Alexa Ilacad Channels Chappell Roan for "Your Face Sounds Familiar"

The full glam—characterized by shades of pink, white, and blue—was surely a memorable look for Alexa and Hajie’s first time working together. “Alexa reached out to me before to collaborate on a Marimar makeup transition trend, but our schedules didn’t align back then. I was really glad we finally got to make this one happen,” the hair and makeup artist tells Preview.

For the uninitiated, the performer impersonated by Alexa wears a white face on stage. Chappell, an openly queer artist, has explained that the people in her hometown would call the LGBTQIA+ community a group of clowns. Her theatrical look is her way of fully owning it, ceasing the term’s power to be used against her.

Noticeably, Alexa’s look wasn’t the exact same shade of ivory as Chappell’s. Hajie explained, “I had a call with the head of makeup from Your Face Sounds Familiar and went through an orientation about the new rules—specifically about being mindful when toning up or down the artist’s skin, regardless of whether the icon being portrayed is Black or White.”

Well-informed about the artist, Hajie and Alexa tried explaining that Chappell’s makeup is done for aesthetic purposes only, unrelated to race or color. “In the end, we were only allowed to go about two to three shades lighter. Despite the limitation, I think the final look still turned out great.”

When asked how long it took to create her look, Hajie revealed that it was finished faster than anyone would think. “We had quite a short time since Alexa needed to rehearse and get her nails done, so we finished the entire look—including the hair—in just about an hour.”