NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. BEAUTYDIRECTORY acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For more information on NAIDOC Week and this year's theme, visit the official website here.
The start of July marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week, a time to commemorate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
While recognising the brilliant work our First Nations community does is essential all year round, NAIDOC Week allows us to pay tribute to the traditional custodians of the land, and acknowledge Australia’s deeply sordid past.
A past that wasn’t too long ago. A past that still impacts the current generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This country has a long way to go when it comes to inequality and racism within, however, we can start by reflecting on the impact of colonialism and amplifying the voices of those affected.
There’s no shortage of First Nations beauty influencers, whether that be on TikTok or Instagram. These creators use their platform to educate and inspire, all while representing what it means to be First Peoples. Here are the content creators we think you should be following.
Kaydee Kyle-Taylor | @ithinksheafreak
Aboriginal-Maori makeup artist Kaydee Kyle-Taylor, also known as ithinksheafreak, uses her platform to show off her insanely beautiful eyeshadow looks, spread body positivity and share the work of her fellow Indigenous artists. Kyle-Taylor has also previously worked with Vogue Australia for last year’s May issue as a makeup artist.
Kaycee Hayden | @officialmsauzzi
Aside from being an absolute baddie, Kayceè Hayden creates makeup looks that range from natural to uber-glam. Hayden is a fierce advocate for her people, and when she’s not sharing beauty content, she educates her nearly 15,000 followers on what it means to be an Aboriginal woman.
Meissa Mason | @meissamason
In a world of filtered images and Facetuned photos, Meissa’s authenticity is a breath of fresh air. Mason, who boasts over 140,000 followers on TikTok and nearly 28,000 on Instagram, creates beauty content and touches on ‘taboo’ topics. The creator also uses her platform to showcase her activism while regularly advocating for First Peoples.
Sari-Ella Thaiday | @sarithaiday
Sari-Ella Thaiday beautifully showcases what happens when you use social media for good. The beauty influencer and proud Darnley, Saibai and Yidinji woman represents her culture and throws her support behind her fellow First Nations content creators.
Jojo Zaho | @jojo_zaho
If you’ve watched the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under (RPDR DU), then Jojo Zaho would be a familiar face. Zaho was the first Indigenous queen of RPDR DU, an achievement that deserves to be acknowledged and applauded. Zaho brought First Nations pride to an international stage and showed off the vibrancy and beauty of their culture.
Image credit: Instagram / @officialmsauzzi
