In the middle of a bustling mall, where one can easily get lost in the crowd, a makeup station was set up. It was difficult to miss with its signature black shade and a giant wall that served as a board for messages of courage.
Guests slowly came in, not just to try the makeup that was available or to get a makeover. They were invited to express their own individuality, despite hindrances they may have faced.
This was how MAC launched its latest collection, MACnificent ME! The collection features daring colors like deep-red blushes along with delicate lilac lipsticks, all of which seek to help each of us show who we really are.
This collection also comes with an unlikely story; instead of choosing the usual, perfect models, MACnificent ME! is accompanied by the tales of six seemingly ordinary individuals from around the world. Luzmaria, Trésor, Vanessa, Selena, Ji Won and Ben are the current faces of the collection.
Each of them turned their struggles into a success.
Trésor is a transgender who has finally come out and accepted his true self. Luzmaria, who struggles with her body weight and is hardly acknowledged back home, is now the center of the camera’s flash.
Selena, a 46-year-old woman, overcomes the restrictions of youth-obsessed culture by wearing what she wants such as leather jackets and violet-dyed hair. African-American Vanessa is now comfortable with the kinks and curls in her hair that got her in trouble at school.
Ben, with his rock star ’do and undone shoelaces, represents men who aren’t afraid to wear eyeliner. Ji Won overcame sadness following the death of her closest friends by pushing herself out of her comfort zone.
As the afternoon wore on, more guests came to the station and were more than happy to share their own stories. Personalities like Kelsey Merritt, Mari Jasmine, Isabel Roces-Trebol, Cat Antonio-Arambulo and Gretchen Fullido stopped by and had their portraits snapped by fashion photographer Pat Dy.
All of us are on a journey toward individuality. We seek to find ways to define ourselves and express our insights in the world. In this season’s MAC collection, it looks like we’ve been given the tools to help us do just that.
