Guys! I’ve found my best friend! His name is Zeeshan Ali, and he’s a badass 23-year-old fashion/makeup artist from Bangalore. If you’re gonna look at his Instagram, I swear the first thing to catch your attention is his goddamn perfect cheekbones.

I gave him a call, and the poor guy had a cold. Not that I didn’t. I’ve practically been living on nasal drops for the past week.

“Excuse my voice; I’ve not been well,” he said.

Same.

Anyway, I started with the most generic question possible. 

Tell me a little about yourself.

I am originally from Mumbai. I was born and brought up in Khar, Mumbai. I was actually studying at Grand Medical College in JJ Hospital. I didn’t like it, so I decided to move to Bangalore. In Bangalore, I started studying Physiotherapy and continued for a year, and I got bored again. I spoke to my friend who is a Life Coach, and we had a few sessions of career plans, and I finally decided to do fashion. I’ve never been very creative as a kid but I feel like studying fashion has helped bring out my creativity. After I had decided that, I got into INIFD.

 I am already fascinated by you, Zeeshan.

Next question! What is one stereotype that you would like to break about male beauty standards?

Honestly, I hate the idea of labelling something. ‘Oh, a guy can’t wear heels,’ why the hell not? I try to break stereotypes in my own way. I am just against the whole concept of labels.

 Did you say heels? OMG Heels!

What is your favourite type of heels?

Well, heels, in general, are very hard to handle, but I love wearing them. I love stiletto boots.

Tell me about it! Just when you think you want to look drop dead gorgeous and decide to wear your sexiest pair of stilettos, you find out that the event you’re attending is outdoors. FML.

Anywho, how did your passion for makeup transformations start?

If you asked me something like, how to put on a base coat foundation, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you a thing about it. I have a friend who is a makeup enthusiast. We started playing around with colours and experimenting. Then I realised that using regular makeup daily was boring, so I started changing my style.

 On your Instagram, I noticed that something is always going on your eyebrows. What’s the idea behind it?

Lore #PaintedByZee #PhotoShoot #Bangalore #SelfPortrait #Art #MakeUp #AllInTheNameOfFashion #Amen

A photo posted by Zeeshan (@zeesh.ali) on Jul 4, 2016 at 3:48am PDT

 

It’s just a way to accentuate a few areas that I like. I like to take inspiration from other characters and people and use my imagination to get new ideas for makeup transformations. 

We saw a picture of you with your mother. If you had ever to do makeup for your mom, what would it be like?

My mom is my inspiration for my makeup. She is absolutely beautiful. A lot of the jewelry I use in my makeup transformations are handovers from my mom. If you had to ask me how I would use makeup on her, I would give her a subtle makeup look, because that is what she prefers. Light bronzers and Smokey eyes.

So you don’t contour her face?

She doesn’t need to. She has amazing cheekbones.

 I can see where you get yours from.

You’ve mentioned decisions she hasn’t approved. What were some of them?

Well, when I moved to Bangalore, I did not tell them about leaving medical studies and joining fashion. I didn’t tell my parents about it for a year, so that is something she did not approve of at first but when we spoke about it, they were very accepting.

Any social message you want to deliver with your art?

My makeup delivers a message about being yourself and just letting loose. Just be yourself and don’t give a damn about what others say.

 What’s your favourite makeup transformation?

Gimme a second; I’m gonna have to go through my Instagram. *Laughs * I think I like Florencia and Black Rabbit best.

Look at it! So beautiful and dramatic!

Society is still not very accepting towards men in makeup, so how do you deal with trolls?

I think you need to toughen up. Being a man wearing makeup takes a lot of confidence. You need to be confident about yourself and not let anyone shatter that. 

Ranveer Singh wore nose rings some time ago, and we saw you with a big beautiful nose ring. What one accessory can men work better than women?

I wouldn’t say men can work something better than women. They can both carry it well. I don’t believe in gender based divisions in fashion. But I do like seeing men wearing bold neckpieces.   

Current makeup trend women should try?

I think highlighters are in these days, and I am super-obsessed with them. Let me tell you something. In my free time, I use highlighters on my face and stare at my reflection for hours. 

Reminded me of Poo from K3g- How dare you? ‘Tumhara koi haq nahi banta ki tum itni khoobsurat lago!’ LEL

Any future makeup trend predictions?

I can’t tell if it was from the 80s or 90s, but back then, people used to contour their faces with blush. I think that’ll be popular again.

How do you bring body positivity and modeling together in your life?

In my college years, I was very ashamed of my body. I was skinny and lanky, and I wore oversized clothing to hide that. Now, I am very comfortable with my body and show off the features I am proud of.  

Any art form that inspires your work?

I’m very inspired by Club Kids from New York. They’re basically these people who are emperors and empresses of the night clubs of Big Apple. They have super creative outfits and makeup. I am also very inspired by drag. It is slowly becoming popular in India. I love how it makes you become a totally different person.

You have a few photos on Instagram with a veiled head. What does a veil symbolize in your art?

I like to play around with the veil. I use the veil usually when I am trying to showcase modesty. Veils have been a central part of culture, and I just love how it is beautiful in general.

Give us three makeup products under 500 each that you think are must haves.

One would be Translucent Powder by Essence Cosmetics.

The other one is Sivanna Shimmer Brick for contour and highlighters.

The third one is Kryolan Derma colours.

 Of course, I went off topic and starting discussing eyebrow kits with him. So if you’re into eyebrow kits too, Zeeshan suggests you buy one from Maybelline.

Also, a Protip (Zeeshan says): Use a concealer with a small angle brush to sharpen your eyebrows. You can do the same for lipsticks.

How would you describe your fashion sense in one word?

Fluid. I like how I don’t prefer one gender. I like to experiment with various styles.

 What is your favorite place to shop?

Even though I love brands, I love shopping at thrift shops. In Bangalore, I like to go to the commercial market and in Mumbai, it’s obviously Linking Road and Elco.

 Tell us about the girl who’s in most of your pictures?

She’s my best friend and roommate. We’ve been friends with her for about 2 & a half years now. 

Talk about love and friendship in your life.

I’m a very emotional person. I love my friends and family. They mean a lot to me and I am glad that I have a shoulder to lean on.

All we need is somebody to lean on! *Dabs for no reason *

What is on your Mood board now?

Honestly, I just want to get back to work. I have been very restless. I can’t work because I am sick. I am not used to sitting at one place.

How do you spend your free time then?

I’m not a book reader, but I’ve been rereading the Game of Thrones lately. I’m just waiting for my copy of The Cursed Child to arrive.

You know how my brain takes a 360 spin when someone mentions Game of Thrones. Like, dude, why are we not best friends?

One interior object you’d love to turn into an accessory?

Oh, I’ve been working on it lately. I am trying to make a sweater out of doormats. I can’t sketch, but I love to play around with fabrics.

I have no words.

One celebrity who inspires you?

Charles RuPaul

One model, who inspires you?

Tyra Banks. 

Yes! Tyra is a Queen!

Lastly, what is the biggest fashion faux pas you’ve committed?

I do that a lot, but I don’t want to be judgmental about them because faux pas are actually subjective.

 I went off-topic way too many times. Sorry, I can’t help, but I think I can easily connect with fashion-visionaries.  Zeeshan was very patient in handling my silly behavior. Sorry, I kept squealing, Zeeshan. I just can’t help it.

My GoT and Fashion-loving friend, you have a wonderful future lying ahead of you. You do you and continue being the badass that you are.

That’s all for now.

Until then,

Annyeong!

Picture Source: Zeeshan Ali