The beauty industry still has a long way to go in terms of representation, but a rising name shows change could well be on the horizon. Ethan D’Spain, otherwise known as XOXOETHAN, is an emerging talent in the fashion and beauty realm, known for his extreme beauty looks and ultra-glam fashion sense. Now, the Creative Strategist for PAPER Magazine is the host of the publication’s first-ever beauty series called Snatchural.

PAPER sits where internet culture meets pop culture and has long been a leading voice for queer creators. Ethan approached PAPER with the idea for the publication to foray into the beauty space and continue bringing creators like himself into the mainstream. The project, which has been in the works for some time, is a dream come true for the beauty expert whose relationship with fashion and beauty has allowed him the space to explore his own identity. Below, we talked to Ethan about all things glam.

Congratulations on the launch of your new video series! How does it feel to be the face of this exciting new project?

It’s incredible! Filming Snatchural has been so much fun and I am really excited for everyone to see all the other videos we’re working on. This project has been in the works for almost a year and now the world finally gets to watch! I just really wanted to create something really fun for people to be entertained watching me beat my face but also just to chat and show some cool beauty secrets/tips that I’ve learned.

I love the name Snatchural! How did this name come about? Break it down for us – what does this term mean?

Snatchural is a merging of the words snatched, and natural. I have always used this term to describe my own glam, and I know a lot of makeup artists actually use this term too! It’s really the perfect description of a look that is still glamorous and seductive but also looks fresh and clean. Think lots of blush, a soft brown eyeshadow, feathery brows, etc.

Tell me about your relationship with beauty. Was this an area you were always interested in?

Beauty has always been a major part of my life. Growing up, I would sit in my mother’s vanity room and watch glam every day, so I think that inspired me. However, it wasn’t until I went to NYU that I really began to experiment with glam myself. I started wearing BB cream my freshman year of college in Paris and that slowly opened a door for me to realize that I can play with all this makeup myself. It’s crazy to look back at photos and see how my glam has progressed and evolved slowly over the past five years, not just with the trends but my knowledge of certain techniques and products!

As a black queer individual, how have fashion and beauty shaped your experience with identity and self-discovery?

I think that both fashion and beauty have allowed me to explore my self-identity freely. Moving from Texas to Paris and then New York really opened the possibilities for me to try new things and explore my taste for glam! It started with that BB cream and two-inch men’s YSL heeled boots to face tape and Louboutin ‘So Kate’ heels. It has been really interesting to see how much my confidence has grown as a black queer individual by exploring this passion. On the surface it appears like these are just material things but in reality, they have opened the door for me to find myself.

How do you think the fashion & beauty industry can be more inclusive? What are some of the problems that need to be solved?

There is so much work to be done in the fashion and beauty industry in terms of inclusivity, but I think some great steps are happening that are moving things in the right direction – for example, Munroe Bergdorf being appointed to L’Oreal’s U.K. Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board to advocate for more inclusivity in the beauty world.

I think more brands (both beauty and fashion) need to be tapping black creators more often and ensuring that they are being paid the same as their white counterparts. There is a lot of upheaval in the beauty world about pay discrepancies related to the LGBTQ+ community and black creators.

The biggest issue is that there aren’t enough black (and queer) voices at the table for these larger beauty brands. We need more BIPOC in leadership positions at these companies so that they can advocate for change from within.

What would you say to the younger generation interested in exploring makeup and beauty, but don’t know where to start or are afraid to try?

I know this is a cliché but my advice is to really try and remove the fear of judgement from your own head, which is obviously easier said than done but it really does open an entire world of exploration.

That little voice in the back of your head, mute it – because all that voice does is diminish your confidence and hold you back. It’s fun to make mistakes and try things that don’t work out because with each mistake, you’re taking strides to improving your skillset. And of course, practice, practice, practice. As I mentioned, I only started really playing with makeup five years ago and since then I have made so much progress. Just believe in yourself and never be afraid to make mistakes as long as you plan to grow from them.

Can you give us any spoilers on what beauty looks viewers can expect to see on this new series?

Oh we’ve got such fun videos in the works! You can expect some in depth content around plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, some fun challenges, guest appearances by my favorite notable creators and so much more! Stay tuned!