For most of 2021, Duxbury was a budding beauty creator working towards building her profile through filming her over the top beauty looks on TikTok. Then, the month of December came around – a date burned in her memory.

After creating a hashtag on TikTok called #TheFoundationChallenge, where she lip-synced to Nicki Minaj’s “I’m Legit” song while doing her signature foundation technique (rubbing copious amounts of the product all over your face with your hands), the trend went viral. Duxbury gained 6 million followers in one month, with the hashtag accumulating 615 million views and countless users replicating the look. To date, one of her most viral videos has 135 million views.

Today, the content creator has become an established force in the beauty industry, attracting the attention of Selena Gomez and Kate Moss and even getting her own collaboration with cosmetics giant Morphe. With her modelesque stature, unique artistry, and army of nearly  20M+ followers across social media – it wasn’t long before the fashion industry took notice. The creator now sits front row at shows for Marc Jacobs and Area, and even made her runway debut at the GCDS show during Milan Fashion Week.

We spoke with the artist to hear more about her journey and get her thoughts on fashion.

When did you know you wanted to work in the fashion/beauty industry?  

Since I was young, I always knew I wanted to work in the fashion and beauty industry in some way. I had such a love and passion for both industries. I come from a very creative family and I’ve always believed that this is my style of art and the way that I express my creative side. I truly believe that fashion and beauty are forms of art, just like painting or drawing. In my early days, playing dress up and doing my makeup as a young girl and filming it for my YouTube channel, it would bring me such joy.

Do you have any early fashion/beauty memories? 

I was in middle school I saved up my money and bought the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation. I would put so much of it on and it was always way too orange.  My mom would take it away from me and hide it because I would wear way too much of it, but I would always find where she hid it. I think that’s when my family started to realize that I was really obsessed with makeup.

I know you are a self-taught makeup artist, but you have since collaborated with some of the biggest names in the business, such as Mario Dedivanovic and Chris Appleton. Are there any tips/tricks you have learned?

I have learned so much from working with so many amazing artists like Mario and Chris. Mario taught me quite a bit about doing natural makeup, and I think it’s so important to go outside of your comfort zone and have an open mind when learning from other artists. Everyone is going to have different techniques, but that is the beauty of it. It’s nice to be able to come together and share each other’s tips and tricks. Mario is a huge inspiration to me and what he’s done with his business and his brand is incredible.

Congratulations on the Morphe collaboration! Why did you want to partner with the brand, and can you tell us about the collection?

I wanted to partner with Morphe because I align with the brand so much artistically. Morphe gave me full creative freedom when creating my collection which was so important to me. I want a brand to trust me and my vision when collaborating, and that’s what they did. I wanted something that was versatile and easy for everyone to use, and that’s what Morphe as a brand represents to me. They have everything from neutrals to the most exquisite, bold shades. They also have products that are amazing for people who want to do natural makeup. My collection is New York City inspired. It’s a summer collection with high gloss and hot glam. I wanted the collection to fully embody me and my love and passion for makeup, and I think people can really see that this collection is authentic.

Have there been any big “pinch-me” moments since beginning your career?

I can’t even count the amount of pinch me moments since the beginning of my career. From meeting Selena Gomez to seeing my face in the middle of SoHo on a massive billboard and working with the most amazing brands in the world. I always say I’ve been manifesting this life from the beginning, but you never really know what’s gonna happen. I am so grateful for all of my followers and everyone who supports me because I truly wouldn’t be here without any of them. Every day I wake up and my life feels like a dream. 

You’ve also worked with major fashion brands like Marc Jacobs and Area. How do you view the relationship between fashion and beauty? Does one influence the other for you? 

The two industries go so hand-in-hand. That’s what I love so much about it. Beauty has always been such a huge part of the fashion industry. Think of the backstage of a fashion show, with all the makeup artists with creative briefs on how the makeup is going to match all of the outfits in the collection. They both influence me in different ways. Fashion helps me step out of my comfort zone.

How would you describe your personal style? 

I would say that my personal style isn’t really defined by a specific aesthetic or niche. My outlook on style is similar to how I look at makeup. It’s a form of artistic and self-expression based on whatever mood I’m in. I love to experiment and play around with fashion and it’s constantly evolving as I grow and mature. Some days it’s more romantic/subdued, some days it’s more colorful and vibrant, and others it’s more punk/edgy.

This year, you attending your first CFDA Fashion Awards. What was the experience like and did you have a highlight from the evening?

My first time attending the CFDA Fashion awards was nothing short of inspiring. I felt so honored to be surrounded by so many talented, creative individuals and pioneers of the industry who have dedicated so much to fashion. I am so grateful to have been invited with Amazon Fashion and cannot thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to take part in what was truly an unforgettable evening. Everyone looked so incredible and it was so fun to see everyone’s red-carpet looks! I was dressed in Marc Jacobs runway and I couldn’t be happier with how the entire vision came to life with glam by the legendary Pat McGrath and my incredible hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos.