They say you should never meet your heroes, so as you can imagine meeting Dancing with the Stars pro and all-around gay icon Ezra Sosa was a big one for a lifelong dancer and queer individual like myself. But, the moment I welcomed the Utah-native to our New York City meet up, it felt like I was meeting my best friend for the first time again. Not only does Sosa have the same laugh-out-loud, larger-than-life personality in real life that he has on every episode of Dancing with the Stars, the 24-year-old is also wise beyond his years and full of valuable beauty and life advice. To celebrate another successful Pride Month, I sat down with Sosa to talk queerness, growing up in the spotlight, beauty revolutions and, yes, the priceless style and makeup secrets he learned from Jojo Siwa.
Growing up, how big a part of your life was beauty and self-care? Has that changed as you’ve gotten older?
“As I’ve getting older, I look back on my journey with skin care, makeup and all that kind of stuff and at first I was really insecure and shy about it all because, when I was a kid, I was trying to express myself by taking part in beauty without even knowing that that’s what I was doing, if that makes sense. I just feel like that’s what my body’s natural response was to makeup and everything—I just wanted to do it and feel better about myself.
When you’re a performer, you have to learn how to do your own makeup, so ever since I was a kid—even though these cheekbones are real, OK, they’re all natural—I would put on foundation, contour, the whole nine every single day I danced. But, growing up, wearing makeup often felt weird because I was battling a lot of inner homophobia and when people would clock me with my makeup on, I felt weird instead of owning it. Then I met Miss Siwa, and every single day on tour she put freaking glitter on my face and in my hair. She definitely pushed the boundary of me and makeup and it made me more comfortable with it all. I mean, half the stuff she did I didn’t like [laughs] but a lot of the it I did really like. I picked up a lot of makeup and beauty stuff from her that I really do like, and seeing her way of using makeup in her art and expressing herself in what she does inspired me to do the same.”
When you’re filming DWTS or touring, are there any beauty steps or self-care practices you find yourself doing more or less?
“Less of everything, honestly. Less is more when I’m on tour. When you’re doing a two hour show, you’re sweating a lot, so whatever you put on your face will come off. It’s gonna come off no matter what. I also had to learn to be mindful with wardrobe because we wear the same thing every day, so with all the white shirts, they’ll clock me and say, ‘Yo, Ezra, you can’t wear as much makeup because we’re having to deep clean the shirt every single day.’
I also feel like the more insecure I was on tour, the more makeup I put on my face, which is interesting to think about. But the more I explored my makeup the more I figured out that less really is more, and that the less I did, the more stunning I looked.”
What would you say are the biggest pieces of beauty advice you’ve learned from your fellow pros or the stars on DWTS?
“Honestly, I feel like I’m always giving the girl pros makeup advice, which always makes me feel good [laughs]. I went to Vegas with Emma [Slater] and Britt [Stewarts], and we went to see in Chippendales—which is so camp, by the way—but we were all getting ready in the same hotel room and they saw that I had all the trendy makeup products. If it’s trending, I’m going to buy it! Ever since, they’re always asking me to do their makeup on tour, and as a man I’m always like ‘yes PLEASE I would love to.’
In terms of what I’ve learned from the pros, Danielle Karagach did put me on to my favorite setting powder—the Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder ($30).”
Even thinking about your schedule makes me feel like I need a nap—how do you keep yourself motivated and make sure you’re taking care of yourself when things get especially hectic?
“You know what—I love being busy. I’ve been working professionally since I was 13, so the grind is kind of when I thrive the most. This year though, I’m working on learning how to sit in the silence when we’re not in season or I’m not on tour. Tour was so much fun, but it was a lot. Dancing and performing every day, I was exhausted, so I felt like I needed a break after that. I feel like I have a little bit more security in my life now, so I can have a little more fun too. My relationships with my family and friends are flourishing more now than they ever have because I’ve been able to take a step back from work and I have a little more freedom to live my life.”
Personal fascination of mine: do you have a signature scent?
“Would you hate me if I said I don’t like cologne? I’ve never had a fascination with fragrance or cologne, I don’t know why! I think I just like my natural scent!”
If you could give one piece of beauty or self-care advice to young Ezra, what would it be?
“Have fun! Don’t listen to other people. I definitely feel like when you are a kid and you’re amongst other kids you don’t understand why they’re hating on you. But when you get older, you really do and I wish I could tell little Ezra that they’re just hating on you because they’re jealous and they’re seeing you being happy and proud and they wish they had the same.”
