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Michaela Jaé Rodriguez’s career thus far has been full of firsts. She’s the first transgender woman to clinch an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe win in a major acting category (for her performance in “Pose”), the first trans actor to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (in Netflix’s “Luke Cage” series) — and in 2023, she became Charlotte Tilbury’s first trans (and first American!) beauty muse.
“The first time I met Charlotte was at an Oscar party. It was really kismet,” Rodriguez tells Page Six Style.
“We struck up a conversation about so many things. About life, about beauty … about manifestation more than anything, because she’s like a little witch. And I just was like, oh my God, I love this energy.”
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez became Charlotte Tilbury’s first-ever American and trans ambassador in 2023. Charlotte TilburyThe “Loot” and “American Horror Story” star was tapped to be a Tilbury face shortly after, an honor she calls “wild but amazing” — and for the beauty brand’s recent holiday campaign, she got to pose alongside legends including Kate Moss and Kylie Minogue.
Below, Rodriguez discusses her experience on set, along with the best beauty tip she’s ever gotten, her glam journey, the Marvel character she’s itching to play and more.
What it was like shooting Charlotte’s latest campaign with such a stacked cast?
It was fantastic. We had the Gay Men’s Chorus, and obviously Kylie Minogue, and one very prolific voguer [Kam Saunders] who’s also a choreographer for Taylor Swift. When all of that energy is on set — Kate Moss, top tier; Kylie Minogue, top tier — it’s wonderfully and beautifully chaotic, because we’re moving and trying to make sure we get everything that we need to get done. But it’s so fun. We work very hard, we take our jobs very seriously, we want to make sure we show up for beauty in the best way possible. But after we’re done, we make sure we celebrate.
Kylie Minogue, Jourdan Dunn and Kate Moss also appear alongside Tilbury herself in the brand’s latest campaign. Charlotte TilburyTell us about your own personal beauty journey.
Beauty has always played a big role in my life. All of the women in my family were very keen on skincare in general; I always consider skincare being like brushing your teeth. You should be doing it every single day — exfoliation, washing thoroughly, getting impurities out.
As I got older, like going into high school, I started doing mascara. [I knew] how my eyes were shaped and I just wanted them to be more prominent. The mascara really made people draw into my eyes more. And I was like, OK, I’m going to keep playing with this and maybe I can build on it.
When makeup and glam fully came into my life for the first time was when I did “Rent,” the musical. I got T-zone, concealer, contour, blush and foundation where they were supposed to go. Once that happened, everything was easy for me and I felt like I was just creating different looks.
I feel like I’m in the prime of beauty right now. I’m getting top-tier knowledge about beauty and makeup and how it all coincides and how it’s supposed to work on your face, and learning so much from Charlotte alone.
Rodriguez tells us she’s in her beauty “prime” right now. Charlotte TilburyWhat’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever received?
A top lash and a bottom lash will really accentuate your eyes and accentuate the shape of your eye. When you put a bottom lash on, it changes your look drastically.
What are your top three tried-and-true Charlotte Tilbury products?
The Magic Water Cream — it really helps when your skin has had it. I need my Airbrush Flawless Finish, because I need to make sure that it’s set all the time; it’s crucial. And Beauty Light Wand — Peachgasm, specifically.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Water Cream
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand
Charlotte Tilbury
Let’s pivot to fashion for a minute, because your red carpet looks are always on point. Any personal favorites?
It was the Golden Globes [in 2023]. I remember Ryan Murphy calling me and saying, “I can only imagine how it feels that you didn’t have a moment to speak [when you won in 2022]. I would like to give you a moment to really just take that in.” And that day, not only he made me feel like it was deserved, but [also] the people around me who rallied around me and who created a beautiful look.
I wore a Balmain, architectural, very couture satin blue [gown] — kind of like gift wrapping. It was off the runway, it was different, and it expressed how I was feeling. Like a wrapped present! It was hard to walk in, but worth it. You gotta step up for the fashion, honey!
Rodriguez wore this jewel-toned Balmain dress for the 2023 Golden Globes, where Ryan Murphy honored her during his Carol Burnett Award acceptance speech. Getty ImagesGiven how many historic firsts you’ve already achieved, what’s next on your bucket list?
I have to say, I don’t necessarily want to be a first. If it happens naturally, wonderful. That means it’s authentic and it’s real. But there’s no goal to be the first. I think my main goal is to influence abundance by possibilities, and to show that I don’t want to be the only one. But I will continue to create space for people to come up and grow. Obviously it’s specific to my young and trans youth out there, but it’s for everyone.
But if I could say one thing I’d like to be a part of that would be a first, it’s a Marvel movie.
Is there a dream character you’d love to play?
I mean, I used to say I wasn’t going to play [“X-Men” hero] Storm — that I didn’t want to play Storm. But now I’m like, I want to play her! I have to be as transparent and real as possible: We are in a time where, you know, opportunities could seem kind of sparse when it comes to trans women like me. But I also feel like you’ve got to shake things up a little bit, just to open up the doors and make people think a little bit. So why not play Storm? Why not have an opportunity like that?
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
