In September 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon arrived at the WBBM-TV studios in Chicago to participate in the first television debate between the two major U.S. presidential candidates. Physically exhausted from a grueling campaign schedule, Mr. Nixon looked pale and exhausted, but he declined a make-up artist’s request to refresh himself.
As the cameras began rolling, Nixon began to sweat due to the hot studio lighting and the layers of suit, shirt, and tie he wore. Sweat beaded on his face and he appeared awkward and nervous to his 65 million viewers as his eyes darted back and forth to the clock just off camera. Ta. In contrast, challenger Kennedy appeared refreshingly confident. Whether or not Nixon’s appearance that night cost him the election is still up for debate, but politicians have rarely left things to chance since then.
In September 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon arrived at the WBBM-TV studios in Chicago to participate in the first television debate between the two major U.S. presidential candidates. Physically exhausted from a grueling campaign schedule, Mr. Nixon looked pale and exhausted, but he declined a make-up artist’s request to refresh himself.
As the cameras started rolling, Nixon began to sweat due to the hot studio lighting and the layers of suit, shirt, and tie he wore. Sweat beaded on his face and he appeared awkward and nervous to his 65 million viewers as his eyes darted back and forth to the clock just off camera. Ta. In contrast, challenger Kennedy appeared refreshingly confident. Whether or not Nixon’s appearance that night cost him the election is still up for debate, but politicians have rarely left things to chance since then.
Politics should focus on policy, but it cannot be denied that appearance is important. Since the 1970s, candidates running for public office have been trying to dress more sympathetically because politicians’ clothing can influence voters’ perceptions. After Watergate, politicians slowly began to shed the layers of their coat-and-tie uniform.
First, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton campaigned in just shirts and ties (no jackets). In the 2010s, it was common for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney to campaign in just dress shirts (no ties). When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sought the Republican presidential nomination last year, he ditched the dress shirt altogether and opted for a fishing shirt instead.
Cosmetics are an under-recognized element of political appearance, which is ironic since gender expression is currently a hotly contested political issue. Men who discuss traditional masculinity on TV often wear powder, concealer, and eyeliner themselves. Of course, the hidden nature of cosmetics can also be by design. “My goal as a makeup artist is to remove anything that gets in the way,” said Misha Lewis, founder of Misha Rennie Artistry, a Washington-based hair and cosmetics company. “Visible makeup can be distracting. The key is to make sure your audience focuses on your message, not something on your face.”
Lewis spent 11 years at CNN and before that doing hair and makeup for Al Jazeera, which means she has brushed up on most of the men in Congress. Her clients include President Joe Biden, the late Sen. John McCain, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Secretaries of State John Kerry and Mike Pompeo, former Sens. Bob Menendez and Matt Gaetz. This includes members of the House of Representatives.
Currently, Lewis is Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s sole hair and makeup artist, wearing her makeup not only for her television appearances but also for any event where she is scheduled for a photo shoot.
For many men, the thought of a brush gently passing over their cheekbones can cause uncomfortable gender anxiety. When that happens, Lewis has some advice. “I always tell them, ‘Cameras don’t have friends, and you’re not going to be their first friend,'” she said. , it often takes just a few minutes to heal dark circles, puffy eyes, and oily skin. “People are very critical,” Lewis added. “If a man is bald, his head might glow because of the studio lighting. People will see it first and then miss what they said.”
We spoke to Lewis about what men on both sides of the aisle are doing right and wrong when it comes to cosmetics, and how these issues may impact the way people view each political figure. I asked them to consider it.
former president donald trump
Lewis suspects that President Trump uses a combination of concealer and bronzer, but he applies it excessively and incorrectly, which is why the orange color of his skin is frequently talked about. This is the reason why. “His skin is fine-textured, especially on the nose and between the eyebrows. When choosing someone’s foundation, it’s important to choose not only the right color, but also the right formula that can effectively hide the texture. ” she said, adding that President Trump’s uneven application revealed his true skin color under his eyes and in his ears.
If Lewis were working on Trump, she would neutralize Trump’s uneven features and apply makeup in a color that approximates his real skin tone. “He obviously prefers darker colors, so I warm up his skin but don’t make it look too artificial,” she said.
president joe biden
US President Joe Biden participated in the presidential debate held at CNN studios in Atlanta on June 27th. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In the most important debate of this election cycle, Mr. Biden failed to convince Americans that he was qualified for the job. He often appeared lost, slack-jawed, and seemed to stumble through questions, further fueling suspicions that he was too old for a second term. It couldn’t be helped that the color seemed to drain from his face. Mr Lewis suspects that the make-up artist that night unintentionally hid his natural color. “He looked very pale, which surprised me because he actually has quite a bit of color in his natural skin,” Lewis said. “He also looked a little uneven, as if someone had tried to emphasize his cheekbones.”
If Lewis was doing Biden’s makeup that night, she would apply just a touch of powder to keep him from looking too bright, then check the color monitor to determine if anything else needed to be done. I would have.
Senator J.D. Vance
Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance speaks at a rally in Waterford, Michigan, on October 24. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Ever since Sen. J.D. Vance became the Republican vice presidential nominee, rumors have swirled that he wears eyeliner (or, derisively, “guyliner”). In early August, his wife Usha Vance addressed these rumors in a written statement to Pac News. “They are all natural,” she wrote. “I’ve always been jealous of those eyelashes.” Even Vance’s running mate has expressed admiration for his “beautiful” blue eyes and long eyelashes.
Lewis agrees and thinks Vance’s eyes are natural. “If he wears eyeliner, it’s going to smudge or smudge at some point,” she says. “His under-eye line won’t be perfect. … So many men and little boys have perfect eyelashes. He looks great on air.”
Governor Tim Walz
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks at a campaign rally in Tucson, Arizona, on November 2nd. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is bringing a unique energy to Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, in part because he’s an everyday, outspoken Midwesterner. This is what they claim to be. At rallies, his job is to get the crowd going for the vice presidential candidate and encourage people to get out and vote. But Waltz often turns red with excitement during his many stump speeches.
“He gets a little too heated when he talks,” Lewis said. “I don’t think they controlled the oil or mattified his skin before applying makeup on him.” If Lewis were to work on Waltz’s work, he would apply a neutralizing agent as a primer. After that, I’ll probably apply an airbrush foundation that doesn’t come off even when I start sweating. “For people who get red easily, you can use a green cream as a neutralizer. Once you get red, you won’t see the red anymore,” she says.
Congressman Matt Gaetz
Congressman Matt Gaetz speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
When Congressman Matt Gaetz took to the stage at the Republican National Convention in July, social media was abuzz with suspicions that he had received Botox. His cheekbones were prominent. His arched eyebrows were very well shaped. But Lewis thinks the make-up artist may have overdone it due to time constraints. “I think they filled in his eyebrows too much, and I wouldn’t have put bronzer or blush on his cheeks,” she said.
Gates’ unusual appearance that night suggests that improperly applied makeup can be just as distracting as not wearing anything at all, ultimately drawing attention away from the person’s message. This is a good example of this.
Governor Gavin Newsom
California Governor Gavin Newsom will speak in Philadelphia on September 10th. Brian Dozier/Variety, via Getty Images
Before and after every presidential debate, prominent voices from both parties speak to the press to tell the best story for the candidates. Shortly before Harris and Trump took to the stage in early September, California Governor Gavin Newsom was already predicting a Democratic victory. He was wearing his usual uniform. He wore a navy suit with a white collared shirt and a calm blue tie. However, according to Lewis, his face could have used a little more color.
“Makeup has winter/spring colors and summer/fall colors,” Lewis said. Newsom’s face that day lacked the warmth one might expect from events in early September, she observed. If she had done his makeup, she would have just applied a light powder to allow his natural color to show through.
Governor Ron DeSantis
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16th. Joe Radle/Getty Images
Last year, when Mr. DeSantis was campaigning for the Republican nomination, rumors spread that he was wearing a lift inside his black cowboy boots. DeSantis has become one of the most vociferously anti-LGBTQ+ members of Congress, so any suggestion that he is tiptoeing has given momentum to his critics.
It turns out that the governor may also be wearing cosmetics. “He’s wearing way too much makeup in this photo,” Lewis said. “Someone drew his eyebrows too big. He also wears layers of foundation, powder, and concealer, so they look thicker.”
Lewis said all she needs is someone to remove the oil from her skin, apply an anti-shine cream and airbrush her with a special foundation to finish her skin. “Foundation has a blurring effect, so it reduces fine lines when someone is on camera,” she said.
