Frances Hannon, the makeup and hair designer on Wicked: For Good, has revealed why Glinda's (Ariana Grande) controversial strip lashes were used for a very specific reason.
"For Ari, we really went much stronger around the eyes," Hannon told Allure. "With the lashes, my intention was, and I think it really worked…It brought her [eyes] forward and gave her a maturity with the paler hair.
"It's a subtle change, but you really feel that there is something much more grown-up about her. We didn't go for big, strong eye makeup, shapes, or colours. The real change was in the strength of the lashes and the depth of the eyes."
"By staying with soft and muted colours, with a subtle brow and not making it very arched, I hope [the timeless quality is] what comes through," she explained.
Following the release of Wicked: For Good, fans have voiced their frustrations about Glinda's striplashes on TikTok, with one noting that the false lashes "take you out" of the world established in the film, because they "don't belong or exist in The Wizard of Oz".
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Likewise, a second remarked that they hadn't been applied properly, adding: "Every single close-up shot of Ariana Grande, the inner corners are falling off – they're peeling off."
While fans may have taken issue with Glinda's makeup, Wicked: For Good has been flying high since its cinematic debut last month (21 November). A box office success, the film earned $150 million domestically in its opening weekend, not to mention $226 million worldwide (via CNN).
According to Deadline, Wicked: For Good has officially exceeded the $400 million mark globally this month, earning more than $407 million worldwide as of Wednesday (3 December).
Related: 5 major changes Wicked: For Good made to the original story, including Elphaba's darker fate
As for the film's critical response, Wicked: For Good has received mixed reviews and currently holds a score of 68% on Rotten Tomatoes.
In our three–star review, we noted that the movie, while an "engaging and affecting watch" was weaker than the first instalment because "the first movie expanded and improved on the musical.
"The sequel – or continuation, whatever you want to call it – does the first bit, but rarely does the second on a consistent enough basis to truly fly."
Wicked: For Good is out now in cinemas.
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