Drag Queens Are Taking Over the Makeup Industry (and Honestly, It’s About Damn Time)

Drag queens are jills-of-all-trades: They sew their costumes, perform elaborate lip syncs and apply makeup more skillfully than we'll ever be able to. (Seriously, can you imagine doing a jump split with nary a fake eyelash out of place?) It makes sense, then, that a number of queens are getting involved in makeup behind the scenes. Here are four who are prepped, primed and ready to sashay their way to the top of the cosmetics industry.

On top of winning RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars season three, Trixie Mattel is a comedian (do yourself a favor and binge-watch UNHhhh, her YouTube series with fellow Drag Race alum, Katya), singer-songwriter (her latest single, "Yellow Cloud," is a bop) and budding makeup mogul. Her self-titled cosmetics line is true to her life-in-plastic aesthetic—by which we mean it looks like a '90s toy store fever dream. The initial offerings are a lipstick and two glitter formulas, with more products on the way. Whether or not you'd rock a Buffy the Vampire Slayer—inspired body glitter, it's a nice reminder that makeup really isn't that serious.  

Shop the collection: Sprinkles hair and body glitter ($10); Sparkles cosmetic glitter ($10); Stacy lipstick ($16)

She's back back back again. Alyssa Edwards death-dropped her way into America's heart on season five of Drag Race (and later, the second season of All Stars). Since then, she's starred in Dancing Queen, a Netflix docuseries that follows Edwards's highly competitive dance company. Her first foray into cosmetics is in collaboration with Anastasia Beverly Hills, a Drag Race sponsor since 2015. The Alyssa Edwards palette showcases her Texas-size personality and features 14 cruelty-free shades with tongue-in-cheek names that reference some of her many catchphrases (Back Rolls is particularly delightful). Like Alyssa says, "I don’t get cute. I get drop-dead gorgeous." 

Shop the collab: Alyssa Edwards Palette ($45)

Fresh off an appearance at this year's Met Gala, Drag Race season ten winner and fashion-world fave Aquaria is dipping her toe into the makeup industry via a collaboration with NYX (the brand's first celebrity collection). Described by NYX as "high-fashion space alien meets grungy robotic angel," the ten shades aren't for the faint of heart: they're bold, highly pigmented shades that make a statement whether you're lip-syncing for your life or grabbing happy hour drinks. 

Shop the collab: Aquaria x NYC Professional Makeup Color Palette ($25)

Mayhem Miller might've only been around for five episodes of the tenth season of Drag Race, but her impact outside of the show is undeniable—namely in the form of this meme that was all over Twitter last winter. Now, she's trying her hand at cosmetics via a three-shade lipstick collaboration with Hank & Henry. Heads up, if your taste in makeup is a bit less bold than the previous queen-led lines, this one is definitely the most accessible jumping-off point.

Shop the collab: Party Girl liquid lipstick ($18); Miss Thang liquid lipstick ($18); Prissy liquid lipstick ($18)