In My Beauty, fashion and culture’s most compelling faces reveal in their own words what beauty means to them
LA-based musician and rapper Dev, infamous for chart-topping dance tracks such as “Like a G6” and “Bass Down Low,” believes every occasion is a party. This Cali native can turn a phrase, lay down tracks, turn it up on stage, and at the same time make momhood look like the most badass thing a woman can do.
Between touring, forever-changing hair colours, perfecting her stage makeup, dreaming up creative DIY projects for her daughter, and discovering the hidden “pockets” of Los Angeles, one thing’s for sure – we can all take a lesson in how to live it up like Dev.
“When I perform, it’s basically how I am in real life but turned up. I like to have fun and try to be as festive as I can at all times, every day. If my family and I are going to the park, then I like to make sure we get a full vibe, like with blankets and pillows, food and drinks and cool cups. Honestly for anything, any occasion, I’ll throw a themed party.
“When I perform, it’s basically how I am in real life but turned up. I like to have fun and try to be as festive as I can at all times, every day.” – Dev
“My daughter Emilia’s just about to be five, so she’s at the fun age and all the holidays are pretty awesome. She always tries to theme the day and control the whole family. I grew up with two younger sisters – we were all pretty close and it was always a party at home – like for Halloween, my dad would do up the whole house with music and would get a smoke machine.”
“There was a kind of freedom to growing up in Tracy, where I’m from. I loved growing up outside the city because it felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and I could drive out in the cut or run around barefoot. The city was so close, and if I ever needed an escape I could just go there.”
“I actually miss the Myspace era – the style and everything. I thought I was so cool with my default layout – I used a Biggie lyric in my profile headline: ’And she loves to show me off of course…smiles every time my face is up in The Source.’ Oh my god...what a dork!”
“Beauty to me is confidence, being unique and expressing oneself. It's important to try new styles, techniques and above all, always keep things fun. My hair – I did so many dumb things to it growing up. I’d dye it this really cool red colour that would never stay in, chopped off all my hair in the bathroom, bleaching it myself and it coming out all wrong. I've always played with different things and have never been afraid to try any kind of style.
“I do my own hair and makeup, I always have. I love a good cat eye, it’s my go-to, and it looks good on stage without me needing to be the most skilled at makeup. One of my friends is a designer for HLZ BLZ and she’s been styling me from the very beginning. I used to intern there just so she would let me use clothes for shows. It’s a cool brand for me because it’s tough but sexy. I’m a bit of tomboy, so it’s good for me to turn it up a notch.”
“I do my own hair and makeup, I always have. I love a good cat eye, it’s my go-to, and it looks good on stage without me needing to be the most skilled at makeup.” – Dev
“Although I always had friends who were in bands, rapped and put on parties, I played the flute until I graduated high school. It was something I loved and thought was really cool, being able to study and read sheet music. I was in choir too, so I was always on that side of music before I started writing my own.”
“In the morning after I get my daughter to school, I have a routine. No one can be in my house – I have to be there by myself. I really like it to be clean, so if it isn’t I find that I have to clean my house every morning – it’s so nuts! Then I spend an hour online looking at stuff; right now I’m all about interior design. It’s creative and visual, and it helps my mind get clear not thinking about music before heading to the studio. I guess I’m trying to make my home a sanctuary – it likely stems from being on the road all the time.”
“I grew up in the Bay and I never gave LA much of a chance before I moved here, but there's so much to do! You figure out cool, different pockets that you like because it’s such a spread out city. I especially like northeast LA, there are a lot of cool Mexican restaurants and bars there like Villa Sombrero – the margaritas will get you lit and it’s a pretty fun ride. I’ve been in LA now six years and I’m still finding new stuff!”
#1 (feat. Nef the Pharaoh) by Dev is out now