The Unexpected Way Women and Men Are Using Makeup to Memorialize Orlando’s Fallen
A photo posted by Lucie Casaccia (@lucie.cscc) on Jun 15, 2016 at 5:26am PDT
In the days after the Orlando, Florida, shooting, it is easy to feel helpless. But many are finding their own way to support and honor the 49 people who were shot and killed early Sunday. Some donated blood. Many rushed online to donate money to the victims. Others gathered in large groups for vigils, like in front of the Stonewall Inn in New York City, the U.S. Capitol and in the Soho neighborhood of London. A few got tattoos.
Now, people are looking to makeup to show their support for not only the family members and friends of the fallen, but all members of the LGBTQ community.
Over on Instagram, using hashtags like #Orlando, #LoveWins and #PrayForOrlando, women and men are painting their lips in a rainbow shade….
A photo posted by Pearlie Pumpkin (@pearlie.pumpkin) on Jun 15, 2016 at 5:13am PDT
”Those who know me understand why I’ve chosen to do this,“ Carrie Cain, who goes by the Instagram handle Pearlie.Pumpkin, wrote. “I have done this makeup in order to show my respect to those who were taken so brutally in #Orlando. I wanted to do this sooner but I just couldn’t find the time but here it is! This violence needs to stop!”
A photo posted by Caryn Labus (@caryn.labus) on Jun 15, 2016 at 5:13am PDT
In an interview with Mic, Cain further explained why she wanted to use makeup in particular to show her support.
“I am bisexual myself and wanted to show my support for the LBGTQ community in the best way that I knew how. For me that way was through makeup,” she said in an email. “Makeup is hugely popular on social media so it makes a massive impact when people come together to show their support in this way."
On Instagram, plenty of men and women are also going for more extreme rainbow makeup looks, covering both their eyes and lips.
