to be both hilarious and charitable. ("I'm a fuckin saint" )Willam really does deserve credit for managing to fit the word Schmorgesborg into a songs lyrics. The lyrics are well crafted and at times hilarious. "Please don't sue us, Taylor Swift we're do-gooders"
Track number three features season 4 legend Latrice Royale. It is titled Thick Thighs and it is twerking paradise. The song is crude, offensive and absolutely HILARIOUS. It also features some amazing production too. This song will do amazingly live and I can see it becoming popular in gay clubs around the world.
Track four is the single American Apparel Ad Girls (feat Courtney Act and Alaska 5000).
The video for this track was released eight months ago for the American Apparel campaign of which the three queens modeled for. However, the track is far more than a mere advert. It features some great lyrics, production and by far the best vocals Courtney has put on any track.
UCC (Feat Rhea Litre) is up next. It is the most slowed down track on the album. It is very easy listening. Both Willam and Rhea deliver very impressive vocals on this track. Whilst it is not a stand out on the album it is by no means a poor track.
How Much Can't is track number six and it is a delight. It is everything a good Willam song should be, crude, funny, well produced and mocking someone/something. It is another fun, dancey track which sounds at its best when blasted loudly.
Track 7 is Es Una Pasiva (aka Boy Is A Bottom in Spanish). There are no words for how funny and catchy this song is. Willam delivers some brilliant vocals and looks stunning in the video.
The final track is titled Only Anally. It is a parody of Unconditionally by Katy Perry. The lyrics would probably be considered crude by 98.2% of the population, but that is what makes Willams work so much fun. I am sure Katy Perry wishes she paid someone to write this version of the song instead of the original version.
Although Shartistry In Motion is only eight tracks long it is a very solid release. There are no filler tracks and every song is bound to get stuck in your head (probably at the most inappropriate moment).
Top Tracks:
Thick Thighs (feat Latrice Royale), Coin On The Dresser, How Much Can't, Ride For AIDS.
You can purchase Shartistry In Motion from Amazon, iTunes or your local clinic.
*This product was kindly sent to me by the lovely people at www.mypure.co.uk all opinions are my own.*
When it comes to skincare, the sensitivity of skin can be one of the hardest things to cater for, especially during the summer when irritants like pollen, dust and UV rays are at their highest. There are so many triggers for any sensitivity of the skin and it is so important to use the right skincare for sensitive skin types. Natural and organic products are by far the kindest to sensitive skin as they generally lack the common irritants which can cause reactions to sensitive skin. Trilogy is an amazing brand that creates high-end natural skin, hair and body care products and they have an amazing range of products designed especially for sensitive skin.
This is Trilogy's "Very Gentle Moisturising Cream". It is a Day/Night cream designed for sensitive/reaction prone cream. This is how the product is described.
"A particularly gentle moisturiser, designed to nourish, hydrate and comfort even the most sensitive and easily irritated skin.
Soothe and protect the weakened skin barrier and care for easily irritated skin with our deeply hydrating and comforting cream. Nourishes and revitalises with extra care it also helps fine lines and wrinkles appear visibly smoother.
Combines natural spring water and soothing Calendula with calming Chamomile. Breakthrough botanical complex SyriCalm reduces redness and inflammation, while protecting the skin's natural barrier function. Olive and Evening Primrose nourish while plant-derived hyaluronic acid reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
The packaging on this cream is gorgeous. It is very minimalistic, simple and elegant. I really love the white and nude design. The product itself is packaged in a 50ml squeezy tube which cleverly reverses the colour scheme on the box.
The cream itself is a very thick, unscented cream. It delivers good hydration and sinks immediately into the skin. I love the fact that it is very moisturising but does not feel greasy or sit heavily on the skin.
It has an immediate calming feel on the skin. It makes the skin feel soothed and relaxed. I can see it being wonderous for sensitive skins or skin that has been at all damaged or irritated. (Especially good for going on holiday if you are at risk of getting sunburn).
I am honestly blown away with how good this cream is. As well as being good for sensitive skin, it is vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.
I really recommend trying this product if you suffer from hypersensitivity of the skin. It feels so cooling and relaxing on the face. You can buy this cream HERE from www.mypure.co.uk
When thinking of the future of Drag as an art form there are very few queens who push Drag in a different direction as much as the transcendentally beautiful Miss Fame.
Miss Fame is a make-up artist, model, performer and musician based in New York and recently competed on the seventh season of the Logo series RuPauls Drag Race where she wowed viewers with her "Beyond this planet beautiful" aesthetic. She has just released her first album titled Beauty Marked.
Beauty Marked was released during a time where EVERY Ru-Girl had some form of album/single/video to promote. However Miss Fame has managed to create an album which doesn't sound like just another drag album.
The first thing we noticed upon our first listen of this album, is how high the production value is. Everything feels very slick. Every beat and note is very precise and atmospheric. In terms of sound, this album has a wonderful, retro, early Madonna vibe which reeks of quality and opulence.
Beauty Marked has a very diverse array of sounds and tempos. Rubber Doll, Miss Fame (feat Alaska Thunderfuck), Zero Gravity and I Run The Runway (feat Violet Chachki) are all fast tempo electronic numbers with relentlessly catchy lyrics. They would not sound out of place in any club and the production value is incredible.
For a drag album Beauty Marked is filled with slowed down tracks. Diamond Life, Solid Gold, Smoke & Mirrors, All We Are Is Magic and Give Me Glamour are slow tempo, haunting tracks which sound very reminiscent of early Madonna. The sparse, modern beats serve as a seductive backdrop for Fames vocals and really set Beauty Marked apart from other releases.
Vocally this album is very solid. Miss Fame delivers her vocals very confidently and it really shows in each track. However, it is lyrically where Beauty Marked REALLY shines. Every song tells a story and each lyric is well crafted and polished until it gleams.
Top Tracks:
Rubber Doll, Miss Fame (feat Alaska Thunderfuck), All We Are Is Magic, InstaFame.
