The Tamesis
Diana Ross once said, “It takes a long time to be a diva. I mean, you have to work at it.” The “Queen of Motown,” 82, lives up to her motto, which she has been doing since she was a kid growing up in Detroit, spending 50 cents on a black eyebrow pencil from Maybelline New York.
Rose attended cosmetology school in high school, practicing hairstyling on her own and with neighbors as clients, but becoming the lead singer of The Supremes took her look (especially her coif and thick eyelashes) and technique to new heights. “When Supremes hit the road, I did everybody’s hair — you know, with hot irons and curling irons,” Ross said in a past interview. “I want to learn everything about beauty and make people more attractive.”
In the 1960s, the glamorous frontwoman debuted a range of mesmerizing looks, from a curvy, chin-length bob with a kitten style and thick bangs, to a high, teased bouffant with cropped smokey eyes and pale lips. In 1970, she released her first solo album, reach out and touch (someone’s hand) Rose got to show off her natural curls. With her hair as big as possible, either down or tied back and topped with accessories, iridescent eyes and glossy lips, she always brought drama to the stage and helped usher in the disco era.
1975s mahoganyShe’s a standout in it as rising fashion designer Tracy Chambers, known for her silky soprano voice, her own theatrical costumes and That Teal blue afro. In 1980, when Ross released the dancefloor favorite “I’m Coming Out,” he not only continued to add volume to his mane, but also adopted the decade’s saturated eyelids and draped blush for dramatic effect.
Since then, the icon hasn’t stopped unleashing her inner diva, continuing to grace the stage with her signature curls and bold eyes. “My ‘quick make-up’ is large eyeliner, really dark black Pencil, mascara, maybe blush and a light lip gloss,” Ross previously told Fashion. Over the years, she’s also left plenty of room for fun and experimentation, like her blond pixie look at the 1996 World Music Awards and her royal purple look at the 1997 BAFTA Awards.
