Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is an LGBTQIA+ not-for-profit member-based organisation that produces the internationally recognised Mardi Gras Parade and Festival.
This year, the iconic Mardi Gras Parade was held in conjunction with Sydney WorldPride, which is the first time the festival has been held in the Southern Hemisphere.
The festival started on Friday, February 17 and will run for 17 days, finishing up on Sunday, March 5.
Many beauty brands have shown their support for the historic event, including Procter & Gamble Australia (P&G), which in conjunction with Sydney WorldPride and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras hosted an activation unpacking the importance of LGBTQIA+ visibility in advertising, media, and the world.
The panel was hosted by Matty Mills (First Nations TV Presenter and Actor) and panellists included: Brent Miller, CODED Executive Producer and P&G Global LGBTQIA+ Equality Leader; Courtney Act, International Drag Queen, Artist, Singer and Advocate; Kate Wickett (CEO of Sydney WorldPride); Albert Kruger (CEO of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras); and Amanda Lampe (Corporate Relations Director for Diageo Australia).
This year I was fortunate enough to take part in this year’s Mardi Gras Parade on the Asian Marching Boys and Friends Float, where my sister, Laura, and I joined thousands of rainbow revellers for the annual event.
The float was led by none other Dr Naomi Skin Creative Director, Alan Nowak, who famously served as Dr Naomi’s clone when the brand celebrated its first birthday.
It takes a village to prepare for the day – here’s how I got ready for the big parade.
- One month before – plan the outfit. Mardi Gras is all about dressing up in bold, bright and colourful costumes! Our brief was Kings and Queens with a gold and fuchsia colour palette, with gold shoes mandatory. I spray-painted a pair of white canvas trainers I bought from Kmart.
- One day before – fake tan. Choosing a good fake tan can be a bit overwhelming with so many options available. It’s important to choose a fake tan that matches your natural skin tone to avoid looking too orange or too dark. I am a huge fan of Tan Temple in Bondi, which offers a full skin assessment and tailors your spray tan session accordingly.
- On the day – hair and makeup. Mobile hair and makeup stylists can help you create a flawless and polished look and can work with you to create a look that complements your outfit. I used Blys, a mobile app that matches you almost instantly with one of the available professionals for the selected day and time. You pay through the app once the job is complete. The two stylists, Polly and Mimi, used a variety of makeup brands including MAC, Bobbi Brown, Makeup Forever, Lancome, YSL Beauty, Fenty Beauty, Estée Lauder, Clinique and more to achieve the look.
Unsurprisingly, Mardi Gras is all about excess, with a fake tan, glitter (biodegradable preferred) and rhinestones absolutely necessary. The countdown is already on until next year’s parade!
Word Pride events taking place over the next few days include:
- Saturday 4 March – Bondi Beach Party. Featuring Nicole Scherzinger
- Sunday 5 March – Pride March (over the Sydney Harbour Bridge)
- Sunday 5 March – Closing Ceremony. Featuring Kim Petras.
Images from the Asian Marching Boys and Friends Float below. Images: Boyd Creative.
