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Darren

@mxdarren.bsky.social
755 followers 306 following 160 posts

29. Writer and activist according to Metro UK. One of Attitude mag’s 101 LGBTQ trailblazers 2022. Podcast - linktr.ee/turninglewkspod Opinions are mine. They/She

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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
New on my blog: an interview with content creator Stefano Esposito on building a world out of pastels, vintage finds and joy, and why abundance is its own form of resistance. 🌸 turninglewks.substack.com/p/stefano-es...
turninglewks.substack.com
The Content Creator using Brightness as Resistance
Stef’s aesthetic universe, the relationship between fashion and beauty, and why abundance is its own form of defiance.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
There are two types of gay out there: short shorts gays and long/jort shorts gays
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
New interview with Jermaine Naugher, who works at a makeup counter and says nobody's showing people the HOW anymore, only the WHAT we talked drag references, facial hair in glam, doll collecting as a creative language, controlled mess as a whole philosophy turninglewks.substack.com/p/no-rules-j...
turninglewks.substack.com
No Rules, Just Technique: Jermaine Naugher on Living Art and the Looks That Never Finish
On creative "wrong" thinking, counter work and why living art never really finishes.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The boy blush. The boy bronzer. A community Rhode didn't build but somehow has. So why isn't a single man in the campaign? New on Turning Lewks 👇 turninglewks.substack.com/p/the-boy-bl...
turninglewks.substack.com
Boy Blush, Boy Bronzer and the Brands That Still Haven't Claimed Them
The beauty boys have already chosen their brands. The question is whether those brands are paying attention.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Lily Parfitt worked every job the beauty industry had to offer. then she stopped doing makeup on herself entirely. new on turning lewks: burnout, the femme makeup masterclass, and what it means to hold space in the MUA chair 💄 turninglewks.substack.com/p/makeup-as-...
turninglewks.substack.com
Makeup as a Community Practice and the Transformative Power of the MUA Chair
On burning out in the industry, finding it again through queer and trans community, and why the most radical thing you can do is help someone see themselves.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Beauty brands used to fall over themselves for Pride. Now they've gone quiet. That silence is telling us something. #PrideMonth #Pride Where did all the Pride makeup go? ⬇️ turninglewks.substack.com/p/where-did-all-the-pride-makeup-go
turninglewks.substack.com
Where Did All the Pride Makeup Go?
Beauty brands used to trip over themselves to release Pride collections every June. Now they've gone quiet. That silence is telling us something.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Can someone explain to me how the apple weather app is telling me its just cloudy today but bbc weather is saying its going to thunderstorm?
static.klipy.com
Friends Ross's Spray Tan Mishap
ALT: Friends Ross's Spray Tan Mishap
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
the multi-use makeup era is getting exhausting. lip AND cheek AND eye AND face AND... just make a good product please. New post breaking it all down 👇 turninglewks.substack.com/p/the-multi-use-makeup-myth-is-getting #Makeup #MakeupBlog #Substack
turninglewks.substack.com
The Multi-Use Makeup Myth Is Getting Tired
Branding something as "lip and cheek" doesn't make it so. Formulas don't lie, but the marketing does.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
The makeup in Lady Gaga & Doechii’s music video for Runway has me in a chokehold. Colourful, camp, bold artistry! Of course I had to write all about it ⬇️ Read the breakdown here: turninglewks.substack.com/p/gaga-doech... #LadyGaga #Doechii #TheDevilWearsPrada2 #TDWP2
turninglewks.substack.com
The Real Star of Lady Gaga & Doechii’s RUNWAY Video? The Makeup.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 has given us the music video moment of 2026, and the beauty looks are doing just as much heavy lifting as the fashion.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
I interviewed a Stockholm creator who had some of the sharpest things to say about gender, identity and creativity in makeup that I've heard in a while. "The line between masculine and feminine was never meant to be as rigid as we've been told." Full interview 👇 open.substack.com/pub/turningl...
open.substack.com
Gym Bro to Full Beat: How One Creator Is Rewriting Beauty's Gender Rules
On moving between worlds, why the line between masculine and feminine was always a lie, and what it actually takes to build a safe space on the internet.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
youtube.com/watch?v=uBj5...
youtube.com
ALL YOU FASCISTS (Bound to Lose) Music Video Bette Midler
YouTube video by Bette Midler
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
A month on from Gucci FW26 and my fyp still hasn't moved on. So I wrote about why that makes sense; it's really a story about lineage, and the smoky eye that started it all. turninglewks.substack.com/p/the-gucci-...
turninglewks.substack.com
The Gucci FW26 Smoky Eye Hasn't Left My FYP. Here's Why That Makes Sense.
Demna's debut runway show for Gucci did something rare: it made people want to DO their makeup. We haven't stopped talking about it.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
MAC Cosmetics recently launched its #TikTok live shopping strategy in the UK and it got me thinking, are brands really asking whether the format serves them or just serves the metric of being on the platform? Full article linked below: open.substack.com/pub/turningl... #MACCosmetics #Makeuptrends
open.substack.com
Does MAC's TikTok Shop Live Strategy Actually Make Sense for the Brand?
More and more prestige beauty brands are eyeing TikTok Shop as their next frontier. But is the platform the right fit for every brand or just the ones built for it?
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
"You can choose to care about the world, or you can choose to ignore it." I spoke with @cloveroom.bsky.social on slow beauty, soft resistance & logging off the algorithm. A great one. Read the blog: turninglewks.substack.com/p/clover-roo... #SlowBeauty #QueerCreators #TransVisibility
turninglewks.substack.com
Clove Room on Soft Resistance, Slow Beauty and Logging Off the Algorithm
“You can choose to care about the world, or you can choose to ignore it.”
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
The pokemon game on google to celebrate Pokemon's 30th is pretty cute
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
New on Turning Lewks 💄🌈 Chatted with Dylan Blundell about queer beauty, cool-tone comebacks & why makeup should be messy again. It’s about expression, not perfection. Read here: turninglewks.substack.com/p/dylan-blun... #queerbeauty #turninglewks
turninglewks.substack.com
Dylan Blundell on Queer Beauty, Cool-Tone Comebacks and Letting Makeup Get Messy Again
Confidence, creativity, and why makeup doesn’t have to be clean to be powerful.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
New blog post! I chatted with Howard Kong all about modern femininity in makeup ✨ From soft-glam to red carpet ready, and all about trusting your own timeline. 💄💫 Read it here 👉 turninglewks.substack.com/p/howard-kon... #TurningLewks #MakeupMood #GlowUp
turninglewks.substack.com
Howard Kong on Modern Femininity, Red Carpet Balance, and Trusting Your Own Timeline
Howard Kong’s makeup doesn’t shout - it glows.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
I’ve been thinking a lot about how Gen Z and Gen A are changing their relationship with the internet and how that shift is showing up in beauty. The sift from algorithm-led, short-form content to people craving ownership, slowness and intention again. ⬇️ turninglewks.substack.com/p/why-algori...
turninglewks.substack.com
Why Algorithm Beauty Is Fading (and Colour Is Making a Comeback)
There is no denying that there has been a growing shift recently in how young people (Gen Z and A) are interacting with social media, the internet and technology.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
I went shopping at Battersea today and bought from m&s, Uniqlo and space nk… I’ve become so middle class and I hate it
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
To celebrate #Halloween today, I've written a blog on one of the biggest #makeup trends of 2025 - Dark Glam. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/turningl...
open.substack.com
Dark Glam Is In: Inside the Gothic Makeup Trend of 2025
Dark lips, smoked-out eyes, sharp liner: gothic-inspired makeup has stepped firmly into the spotlight.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
New Turning Lewks ep is live! 🎙️ This time I chat with Lexi Blac - Glow Up S7 star, drag queen, and MUA. We cover his drag-to-MUA journey, behind-the-scenes of Glow Up & his mission to put colour + creativity back at the heart of makeup. Listen here: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
New Turning Lewks ep is live! 🎙️ This time I chat with Lexi Blac - Glow Up S7 star, drag queen, and MUA. We cover his drag-to-MUA journey, behind-the-scenes of Glow Up & his mission to put colour + creativity back at the heart of makeup. Listen here: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Finding beauty brands that truly align with your values can feel harder than ever - especially around #TransRights. I wrote a new piece for Gender Swap on how to spot if a #beauty brand is genuinely #trans-inclusive (and not just performative). Read it here 👉 genderswap.org/blog/f/how-t...
genderswap.org
How to Spot if a Beauty Brand is Truly Trans-Inclusive
Written by Darren Mew, Founder of Turning Lewks Podcast
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CAKE @thebandcake.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Ahem
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Helen 🏳️‍⚧️✊🏻💕 @mimmymum.bsky.social · 10/08/2025
“Protecting women and children” is the fig-leaf white, privileged, cis men wear to try and maintain their power and status* while they punch down on minorities! 😖 A power and status granted to them *because* they’re white, privileged, cis men! (They KNOW this, which is why they’re so fragile!) 😣
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Amnesty International UK @amnestyuk.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
🚨HAPPENING NOW: Hundreds arrested in Parliament Square in protest organised by Defend Our Juries The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters is a violation of the UK’s international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly. 1/3
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Helen 🏳️‍⚧️✊🏻💕 @mimmymum.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
How UK lawmaking has given up on parliamentary democracy… “The EHRC consultation was a mortifying stitch up, whose cynicism was only diluted by its incompetence. Rarely has an organisation been so embarrassingly obvious in its attempt to secure a particular result” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @iandunt.bsky.social
open.substack.com
The trans rights stitch-up
How government plans to silence debate on the new rules
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
Millennials in jorts… it’s giving midlife crisis.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
I’ve become that really annoying person when ordering drinks “do you have Coke Zero? Only diet? Lemonade then.” “Can I get a decafe oat latte”
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
It’s 2025 can we stop using Born this way on pride posts
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madoc cairns @madoc.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Police in Canterbury today informed a protestor that the phrase "Israel is committing genocide in Gaza" could be considered a declaration of support for Palestine Action and therefore a terrorism offence.
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Matt @itsmattagain.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
This is section 28 all over again.
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Helen 🏳️‍⚧️✊🏻💕 @mimmymum.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
I fully expect Bridget Phillipson - also the Minister for Education - to entirely disregard any responses to the EHRC consultation, in the same way she did in the consultation about trans-inclusion in PSHE education in schools - which had 2/3 support but was still ignored! 😣😖
Sexual orientation and gender reassignment
Question 20: Do you agree with changes to the lesbian, gay and bisexual content in the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) section (note that the next section provides an opportunity to comment on text about gender identity and gender reassignment)?
We received 13,957 responses to this question
Answer
Total
Percent
Yes
5,009
36%
No
8,948
64%
Question 22: Do you agree with the proposed changes related to gender identity and gender reassignment in the guidance?
We received 14,196 responses to this question
Answer
Total
Percent
Yes
5,411
38%
No
8,785
62%
Consultation Findings
Almost two thirds (64%) of respondents disagreed with the changes to this section. Some reported that they thought the section was harmful and that not teaching LGBT content will cause unwanted, damaging feelings by suggesting being LGBT is something to be kept hidden. Respondents' opinion remains divided though, with some respondents commenting that it is ridiculous that LGBT education is still not fully compulsory and others stating that it should not be taught at all.
Just over three fifths (62%) of respondents did not agree with the changes to the content on gender reassignment. Comments include that you cannot teach about gender reassignment without teaching about gender identity, which teaching about gender identity does not lead children to question their gender but rather promotes respect and tolerance and that not teaching about it is harmful to those students experiencing gender dysphoria. Some respondents expressed concerns about how to teach about gender identity while complying with duties in the Education Act to be politically impartial.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
I’ve somehow gotten 3 insect bits in my armpit and they’re quite painful 😭🤣
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
What is a “queer leader”? I see the term being thrown around on LinkedIn all the time and I’m still yet to understand what it means. Like I really don’t get how you “lead” a community or identity 🤷
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
You can really tell now much of a fag someone is by the length of their shorts. Happy pride.
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Star Wars Holocron @swholocron.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
“I’m always ready for Mon Mothma Summer.” Genevieve O’Reilly dancing to Niamos! ☀️🪩
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
So excited and thrilled to be part of this project! The brand new makeup support programme for Trans+ people in London will be bringing you a plethora of exciting new resources, content and a mix of online and in person makeup workshops. Find out more: genderswap.org/blog/f/feel-...
genderswap.org
FEEL GOOD IS HERE! A TRANS+ MAKEUP PROGRAMME
We are so excited to launch a brand new makeup support programme for Trans+ people in London this year, in collaboration with Turning Lewks Podcast and The Outside Project, called the FEEL GOOD progra...
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Jess O'Thomson @jessothomson.co.uk · 24/05/2025
Reminder: If you support Harry Potter in any way, you are directly funding legal attacks on trans people. There is no separating the art from the artist in this case.
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Trans+ Solidarity Alliance @transsolidarity.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
UN experts are calling on politicians and lawmakers to protect the human rights of trans+ people in the UK, let’s make them listen! WRITE TO YOUR MP. Find a tempate here: docs.google.com/document/d/1... @nancymk.bsky.social @jessothomson.co.uk
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
New episode of my #makeup #podcast is out now! This month I chat with MUA Grace Insole about product development, MUA lead beauty brands and so much more! Listen on your preferred streaming platform here: linktr.ee/turninglewks...
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Dr Dan @dpdormouse.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
EHRC is presently facing several imminent legal actions, a telling off from individual MPs and the UK joint committee on human rights.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
TERFs these days be like
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Carla Denyer @carladenyer.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Today I've written to Bridget Phillipson to ask for clarity on how the government will ensure trans people's rights in the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling and EHRC guidance. At a moment of extreme worry and distress for the trans community, govt must step up and give assurances.
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Robin Moira White @robinmoirawhite.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
This update would appear to be incompatible with trans people’s rights under the ECHR, given the attempt to force trans people into spaces inappropriate for them. That appears to me to be a potential breach of Articles 3, 8 and 14 of the Convention. www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre...
equalityhumanrights.com
An interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgment | EHRC
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Helen Belcher @helenbelcherobe.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
What the heck are the EHRC issuing guidance at 10pm on a Friday evening for? And why have they extended the ruling past what even the government extended it to? Remember, this is NOT statutory guidance. And more and more folk are recognising this is pure hate.
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
@labourlewis.bsky.social not understanding his role as an MP which is to listen to people… Also the party YOU work for are stripping the rights of OUR community and YOU’RE doing nothing about it, I think we are well entitled to make demands for YOU TO DO YOUR JOB AS AN “ALLY”
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Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 23/04/2025
The Supreme Court ruling left out trans people. We're stepping in — with lawyers, resources, and action 🏳️‍⚧️⚖️ Donate to our fighting fund 💪 goodlaw.social/9235c1
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Good Law Project @goodlawproject.org · 25/04/2025
🏳️‍⚧️ NEW 🏳️‍⚧️ We believe the Supreme Court – which disgracefully refused to hear from trans people before its decision last week – has placed the UK in breach of its obligations under the Human Rights Act. So we’re readying a challenge – join us: goodlaw.social/xpme
goodlaw.social
Help us challenge the Supreme Court’s judgment on trans rights | Good Law Project
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Darren @mxdarren.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
A new episode of my #makeup #podcast is out now! This month I'm joined by the lovely Jess Sebastiao. We talk all about her time on BBC's Glow Up, cosplay makeup artistry, comic con and SFX makeup. Listen here on your preferred platform - linktr.ee/turninglewks...
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