As someone who uses they/them pronouns and has had an interesting relationship with makeup, I wanted to explore the most profound makeup item for me: red lipstick. I used to play dress-up all the time when I wore princess dresses, but to me, it felt very camp. I felt like I was in drag before I knew drag existed.

Lipstick is a makeup product I refuse to wear. I tried it before, as a teenager, and realised I hated it and how the texture felt. I'm still intrigued by red lipstick and the many messages it conveys. It can be a powerful move to wear it, especially during World War II, when it was a symbol of defiance in the UK. Unfortunately, women can be sexualised for wearing red lipstick without wanting to be. Red lipstick is a bold choice, and sometimes it isn't the safest one, which as a child, makes it the most exciting one to try.