Oh, it’s a black thing – Interview with Beverley Knight
Yesterday Beverley Knight launched her new cosmetics line ‘K’ exclusively at Selfridges – with Chaka Khan joining her as she belted out some tunes with that unmistakeable voice. Music and make up, what could be better? The new range covers 15 products, from oil-free foundations through to eyeliners and highlighters. We caught up with the lovely lady at the launch. Read on…
What was the inspiration behind your collection?
I wanted to create a cosmetics line that would service women like me, of darker skin, who always struggle to find products that cater for our colours. Whilst I wanted K to be accessible to all skins with the generic products like lipsticks, the primary focus and cornerstone products i.e. foundations and powders, were to be for dark skinned women.
Have you always had a love for beauty? When did it begin?
I have loved make up since I was a young teenager. I was always spending my pocket money on music and make-up. I would make up my own face, and the faces of my friends as I got more confident. As an adult I bought books on how to apply make-up and achieve different looks.
How long did the collection take from your vision to actually hitting the shelves?
From conception to finished product has taken around two years. Having been asked by other companies if I was interested in developing a perfume, or a book or some kind of extension of the “Beverley Knight” brand and declining them all, I was determined that K would have a reason to exist other than my own celebrity. Answering a glaring need in the cosmetics industry with a great quality range made sense to me.
What would you say is your favourite product in the collection?
I am very proud of the foundations and powders, but my absolute favourite product is the lipgloss! I love ruby and blackberry in particular!
Who is your favourite make up artist?
My favourite make up artist of all time is the late great Kevyn Aucoin. What a shame the world lost such an awesome talent. His work showed me just how far you could push a beauty look. He could make a simply pretty face look extraordinarily beautiful. I loved how he would transform RuPaul in particular. I wish that he could have made me up.
Who has your favourite make up ‘look’?
I love, and will always love Naomi. She was the model that made me sit up and take notice. She was an obviously black girl as opposed to being mixed or very light skinned. A look that I could relate to. Through her I could really see how seasonal beauty trends could work on my own skin. Every black girl I knew copied the Kevyn Aucoin look created for Naomi’s lips dark around the edges, the colour getting much lighter as you graduate toward the centre, making the lips look even fuller than they already were. A revelation for all black girls everywhere teased for having full lips!
If a girl could only buy 3 products which ones should they be?
I would spend on the pressed powder, the mascara and my beloved lipgloss. They form my everyday face and these three basics see me through.
K by Beverley Knight is now available at Selfridges, 0800 123 400