Somewhere between a neon-lit gas station, a vintage car parked on an abandoned lot, and a desolate industrial area by the side of the highway, this American girl lives. Reminiscent of Lana Del Rey music videos and faded postcards from Hollywood’s Golden Age, she has big puffs of hair, a charming face, and dreams. Or, as musician Amy Gillingwater puts it, she has “the hair, the boobs, the eyes of an angel.”
Gillingwater is the star of a new shoot that pays homage to this quintessential Miss Americana. Shot by photographer Lewis Bourne and with make-up by Amy Twist, this photo reimagines the beauty and contradictions of Americana in all its ultra-glamorous, bittersweet glory. The shoot continues to explore the “escapism and dreamland culture” that Twist previously celebrated in his Priscilla shoots. “I’ve always been drawn to old Hollywood and icons of previous generations, so I love creating these worlds in my work,” says Twist. “Maybe it’s because it’s the opposite of my upbringing in London and it’s about fantasy for me.”
For this project, the team channeled the personas of stars like Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, and Lana Del Rey to embody three classic archetypes: the aspiring starlet, the glamor girl, and the blonde bombshell. I did. Linus Johansson’s hairstyling, exaggerated wigs, and Twisted pageant-style makeup bring the characters to life.
Here, the team details how the shoot was done, the products used to create their iconic beauty looks, and the timeless appeal of Americana.
Make-up Amy Twist, Hair Linus Johansson Photography Lewis Bourne
What do you think is the typical beauty look based on Americana aesthetics?
Amy Gillingwater: hair, boobs, and angel eyes. There’s something about being a provocative and good American woman at the same time, which is another beautiful juxtaposition.
Amy Twist: She looks very glossy and glamorous, almost like a pageant. It’s very heavy on the eyes, but it’s a bronze color with natural freckles showing through, reflecting the style of a Western girl.
What archetypes will you explore in this shoot?
Amy Gillingwater: Once the wig was finished and the look came together, Dolly, Jolene and Lana were inevitable. There is Dolly, an American songbird with a heart of gold and unparalleled purity. Jolene is a misunderstood person who craves love, even if it’s a little selfish. And Lana, who is both a devil and an angel. It was a lot of fun.
Amy Twist: For Cowgirl, we adapted the story of an aspiring star. Although she is a bit rebellious, she has big dreams of making it in Hollywood. Then, for the glamor girl, I wanted a classic Hollywood look with a touch of Southern belle, and for the blonde, I wanted a classic country music star who loves glamor and is very girly but fun. , I wanted something that wasn’t too serious.
Make-up Amy Twist, Hair Linus Johansson Photography Lewis Bourne
Which product was the key to achieving your beautiful look?
Amy Twist: For the aspiring starlet, I used a freckle pen to draw lots of freckles on Amy’s face. I then used similar tones to create a monochromatic look that matched the hair. For Glamor Girl, I focused on lip liner and used Make Up For Ever’s Endless Cacao. This is a true staple in my kit. And for the country music star, she used Half Magic Beauty face gems to create a rhinestone eye look.
What role did wigs play in changing the model’s identity?
Linus Johansson: I think wigs and the general styling of the models’ own hair played a big role in changing the model’s identity. But I think this look can be completed with or without hair and makeup. As I was applying makeup, a new personality was born, and it was the hair and wig that completed it. You can really see in the models that they adapt a whole new persona to each look we create for them, and I think it shows in the images as well.
Make-up Amy Twist, Hair Linus Johansson Photography Lewis Bourne
Aside from the romantic side of the aesthetic, have you ever thought about the darker side of Americana?
Amy Gillingwater: Always. There is no doubt that women in that part of the world are in a much more difficult situation even today. That’s one reason strong characters like Dory and Ranus are so important. Beauty has been weaponized through things like beauty pageants, but pageants start at a very young age and have been proven to have dark sides and consequences. But showing beautiful, fierce, strong girls is exactly what the world needs.
