CoverGirl broke beauty barriers when 17-year-old male makeup artist James Charles was named the new face of CoverGirl.
James is a high school senior from Bethlehem, New York but still makes time to keep an active presence on social media with over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 700,000 followers on Instagram.
I can't imagine it’s hard for him to keep people interested with a number of makeup tutorials and makeup reviews he has done, encouraging boys and girls everywhere to become one with their inner makeup artist. This is why it was no surprise to me that he was chosen by CoverGirl to challenge gender norms by being the first male spokesperson of the company’s 60-year history.
Many social media users took to Twitter and CoverGirl’s comment section on Instagram to complain that a boy should not have been chosen as a model for CoverGirl. One Instagram user even commented, “This is sad. This is not right. This disgusts me. Men should not be wearing that makeup. CoverGirl is not for men. Y'all need Jesus.”
By naming James Charles as a new spokesperson for their company, CoverGirl is starting a movement that I strongly support. In 2016, it’s not as uncommon as one might think for a boy to have an interest in makeup or any other form of cosmetics.
For years, women have dominated in cosmetology related career fields deemed unmasculine according to gender norms. With the rise of social media, more men have risen to the spotlight for being talented at styling hair and applying makeup.
Having representation like these men as well as the new CoverGirl James Charles can make an important change in the lives of many young boys and girls who are shamed for liking something that isn't normal for their gender.
Young boys are taught that liking makeup and liking dresses is wrong because it'll “make you gay” and young girls are taught that they can't get dirty or like action figure toys because that's “boy stuff” or it's not “ladylike.”
The most common argument against James Charles being named a CoverGirl is that the makeup brand is CoverGirl not “CoverBoy.” PlayBoy magazine plasters naked women over everything they publish yet their models aren't required to be a boy. CoverGirl is the name of the company, not a requirement of their models.
Just as Hillary Clinton being a major party presidential candidate is important for America’s youth, so is James Charles being a CoverGirl. Having people like this in these positions shows young boys and girls that they can do what they want without fear of being judged.
