How Dominique Fishback’s “Brooklyn Princess” Beauty Look Came Together for the Critics Choice Awards
Dominique Fishback calls herself a “Brooklyn princess through and through,” so when it came time to go glamorous for the Critics Choice Awards—where she was nominated alongside her fellow cast members for Best Acting Ensemble in Judas and the Black Messiah—she wanted to channel her softer side. She also had her character in mind: “In spite of the tragic nature of many moments in our film ... the movie is a love story,” Fishback notes. “Chairman Fred shows us what it means to have an undying love for the people. The Panthers’ rhetoric is drenched in loving the people without condition. And Deborah Johnson is romantic love personified. She is the evolution of love. She becomes a woman over the course of the film and in many ways, so have I.”
Throughout the press tour for the film, Fishback wanted to embrace the warmth of her character, and play up her own romantic inclinations. At the Critics Choice Awards, that meant starting with a Reem Acra dress styled by Madison Guest. The crystal-bedecked, mauve-pink dress was accented with sparkly Kat Kim and Melissa Kaye earrings and rings from and Grace Lee. When it came to beauty, Fishback s hair echoed the glittering theme: Hairstylist Monaè Everett embellished Fishback s low bun with pearls and diamonds on one side of a subtle side part. The sleek, creative style was brought together with a swirl of products. To start the look, Everett applied Ouidad’s Curl Immersian Custard and SheaMoisture s 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Leave-In Treatment. To ensure it would stay slicked back, she used Eco Styler Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Gel, adding Sebastian s Re-Shaper Hairspray for hold.
As for the peachy makeup? Billie Gene brought that together with a sharp onyx winged liner, topped off by L Oréal s Carbon Black Mascara and YSL s Lipstick in shade 144 Shoreditch Walk on the lips. “The dress felt very Old Hollywood glamour, which inspired the cat eye liner and swooped back hair, but the nude lipstick and jewels kept it young and fresh,” Fishback says.
Finally, Fishback embraced the La Vie en Rose theme all the way down to her baby pink manicure, courtesy of artist Aja Walton—all in all, a look fit for Brooklyn royalty.
Here, Fishback shares an inside look into how her fairytale Critics Choice Awards look came to be.
Photo: Courtesy of Ben Lamberty1/7“Two of my favorite worlds combining: Romeo Juliet, and the Black Panthers. It s all love.”
Photo: Courtesy of Ben Lamberty2/7“A sign of the times. Getting ready to log in to our Critics Choice virtual cast table.”
Photo: Courtesy of Ben Lamberty3/7“A final toast with my team! I m leaving right after the Critics Choice Awards to start a new project, so we had to have a proper send off.”
Photo: Courtesy of Ben Lamberty4/7“Happiness.”
Photo: Courtesy of Ben Lamberty5/7“Celebrating the night called for cupcakes.”