At Masculina, Alectra Rothschild’s team reimagined beauty as activism

'Give the Girl a Gun' was both the title and the unapologetic theme of Masculina’s autumn/winter 2025 show. Alectra Rothschild delivered a visceral tableau that merged fashion, performance, and unflinching advocacy for trans rights – urging the audience to confront a sobering reality.

Models strode the runway sporting two bullet-shaped talons handmade by nail artist Emma Faxøe on their middle and index fingers, signalling both menace and empowerment. “We wanted sexy, strong, individualistic beauty looks,” says lead make-up artist Johanna Nomiey, who used Submission Beauty products to underscore the show’s message. “Glammed-up warriors who carry themselves strongly, hinting at the constant battle.”

Crafted to echo Rothschild’s stripped-bare silhouettes – shredded dresses, protective coats, and latex designs that mimicked wounds – the backstage beauty abounded with sharp contrasts. “The looks included a mix of techniques where super-sharp lines meet blended, faded edges,” Nomiey explains. Silver was dusted across the lids while bronzed glitter enhanced the faux bruises, evoking the daily trauma trans people endure, yet dignifying it with a resolute spark of defiance.

“When creating a look, you have to think about the end result,” says Nomiey, emphasising the importance of each product choice. Submission's balm in Shiny and highlighter in Lucid ensured eyes and lips gleamed with an almost metallic sheen, while the collection’s black and gunmetal palette amplified a sense of shielded intensity. Body bruises were improvised on-site for an extra jolt of authenticity.

Beneath the theatrical flourishes, the show bore a stark reminder of the world beyond fashion’s glitter: more than 350 trans people were reported killed in 2024, and this does not include those misgendered. “Give the Girl A Gun” is, therefore, a provocative directive, urging protection and celebration of trans lives. In Rothschild’s hands, bullet nails and shimmering bruises act not as ornament but as pointed symbols of an ongoing fight and a testament to the strength it takes simply to exist.