Getting To Grips w/ Gigi

Mental health is a topic that’s often shied away from by marginalized communities. Most of our ancestors, our grandparents and our parents spent their lives trying to survive and trying to make sure that we had better lives because of it. Now, in the face of what feels like two pandemics for black people and other communities of color, survival seems to be at the forefront of our minds once again. Generations later we are still fighting for our lives which begs the question what does it look like to survive? And, how does the idea or action of thriving fit in during times like this? For Alexa Gissel Gonzalez, better known as Gigi, doing makeup helps her feel productive and keeps her anxiety at bay. It’s been five years since the mental health advocate started using her face as a canvas and she has no intentions of stopping her artistry or advocacy anytime soon.

What piqued your interest in makeup?

I developed an interest in makeup when I was exposed to the beauty of editorial makeup in magazines and on runways. It sparked my decision to use my face as my canvas to create.

When did you start doing your own makeup?

I started doing my makeup when I was a junior/senior in high school. It has been 5-6 years and I’m willing to create until I grow old.

When did you start providing makeup services?

I did a little bit of freelance when I was 19, but I rarely do it now due to my tight schedule and focusing on my studies.

What inspires your looks?

Everything. I view everything around me as my inspiration - to expand my ideas of what I can create.

Describe your experience of building a brand online as a makeup artist.

It started out as a harmless Instagram account of my personal life, but once I began creating more and more, it became my journey of my own brand as a creator. As a small creator, it’s not easy to grow organically, but numbers do not matter to me. What matters is my relationship with my art, which I’m proud of, and inspiring other artists that have become my motivators.

What social justice causes/topics of discussion are you passionate about? Do you incorporate any of them into your makeup?

I’m passionate about mental health awareness, minority justice groups/movements (Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+, etc.), and the environment. I have not created any looks with these topics or causes in mind because I tend to just speak my mind instead.

How have you been impacted by COVID-19? And what role has makeup played in your life since "sheltering-in-place" restrictions were mandated?

I would say COVID-19 has affected my mental health negatively as it has worsened my ability to stay productive and anxiety-free at this time. With so much time on my hands, I go to makeup to help relieve my stress and negative thoughts - it helps me to do what I love. Having the enjoyment of creating looks has helped me tremendously during this quarantine.