TikTok Glam Queen Emira D’spain Shares Beauty and Summer Tips for her Cunty Barbies
Emira D’spain is the TikTok influencer everyone is fangirling over. Why? Maybe it’s her transformative make-up tutorials, her lifestyle posts, her empowered energy, or maybe it’s really all the above! It’s not hard to love a beautiful person like Emira D’spain who uses her platform to talk about about confidence and building a brand around self-empowerment and confidence through beauty. All the Cunty Barbies are raving over her.
Here at Galore we had the pleasure to interview Emira D’spain about their experience living in Dubai, NYC and Paris; working with Victoria’s Secret as the first black trans girl; getting started in the beauty industry, TikTok and building a fanbase of Cunty Barbies.
Let’s join the Cunty Cult, follow Emira D’spain here:
FEATURE INTERVIEW
Hello Emira D’spain, it’s a pleasure to interview you for Galore! For those of us who don’t know of you, how would you describe yourself in 5 words?
In five words…oof! I think I’d say: Warm, Intelligent, Fearless, Compassionate and of course…Cunty *wink*
You have a diverse background having been born in Dubai, going to NYU and living in Paris. Can you tell us a bit about your name? What is the inspiration behind it?
Yes! It actually took me quite some time into my transition before changing my name! My parents and I wanted to make sure it was perfect. Emira actually means princess in Arabic – however, there is no “e” in Arabic, so the name is traditionally spelled Amira. Originally, I planned for Amira because then it would be a direct anagram of my late grandmother’s name Maria. But my family and friends have always called me “E!” In the end, it just made sense to go with Emira.
You were born in Dubai, so you must definitely know all about the heat! What are some summer tips you have for handling the summer weather, especially in New York, those heat waves are crazy!
Summer is literally every beauty girlie’s worst nightmare! I feel like hair and makeup become like the hunger games during the summer – it’s like who can find the best blowout serum that doesn’t leave your hair looking like a frizzy mess.
Some important tips:
- Less is MORE in the Summer! Stick to skin tints and tinted SPFs during the day and save the full coverage foundations for night.
- Even if you want to look glowy, don’t be afraid of powder and always keep one in your bag! I’m obsessed with the Kosas Cloud Set and the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish
- For hair, you gotta use an anti-frizz blowout prep! ColorWow Dream Coat is…chef’s kiss.
You have also lived in Paris! I lived there for almost three years, so I have to ask a silly question; Plain Croissant, Chocolate Croissant or Almond Croissant? Yes you can only pick one!
OMG! Chocolate Croissant all the way. I’m not kidding, I think I had at least five every single day while schlepping my bags to go study in the Tuileries!
What did you like about living in Paris (and talking about summer heat, they really need to start getting AC over there, haha)?
Summer there was brutal! The day I moved into my apartment, my mom ran to get me a fan because I was literally having a mental breakdown about the heat. I loved living there though! It is such a beautiful city and there’s so much history. Paris is one of my favorite places on Earth.
How do you define confidence? What steps did you have to take to build a brand around self-empowerment and confidence through beauty ?
For me, confidence is truly waking up every single day without doubt. Without doubt that you’re beautiful inside and out. Without doubt that you are successful. Without doubt that you are loved by everyone around you. And so on!
Confidence was always something that came super natural to me. I never really questioned it and I know that’s because of my upbringing and the privileges I have been afforded. However, my goal has always been to help others realize their confidence. Because even at your absolute lowest, confidence is the ONE emotion you can always turn to and know it will pull you out of any situation.
Beauty often has this stigma of “oh you must hate yourself so you cover up xyz” or “oh you wear makeup to impress people” etc. I think finally in 2022 people are finally realizing that beauty in fact is about self love. Using beauty to pull out that inner confidence and use makeup and hair as a shield, as armor! It’s so powerful.
You are working with Victoria’s Secret as the first black trans girl, what are you most excited about? What do you hope to share with the public?
It’s so incredible. I’m so blessed to be working with them. The entire team there is absolutely incredible and it’s truly an honor. One of my biggest goals in life is to help pave the way for others like me. Now I know that around the world, I have trans POC who see that this has been done and that they too can achieve what they might have once that was impossible. I hope to share with the public that being trans women are just women. It’s really that simple.
I see you are a fellow NYU grad! I graduated from Gallatin, what school did you go to? How do you feel going to school in the village helped shape your character?
Go Violets! Our (non-existent?) mascot! So funny, I actually started in Global Liberal Studies, because I wanted to travel and live in Paris. Then I transferred to Steinhardt and Stern where I graduated Magna Cum Laude in Marketing and Communications! She’s beauty and brains!
My education has definitely helped give me such an edge in this industry. Before becoming a full time influencer I worked in marketing on agency work then beauty editorial which gave me such an understanding of this ecosystem. While at NYU, I certainly was in my Hermione Granger era. I didn’t spend a lot of time in the village. I was in Bobst until 3am most nights. However, the people I have met at NYU are truly some of the greatest people in my life.
Whether it’s food, drinks or an underground scene, what are some of your favourite spots to go to in the village area?
Oooh! Good question. Again, I didn’t spend too much time in the village because I was just so engulfed with school I was on a strict vending-machine-in-the-library diet. Some of my favorite places in the city though are definitely Little Frankies, Bondst, Cafe Select and Lucien.
This isn’t even a question, but you have got to have the most beautiful passport photo out there LOL.
PURRR! We stan a cunty passport pic! Here’s the tutorial if you wanna get the same glam! https://www.tiktok.com/@xoxoemira/video/7077669976311663915
How do you aim to use your platform to support those who would also like to transition?
Part of me goes back and forth – where I feel like I’m not doing enough for my community and then sometimes when I feel like my transness plays too big of a role on my platforms. I never want my page to solely be about being trans because it’s just one part of my life. That being said, I still want to lift my community up and champion them always. So I don’t know yet – I’m still finding a way to accomplish that perfect balance.
You recently hit 1 million followers on TikTok, this is huge! How do you feel? How did you celebrate?
It was so incredible and honestly kind of unexpected to happen when it did! I woke up that morning with 990k and my friends and I were going to Surf Lodge in Montauk to party that day. It happened and we celebrated with ice cream and chicken fingers!
How would you describe the Cunty Barbie fans from TikTok?
The Cunty Barbies are true bad bitches. They are those girls that you want to be when they walk in a room. They’re confident and sexy, kind to everyone but they don’t tolerate any negativity. I’m so happy to have them in my life, I truly think of them as my friends. Every video I film I always try to make them feel like we are on FaceTime. It’s so awesome to have this community.
Can we be Cunty and party together in NYC?
YAS! We need to. Drinks at BONDST and bottles at the Blond on me.
What are some future projects we should be looking out for?
I’m working on so many amazing things this year that you’re going to have to wait and see! Keep an eye on the TV though *wink*
Let’s join the Cunty Cult, follow Emira D’spain here:
CREDITS
Talent: Emira D’ Spain
Photographer: Jared Ryder
Stylist: Fred Kim
COVER LOOK
Dress: Kim Mesches Earrings: Anastasia Kessaris
LOOK 1
Dress: KQK Shoes: Rene Caovilla Earrings: Nana Jacqueline Necklace: Nana Jacqueline
LOOK 2
Dress: Nana Jacqueline Shoes: Jimmy Choo Necklace: Nana Jacqueline Earrings: Nana Jacqueline
LOOK 3
One-piece: Shuting Qiu Shoes: Jimmy Choo Earrings: Adina’s Jewels
LOOK 4
Dress: PatBO Shoes: René Caovilla Earrings: Nana Jacqueline
