Donni Davy is a Cosmetic Genius: Here’s Why
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
Euphoria took home a plethora of Emmy awards at the Creative Arts Emmys this past Tuesday, but the outstanding contemporary makeup award was the recognition we all had our fingers crossed for. While we all know they had it in the bag, Euphoria did have some serious competition. Nothing to worry about, though, because Donni Davy (Euphoria’s head makeup artist) took it home. This may not shock the many fans of Euphoria, but most would be surprised to learn exactly why these makeup looks have been trancing viewers since the beginning. Millions of videos have surfaced on the internet, including 30-second Tik-Toks and 30-minute-long YouTube videos of Euphoria-inspired makeup looks.
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From the moment the show aired, people developed an obsession. The glitter, the drama, the bold lip, the elongated wings, and so much more had anyone and everyone in a chokehold. This was the first time we had seen such dramatic yet glamorous makeup looks (maybe Kesha, but let’s be honest, we were twelve, and our parents were not the biggest fans). No show or movie ever dared to put gems and sparkles on their characters walking into high school. This bold move turned out to be revolutionary in the beauty world. We watched a shift from soft glam to Euphoria glam, with countless viewers stepping out of the house with glitter dripping from their eyelids and wings that elongated to their hairline (I mean all the way to our hairline).
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We see different trends in each character; however, they each have their own what I like to call “makeup personality”. Maddy had super dramatic eye looks- which we see Cassie start to copy in season two, whereas Lexi kept the bold retro look for her sophisticated personality. Each of these trends we see in each character has a meaning behind it. These makeup looks tell stories and create character development. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that Euphoria's Donni Davy is a cosmetic genius. If you look at her Instagram (@donni.davy), trust me, you’ll get it, but let me explain exactly why she is a genius.
Image Courtesy: Donni Davy
Davy explains that Cassie keeps natural makeup with light shimmers across the eyelids and soft pastels because she wants a girly, innocent seeming look for her character. As season two progresses, Cassie earns her wannabe Maddy looks and rocks bold liners with darker pigments. We see these transitions even before the drama arises, which Davy does on purpose to push the foreshadowing through the looks.
Image Courtesy: Donni Davy
For Maddy, we see sharp lines and bold rhinestones that emulate her own bold, sass-driven personality. Davy also mentions in an interview with Allure that Maddy (portrayed by Alexa Demie) had a lot of say in these looks, she knows what looks good on her and had ideas to progress Maddy's looks in the second season.
Image Courtesy: Donni Davy
In the opening episode of the second season, we see even sharper, longer eyeliner on Maddy because the purpose is to show she’s radiating very powerful, striking energy. Maddy has thick black eyeliner that you can see from across the room while banging on the bathroom door and throwing insults at random creeps, while Cassie sits on the other side of the door with her “innocent” shimmering eyeshadow while she quivers with anxiety after hooking up with Nate. Maddy's makeup is a replication of her intimidating but powerful nature while Cassie’s emulates her cowardly, “dumb-blonde” energy. Donni is bringing characters to life with palettes and lip liners, and her talent does not go unnoticed, rightfully so. We’re seeing a change in beauty cinema, and Davy brought it to life. This Emmy is huge for her, and we can’t wait to see what she brings for season three as well as what she may bring outside of Euphoria.
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Writer: Ella Selph
Editor: Addy Crosby
Graphic Designer: Sam Lawless
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