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They’re beauty powerhouses.
The B-Side
Traditionally, the “B-side” refers to the flip-side of a record.
They pull the references, scour the archives, and paint the picture you see on the big screen.
The celebrity, model, or actor is the single with the most air time.
But the glam team?
They’re the producers, conductors, friends, and family.
For lack of a less ubiquitous phrase, they make it work.
Because the origin of a look is just as important as the look itself.
The backstory deserves its own hard-earned glory.
[We connect on] our formative experiences as trans women of color," Smith explains.
Their similar background makes communicating and executing a beauty vision easy for Smith.
“On top of all of that, Laverne is brilliant, knowledgeable and compassionate,” Smith shares.
And after spending a nine-hour day with her, I couldn’t agree more.
It felt sultry and simple against the two headpiecesand Cox worked the hell out of it.
Art and beauty have always been the central focus in Smith’s life through a range of various mediums.
Smith continues, “Then, my ‘aha moment’ came after losing almost everything.”
She realized her talent for makeup artistry could elevate her into a brand-new life.
She tells me about the ever-present highs and lows of working as an artist in New York City.
I ask about her favorite on-set memory and she doesn’t skip a beat.
I had never done a major motion picture before and felt pressure to learn fast.
“One day we were shooting overnight.
How is this possible?
Deja Smith, great job!'
It’s one of my favorite looks we’ve done on anyone to date.
But now, the makeup artist utilizes beauty as a tool to invite others into her uniquely beautiful world.
And, I must admit, it’s a stunning place to be.
They’re her friends.
Smith cares of the work, the vision, and her creative family.
Show up early with a great attitude.
Perform your craft with excellence and pride.
Be nice to everyone.
Never forget to be grateful for each and every possibility.”
Dee TrannyBear exclaims as we begin our interview.
“She really made us realize the importance of activism,” they say.
Dee was born in Italy and grew up in a a small village in Bavaria.
They got into beauty quite early on, working at a salon at age 14 every day after school.
“But my ‘aha moment’ was in junior high school,” Dee tells me.
They continue, “I got to ‘beautify’ the cheerleading team with my best friend.
That’s when I discovered how much I love doing hair.”
“It was pretty exciting,” they share.
But, breaking into the editorial world in NYC was challenging.
I had the chance to collaborate with some amazing people," they say of that time.
Those collaborations helped Dee garner a reputation, and from there, their career flourished.
Cox’s first hairstyle was inspired by a classic French twist, but Dee added a modern spin.
It was half bouffant, half twist and super sculpted.
“It’s chic and fun,” they say of the look.
The second was all about the headpiecesfirst the red jewels and then the silver chains.
Underneath, Dee slicked the base and created a ponytail.
But the silver accessory called for volume.
“I added a full textured tail, they describe, “like a warrior queen.”
Dee offered up their own definition of beauty during our time together.
“Beauty is what you make it.
Outdated ideologies [created this notion] of boxing beauty into stereotypes.
Anything can spark a look!”
“The beauty industry has a long history of exclusionary behavior,” Dee says.
“Breaking that circle is one of the most empowering feelings.”
As for career highlights, they have a hard time pinning down just one specific moment.
(In fact, Dee once used a leaf blower to add movement to a client’s hair.)
But, they tell me, one of the biggest highlights was establishingDouble_D_Productionwith Deja Smith.
“It’s our bias-free hair, makeup, and image consulting production company,” they explain.
“It uplifts in the intersection of beauty, art, performance, and community.”
The third and final look on set was one of Dee’s favorites.
“I’ve never been able to do locs on Laverne, they tell me.
And, let me tell you, they moved with elegant ease as Cox danced all over that set.
Dee has so much love for the work and the other people making it in this business.
Look into your local beauty schools to get your credentials.
From there, it’s possible for you to go anywhere with your skills.”
