JESS SOARES: I want people to know that there are people out there who understand and who will help you.
You’re not as crazy as you think you are for expressing yourself through art.
JESS SOARES: The way I would describe my look is an alternative twist on Japanese fashion.
I like to incorporate tattoos, piercings into more cutesy things. I wouldn’t consider myself a living doll.
I am inspired by dolls, I kind of add more of like a gory or more of a harsher look.
JESS SOARES: So the first thing I do when getting ready is I grab my contacts. I have like a ton to choose from
and then I kind of just pick whatever ones I want to wear. I usually do mix match. Today I kind of want to be like,
more like, creepy. I’ve been doing this for over a year and a half now and day-by-day it just gets crazier and crazier.
And I just can’t stop, it's fun. I like to get up an hour and a half before I get ready. Depending on the day, I do
different colours, I do different things. Just all depends on what I’m feeling that day and what I’m feeling inspired
by. Doing this is like, very relaxing. It's kind of like, I’m taking time out of my day for myself.
I’m fully aware of the consequences of dressing this way. I accept that people don’t necessarily understand
and I’m not expecting everyone to understand. This is my artistic outlet.
With this makeup, I set my own rules and I think that’s just what's the most fun about it. Creativity can come in
all different aspects; I just feel like this is an extension of my personality and who I am.
I don’t feel as though there’s a difference between me without makeup or me with makeup.
JESS SOARES: I always knew that I wanted to like, push social boundaries. I wanted to do something different
and I knew that the way that people express themselves through like, what they saw in the media was just not for
me. I did some research online and found communities of wonderful people who are into Japanese fashion
and I started dabbling. And I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is what I love.’ And then I kind of just took off with that and
started experimenting with my makeup as well. I decided to surround myself with people who love and
support me no matter what.
JESS SOARES: No, I’m not like, artistically inclined unless it's like drawing on my face.
TRISTAN BLUM: No, are you sure? JESS SOARES: And I can hardly do that.
TRISTAN BLUM: Jess and I met at the mall, and we met on the internet first and decided to meet in person there.
And when she first contacted me, I was very taken aback because, evidently anybody who sees Jess for the first
time going around is like, ‘Wow, just, ‘Wow!’
Whether or not it's negative or positive. She’s so bubbly and full of life that it kind of helps my cynical
introverted attitude.
JESS SOARES: I remember when we sat down, you were like, 'Why do you do what you do?
Why are you doing this?'
TRISTAN BLUM: Why are you doing this? What is your purpose?
JESS SOARES: And I was like, I just like makeup man.
JESS SOARES: Yeah, he saw photos of me online; he knew what he was getting himself into.
Essentially, it’s just makeup.
JESS SOARES: Yay, so good, thank you baby.
TRISTAN BLUM: If Jess and I walk around the street, generally people don’t say many things to us.
And if there are comments, they’re really positive. People will say like, ‘Oh my God, I love your makeup. This is
amazing, do you do this everyday? How long does it take to do your makeup?’. Generally we’ll receive questions
like that but in my estimation Jess gets many more negative comments when I’m not around and I think
that’s because we travel as an individual as opposed to a group. It's easier to throw something at a person
without the ramifications of a group backlash.
JESS SOARES: My favourite part of being able to express myself through clothing and makeup and
fashion is inspiring others. I go into it with the knowledge that not a lot of people are going to
understand and that’s completely fine. I choose to do this for myself.
People will ask me like, 'Where do you see yourself in 30 years or where do you see yourself when you’re 40?'
I can’t answer that question because I don’t know what the future holds. If you asked me last year, if I was going
to be who I am today, I would not know. I feel like everyday I do my makeup, I’m just closer to my purpose.
And I feel like I’m closer to being able to express myself honestly to my fullest extent.