Beauty journalist and podcaster Kirbie Johnson took Doja Cat’s advice to “Paint The Town Red” seriously this weekend. Not only did she paint the town red in honor of Halloween—but she painted her arms, face, and more red, too. And then she bedazzled herself with more than 15,000 sparkling ruby rhinestones.
“When I saw Doja Cat at Schiaparelli’s couture show this year, it ignited something in me,” Johnson says. “I knew this had to be a Pat McGrath design because she always brings it. I also loved that Doja really went for it, it reminds me of Gaga at the beginning of her career.”
She was right—legendary makeup artist McGrath was behind Doja’s Internet-breaking look. (Some other McGrath hits: Lil Nas X at the 2023 Met Gala, Taylor Swift’s Bejeweled music video.) Johnson is known for her over-the-top annual Halloween metamorphosis, with past looks including Baby Yoda, Kris Jenner, and a bonus costume this year, Mojo Dojo Ken.
“Seeing Kirbie recreate the iconic Schiaparelli crystal look I created on Doja Cat brings immense joy,” McGrath shared. “She’s truly captured the essence of my original design, and her dedication, using 15 thousand crystals, is MAJOR. Kudos to her for this stunning rendition.”
For Johnson’s transformation, it took eight hours of work and the help of seven professionals to complete the transformation: Cassie Russek was there to secure Johnson’s long hair up into the bald wrap; Carleigh Herbert led the team of makeup artists (Cortney Heiser, Jessica Torres, Sabrina Wilson, and Stacey Hummel) who painted, glittered, and bedazzled; And of course, photographer Max Bronner was there to document every step of the way.
Johnson spent eight hours seated in the makeup chair from bald wrap to the final rhinestone application. “I didn’t realize that Doja not only had the red paint and rhinestones on her body, but also glitter all over her, so there were various stages of application,” she says. “When it was all finished I felt so crunchy. I would love to know if Doja dealt with any fallout, if someone was following her around keeping gems in place or if she had a little trail behind her.”