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Painted: The Politics Behind Every Red Lip

By Kaia Findlay,

Audrey Smith, Anita Rao

Published January 28, 2022 at 9:54 AM EST

A Black woman wearing a bright orange shirt and red pants applies makeup in a mirror. Below text reads: Painted. — The act of painting our faces is far from trivial. The history and culture of products like red lipstick and blue eyeshadow tell us a lot about power and politics.

Anita applies herself to learning the fascinating history of her favorite item of makeup: bold red lipstick. Experts and aficionados tell her about influencers who have shaped makeup throughout history, from Rosie the Riveter to Rihanna, and how the cosmetics industry has evolved over time.

Meet the Guests:

Rae Nudson, the author of "All Made Up: The Power and Pitfalls of Beauty Culture from Cleopatra to Kim Kardashian," takes us through the history of products like bold red lipstick and blue eyeshadow
Dawn Mitchell, a licensed cosmetologist, talks about the history of inclusivity in the makeup industry and why she founded her own beauty and skincare linePretty Till Dawn
Natasha Noir Nightly, an activist and the winner of the Miss Blue Ridge Pride 2018, shares her makeup philosophy and the technique behind her signature look as a bearded drag queen

Read the transcript | Review the podcast

Tags

Embodied Podcast Makeup Cosmetics Diversity Inclusion

Kaia Findlay

Kaia Findlay is the lead producer of Embodied, WUNC's weekly podcast and radio show about sex, relationships and health. Kaia first joined the WUNC team in 2020 as a producer for The State of Things.

See stories by Kaia Findlay

Audrey Smith

Audrey Smith is a writer, educator, and temporary producer of "Embodied" based in Greensboro, NC. She holds a Master's degree in Secondary English Language Arts Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2018) and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Nonfiction Writing from Oregon State University (2021).

See stories by Audrey Smith

Anita Rao

Anita Rao is an award-winning journalist, host, creator, and executive editor of "Embodied," a weekly radio show and podcast about sex, relationships & health.

See stories by Anita Rao