Although the latter may seem absurd because the world has told us how to live, both ideals and personalities should be accepted and not judged. Some people are naturally more socially capable while others are better off living feral in the woods. But, in a nutshell, I would try to express the importance of self-love, independence and an alternative way of thinking about life. Pearl: That’s a bit of a loaded question for me considering my bizarre and outlandish ideas about society, modernism and relationships. What advice would you give to a young person struggling to understand the ways they might not fit in? I wish it gave me the strength that I know it gives other drag queens, but I need more than a costume for that. I know that I am fascinating to look at when I am Pearl, but I am not actually physically or mentally stronger. Pearl: How do you feel on Halloween wandering around in a mask? Probably not very vulnerable because your real-self is temporarily hidden. How do you feel different when you’re in make-up and out of make-up? That being said, I am not limited to what I can create with my hands and as I get older I am realising there are far more important things. Pearl: Make-up and beauty have allowed me to express my creativity, which is a large part of myself. How has beauty and make-up helped you learn about yourself? Pearl: My favourite physical thing about my face is probably my eyebrows, which is ironic because I cover them, and draw new ones on for work. What’s your favourite thing about your face? The only way to stay youthful and alive is to take care of yourself from the inside out. That is all a marketing scheme to sell products so rich people can get richer. Pearl: That you need to apply 20 potions in a skincare line to stay youthful. What is the worst beauty advice you’ve ever received? Understand that hard times are just moments passing by, and quickly at that. Pearl: The best thing you can do to stay beautiful (physically, mentally and emotionally) is to take care of your body: don’t intoxicate yourself, breathe through life’s stresses, realise that your reactions will dictate your journey. What is the best beauty advice you’ve ever received? I am much more fascinated with the human brain and its inner workings than the face attached to it. On a physical level, I am much more drawn to unique traits than the standard conventional idea of beauty.

I’m disinterested in the box that we live in as a society.

Pearl: People should know that beauty is an imaginary standard that we have been brainwashed to idolise. What is the most important thing to know about beauty? I haven’t learned anything about my insides by applying products to my outsides. Pearl: Make-up and gender one has nothing to do with the other. How has make-up allowed you to explore your gender? Humans have five senses and, in my line of work, I have noticed that drag queens often focus on just the visual and neglect other things like scent. Although it gives me a sense of strength when I’m wearing it, I consider make-up a small, singular extension of my creativity that I am grateful to have. I will say that an amazing fragrance is one of my favourite things about portraying an enigmatic figure. Make-up and beauty haven’t made me feel free during my hard times, which are very specific. So yes, I think make-up is superficial although I think that word has a negative connotation. Makeup is a necessity for my job, but not to my soul. Is make-up my only creative outlet? Hell no. Is it a huge part of my career? Definitely. Pearl: Some people can’t leave the house without make-up while others don’t own a single lipstick. Is make-up simply superficial? What does it mean to you? Pearl: What makes me feel most beautiful now is when my intentions are good and I’m able to keep negative thoughts at bay. I didn’t realise that I was gay at that time so I was just very awkward. I knew that I looked conventionally attractive to other people because I was the little boy in school that the little girls had a crush on. Growing up when did you first feel beautiful? I always wanted to leave, which made me very goal-oriented from a young age. This has made me less interested in material things and more interested in the bigger picture. We made do with what we had, which wasn’t much. Pearl: I grew up in a small, gulf-coast town in Florida. Tell me a bit about yourself and where you grew up?

Pearl drag queen naked photosd