‘Living For’ is an ongoing series profiling queer and queer-adjacent creators who are making it work. We’re living for them, and you should be too.
This week we’re getting our life from Alexis Stone (aka Elliot Joseph Rentz), the Manchester-based drag queen and makeup artist whose celebrity impersonations have everyoneincluding her famous subjectsgagging.
Alexis’ work speaks for itself, and so does shecheck out our interview below.
They say you’re either a Pride queen or a Halloween queen. Are you either, or did you get into drag in another way?
I couldn’t think of anything worse than doing drag for the first time during pride! The hottest, busiest weekend of the year.
My first experience of clubbing in drag was when I was 17. I bleached my brows, wore a long blonde wig and a vintage bra and pants set, and strutted over to makeup artist Adam Burell’s house, where he was painting Alexis Knox. We headed over to Jodie Harsh’s clubnight Circus. I remember the thrill of getting out of the taxi in central London and strutting past tourists to the venue. As a young adult and drag still being a novelty to me, I had such a “superstar” rush.
As a child, I grew up watching Mrs. Doubtfire and The Birdcage on repeat. I demanded that I wear a curly red wig and a Cinderella dress with a hoop skirt, so it was no surprise that my early cross-dressing years would transpire in me finally making money from doing soall drag queens are cross-dressers before they get paid.
Makeup is a rite of passage for girls, but not so much for guys. How did you get so good at makeup, and who taught you?
I remember using Mac powder when I was 15 at school to conceal my teenage blemishes (and failing). Thankfully, I grew up with my mother, who allowed/encouraged me to be as creative as possible, so wearing makeup wasn’t an alien experience.
While I lived in London I spent time living with two friends, Synestra and Luxeria, who both woreand continue to wearincredibly refined makeup. I would sit and watch them paint for hours, until one day Lux said I could sit at her makeup counter and use her makeup. Alas, Alexis was created.
Having an already creative hand and knowledge of fashion, it didn’t take me too long to master what worked for my face. While I am self-taught at everything I do, makeup schools are a great way of broadening your knowledge of brands and helping you understand your aesthetics as an artist.
You’ve gotten so much online attention from your amazing celebrity impersonations. Who was your first, and what inspired you to do them?
Thank you. My first transformation was Amanda Lepore (which I need to redo). It’s only really been the last three months that I’ve sat down and focused on achieving the transformations. What you see is my first and only attempt, they normally take between 30 to 50 minutes max.
I can be inspired to do someone based on their talents, popularity, and requests or comical factor, from Hollywood actresses to beauty influencers. I get so inspired to do more when even I am spooked by how similar I look to them. There’s been a couple where even I have giggled at how creepily similar they are.
Who was your favorite to do and why?
Jocelyn Wildenstein. I’ve been fascinated by her for years, having read many articles and interviews of her throughout her infamous divorce. After I uploaded my transformation of her I received a message from her fiancé, Lloyd Klein, who stated that Jocelyn loved the transformation and wanted to meet me in New York. As you can imagine, I shat myself with joy at 2 am screaming and hyperventilating.
I gathered myself, and then Lloyd told me that Jocelyn wanted me to leave her home as her to fool the paps for a bit of fun. The hyperventilating continued.So I flew to Manhattan a month later to meet both of them. An incredible lady and a fascinating couple. And I can officially say, “I have Jocelyn Wildenstein on speed dial!”
Who was the hardest impersonation to do?
The harder ones to achieve are the younger girls. Kylie Jenner is a beautiful girl, but compared to Goldie Hawn, her face doesn’t have many defining features. Sure, she has big lips and long lashes, but someone with a little more age and character gives me more details to work from.
Do you ever start someone and then abandon it if it’s not going well, or do you always plow through?
I’m pretty good at recognizing when I can achieve someone. The secret of a good transformation is studying their face and KNOWING your face. It’s all in the details, the spaces between the features, the shadows, etc. I’ve not had to abandon any of the transformations just yet, but thankfully they don’t take me long to do, so if and when I do I can move on to someone else quickly. I’ve spoken about digital retouching throughout my transformations, as there’s obviously only so much that makeup can dothe digital element is a needed step in some of them.
Do you ever start someone and then abandon it if it’s not going well, or do you always plow through?
I’m pretty good at recognizing when I can achieve someone. The secret of a good transformation is studying their face and KNOWING your face. It’s all in the details, the spaces between the features, the shadows, etc. I’ve not had to abandon any of the transformations just yet, but thankfully they don’t take me long to do, so if and when I do I can move on to someone else quickly. I’ve spoken about digital retouching throughout my transformations, as there’s obviously only so much that makeup can dothe digital element is a needed step in some of them.
Besides Jocelyn, have any of the celebrities you’ve impersonated reposted them or reached out to thank you?
A majority of those that I have done have contacted me. Jocelyn obviously asked to meet me, all the beauty gurus have contacted me saying how amazed they are, Kat Von D said it was an honor, and Jeffree [Star] asked me to do a video with him. Pete Burns’ ex-wife contacted me saying she thought Pete would be very proud and his best friend also agreed.
It’s always nice to get a response from them, but it’s never my intention. I get asked to do hundreds of people a day and I really only do someone that I enjoy watching on screen, from YouTube to movies.
Describe your drag aesthetic when you’re not impersonating a celebrity.
Alexis Stone was created seven years ago from my love of femme fatales. I always wanted to create a beautifully intimidating woman.
What’s next for Alexis Stone?
Every week my life seems to change. I have opportunities coming my way now that I could only have dreamed of, so I’m taking them as they come. I’m collaborating with a lot more brands now, which is enabling me to travel with them. I will continue to do my transformations while focusing on more film projects as Alexis Stone to really showcase what she’s all about.
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