Bo Quinn is the self-professed drag clown making works of art out of make-up wipes
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Courtesy of @bo.quinn
NAME BO QUINN
AGE 23
LOCATION East London, England
STAR SIGN Aries
CELEBRITY CRUSH TROYE SIVAN and his house.
“I graduated from uni in the first lockdown and haven’t done much but sit on my bedroom floor doing make-up looks since then,” explains Bo Quinn of their journey from Fine Art student to iconic beauty artist and self-professed drag clown. Since taking to Instagram to showcase their work at the beginning of what was the year no one could have predicted, Bo’s at-home make-up looks have garnered them an international following.
Despite being thrust into the limelight all within the space of a year, Quinn believes their success has been years in the making. “Make-up has definitely been a journey and something that happened quite organically,” says the Hastings-born creative, who was first introduced to artform through face painting. In fact, it was only in their final year that they started to embrace make-up in their work. “I started to merge my drag and my art more and soon realised I could be my own walking canvas.”
On Instagram, their work is instantly recognisable; their feed plastered with iconic ‘Swipe for Wipe’ images, in which their clown-inspired make-up looks are immortalised through transfer onto a face wipes. “I once accidentally printed a clown mouth onto a wipe and thought it looked cool… so I just started to collect them from there.”
Although describing their work as bold, colourful and futuristic, their now iconic clown looks were first created out of insecurity. “I started doing clown face paint looks, genuinely because I had no ‘real’ make-up skills and I felt like I would never be the gorgeous stunning drag queen with my big boy nose and acne,” they explain. They now acknowledge this wasn’t the case at all but credit their original ‘spooky’ clown looks for giving them enough confidence to first leave the house in make-up back several years ago.
Like most people within the creative industries, lockdown hit hard for Quinn who became stuck at home during the final year of their degree. However, they now see lockdown as a blessing in disguise as it forced them out of their comfort zone. “Although lockdown has been rubbish, it allowed me to sit back and think about what I want to do and has allowed me to flourish,” they say.
When I ask what advice they’d give to the young people who look up to them, they answer: “Be confident in yourself and your work, stay true to who you are and don’t take no for an answer.” However, having fans is still something they’re yet to get used to. “I don’t know if I’m qualified to give advice as I feel like I’m one of those young people still trying to make my way, figure everything out and work to be taken seriously.” With their confident approach to their craft and an ever-growing online following, it’s easy to forget this is still only the beginning for Bo Quinn.
Jessica Carroll: What do you listen to when you are working?
Bo Quinn: At the moment I’m obsessed with SHYGIRL & ASHNIKKO.
JC: Who would be your dream celebrity to work with?
BQ: I would love to paint FKA TWIGS face one day - I love her.
JC: What is your biggest pet peeve?
BQ: I don’t like when people brag about things. I find it really weird.
JC: Where will you be heading first when lockdown restrictions end?
BQ: Any nightclub that’ll take me.
JC: Most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?
BQ: There are too many, I get anxiety thinking about it.
JC: What’s the most underrated beauty brand?
BQ: SAMPLE BEAUTY! I’m obsessed with their shimmer pigments.
JC: What meal would you make on a first date?
BQ: Pie & Mash. Can’t go wrong.
JC: What has been your career highlight so far?
BQ: GIGI GOODE following me on Instagram – a gag!
JC: You can only watch one film for the rest of your life. Which do you choose?
BQ: How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.