Oval-faced, with clear blue eyes and deep brunette fringe, Meghan Collison recalls a goth version of a perfect porcelain doll. Those otherworldly good looks have made the Canadian model a favorite with photographers from Steven Meisel to Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott in recent years, not to mention with her rapidly growing Instagram fan base. But while her loyal followers on the social media platform are familiar with her low-key off-duty beauty look—which consists mainly of “Vichy sunscreen, MAC powder, lots of black mascara,” says Collison—they may also have noticed a few dramatic departures in the makeup department of late.
Meghan Collison
“Confession: I really love to face paint. It’s the only creative outlet that I have found that I truly enjoy.”
Photo: Courtesy of Meghan Collison / @omgitsmeg
Since last Halloween, face painting has become more than a hobby for the model, who first began experimenting with the medium when “a friend asked to paint my face so he could take a picture of me.” Before long, she was taking matters into her own hands. “I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and how quickly my mind flooded with all these different ideas I wanted to try out.” Dedicated followers of @omgitsmeg have been treated to the spectacular results, created using pigments and paintbrushes picked up at art stores, but most have been taken down recently, as Collison, in collaboration with her photographer boyfriend, is planning to publish them in a book of photographs and poetic writing, using Kickstarter as a platform.