Original Magazine x Tyra Harrison
Growing up on the internet is a double-edged sword.
Ironically, it seems as though every website and social media platform is inundated with examples of how negative worldwide connectivity can be. The concept of freely shared information frightens more often than it delights, but I must remind you: the sword has two edges.
For every incel intent on spreading misinformation, there is someone equally dedicated to teaching their audience skills and sharing experiences that would otherwise remain out of reach. Enter Tyra Harrison: a daughter of the internet and an example of how it can triumph.
‘I’m completely self-taught.
Well, taught by YouTubers, basically.
I just consumed so much of it when I was thirteen years old. From there, I just did my makeup every day. I think you just have to find your niche online where people love what you do, and you love what they do. Without the internet, I wouldn’t have ever seen that people can do this to their face. Well… Drag Queens obviously, but I didn’t really know I could do that too.’
The Australian-born makeup artist has carved out a space for her creativity online after years of diligent study, but unlike her predecessors, Tyra has used the internet in its complete duality. She has learnt to wield both edges of the sword. This was especially true when it came to finding her iconic face (most notably her deliciously overlined lips).
Harrison first drew her now-iconic accentuated lip shape for a Princess Peach-inspired look in 2021. When that video went viral on TikTok, she had a rather unexpected reaction to the internet’s response:
‘Once I started getting hate for how I was drawing them [her lips], I knew they were good. I was like, this is it. I feel like everyone who created something iconic started getting hate before people thought it was good. It’s very drag. When I used to do makeup on other people, a lot of people would say “please don’t make me look like a drag queen”. I always wondered why they said that. That’s all I want!’
With almost 925,000 followers on TikTok alone, Tyra’s once-unpopular base makeup has gone through hundreds of iterations as she explores her creativity. Her fans have come to expect grand concepts for film premieres and horrifying Halloween looks.
Despite her adoration for themed events, Original Magazine gave the MUA complete creative freedom when it came to designing her editorial look.
‘Most of the time my looks do start with what I’m wearing. Once I tried on the outfits, I was looking on Pinterest. I was looking at Pat McGrath (my mother). I was looking at Doja [Cat], obviously, my other mother. I wanted to do a glitter base, but I also wanted contour in there. Otherwise, I’ll cry. I was also kinda making some of it up as I was here.’
Tyra’s fashion-forward approach to creating is unsurprising. She revealed to OM that she had been collecting Vogue magazines since she was fourteen. With a personal style based on bold colours, innovative textures, and the same playful inventiveness that defines her makeup looks, it is clear that fashion is integral to her visual inspiration.
‘I am a bit evil – so I definitely have opinions. Stay at home if you’re going to be boring, I don’t want to see you… just kidding!’
‘There was one post office in Sydney that would do Australian, British and American Vogue and I would get all three. I love to watch couture fashion week in Paris. I plant myself with a little cup of tea and just wait to see what crazy things are being produced. I am a bit evil – so I definitely have opinions.’
You would be forgiven for becoming consumed by mistrust on the internet or for believing that anything can be taught through one endless scroll of an online platform. What Tyra Harrison represents is the middle ground between these two extremes. Equal parts follower and original, this MUA has found a way to listen to both the cruel and the kind, building on physical and digital references to evolve her artistry. As online culture continues to develop, it will be a joy to see what Tyra Harrison does next.
Talent: Tyra Harrison
Photographer: Laura Braithwaite
Stylist: Josephine Herfst
Garments
Look 1:
Shoes, Hat, & Shorts By:
@lenaangelides
Coat By:
@sl333pingbeauty
Look 2:
Hat By: @dan.campton
Gloves By: @daisyb0w
Dress By: @violagibellinii
Styling Assistant: Elisha Bratley
Editors & Creative Directors:
Emily-Grace & Michael Morgan
Studio: Tiny Room Studios
Words/interview by: Anya Duncan
Creative Assistant: Georgia Anthi