How did these advertisements impact you on a subconscious level? 
I grew to really become obsessive about them. They caused me to reevaluate my body, my size, my weight; and I’ve gone in and out of stages of disordered eating or body dysmorphia. 

How do you want to see beauty advertising evolve in the future?
All inclusive and more challenging of toxic conventional beauty standards and stereotypes.  

What is still lacking from current beauty advertising? 
There is still a huge issue of power-dynamics on set. Lots of photographers taking advantage of models, and issues of consent. There are still certain stereotypical standards many companies and agencies have for “beauty”; a lot of that is white, cis, skinny, and able-bodied. 

Did you always know you wanted to model and what encouraged you to actually pursue it?
Hahaha I think I used to maybe fantasize about being a model, but once I got involved in the industry, it really turned me off.  I wouldn’t even call myself a “model”, I rarely do it anymore unless someone presents me with a project I'm really interested in. I mostly started out just doing it for fun and a favor  to friends who were photographers/ film-makers/ designers, etc. 

 What do you think you personally bring to the fashion and beauty world?
Oh god, I think plenty of people have much more to offer than I do. I really just take part in projects that interest me and because of that, I’m honest when it comes to modeling and how I present myself. 

CORAL JOHNSON-MCDANIEL

What’s your preferred name & pronoun? 
Coral, They/Them/Bitch

Where did you grow up? 
East Texas (Tyler, Texas)

Growing up what was your first thought of the beauty world? What did it represent to you?
Growing up my babysitters were drag queens, strippers, bikers, and punks. When I saw beauty ads growing up, it didn’t make sense as to why I didn’t see people like them in commercials, magazines, and billboards. Crazy as it sounds, it represented something false to me at a really early age because of that.

What are your earliest memories of viewing a beauty advertisement? Do you remember how it made you feel?
I always wanted to be a “Covergirl”, because the commercial was always so fun and cute to run around saying, striking poses for my mom. It was the early 2000s, again, not a lot of people who I was raised around were on those commercials so it left me really confused about my own image. I wanted to grow up to be as fabulous as my misfit nannies but the world told me they weren’t beautiful enough to be seen. That was damaging at a young age. 

How have you seen the beauty industry change since you first engaged with it as a consumer until today?
Change happens abruptly and then slowly in my opinion. It has shifted into “you WILL see me” instead of “cut, paste, and hide me”. 

Who were your first beauty icons?  Who do you admire today?
Chi Chi, an ultra-fab drag queen who looked after me during Mardi Gras. Tyra Banks (growing up). I admire absolutely every being who embodies fierceness of any subculture. I admire fearlessness of what others think, that’s the most attractive and powerful thing anyone can do. 

How did beauty advertisements make you feel when you were younger and how do they make you feel today?
I felt as if I had to cut and paste a lot as a kid. If you stayed a tomboy too long, you were called awful homophobic things because kids suck. So, you start forcing girly things to fit into the standard “beauty”. I felt a lot of pressure to feel... beautiful. Today, I see so many people that make me stop in my tracks when I see a billboard. So many people that also said “You WILL see me”. It’s a really amazing feeling. 

What exposure did you have to beauty advertising growing up? Did you see it on TV? In magazines? In drugstores? 
Mostly drug stores, TV commercials, and magazines I would read in the tattoo shop where I was babysat sometimes.

How did these advertisements impact you on a subconscious level? 
I started really believing societal beauty standards to the point where I started conforming myself to be happier, to feel wanted, and to feel accepted. It was so rooted, it took years to unlearn and still has its after effects today.  

How do you want to see beauty advertising evolve in the future?
More black people, more fat bodies, more real gay representation, trans representation. More tattoos and body modifications. 

What is still lacking from current beauty advertising? 
Warmth. It’s so rare that I see a beauty ad and feel like I just had a strong hug. That comes from capturing real people, their real emotions, their real beauty. 

What products would you like to see in the beauty industry?
After the pandemic, more lip liners/lip glosses! 

Did you always know you wanted to model and what encouraged you to actually pursue it?
I didn’t. With the world so constantly against me, how could I feel like I could represent beauty? That energy is what drove me to do it anyway. My partner was also a huge encouragement. The support from the community/scene online and in the city here in New York, it all pushes me to do it not just for myself anymore. For everyone who’s told they couldn’t, to show them they always can and will.