Meet Kylee De Thier: Makeup Guru and Creative Powerhouse
Experimenting with makeup and photography from a young age, Kylee De Thier has built an extraordinary career in beauty that has seen him become one of Aotearoa’s most recognised and respected beauty creators! 💋
First finding success on social media by sharing honest makeup reviews and his viral ‘Beginners Makeup 101’ tutorial series with over 10M views, Kylee has since expanded into high-end creative artistry spanning cinematic makeup transformations, editorial portrait photography and epic collaborations with iconic New Zealand talent 🎥
Let’s hear more from Kylee! 👀
What different types of content do you create and why do you enjoy it?
I love everything makeup and anything creative – I have ADHD so I really do it all!
I’m known mostly for my tutorials. I think I explain things in ways that everyone can understand and apply themselves. And, I keep it real so my audience really trusts me!
I also create high-production makeup transformation videos, from the makeup, to creative direction, lighting, camera work, editing – it’s ALL me. I love seeing the transformation from the “real” me to this alter ego that is the full glam “Kylee De Thier”, but I get the most joy from collaborating with other creators.
At the end of the day, I just want to make people feel beautiful and special and confident.
What inspired you to get into makeup and beauty? Where does that passion come from?
I have always been a creative person from making covers and music videos on Video Star in primary school, to Minecraft Let’s Plays on YouTube at intermediate, to nail art tutorials and eventually makeup content – all before reaching my senior years at high school.
Growing up, I never fit into any box and was always treated like an outsider. I had a supportive family (especially my mum) and eventually found my girlies, but nobody really understood me so I had to find my own community. That community was on social media!
OG social media stars like Kris Fox, NikkieTutorials, Jackie Aina, Shaaanxo and many more created an environment where I felt happy, accepted and celebrated. I’d always be on the brink of tears at school but would look forward to coming home, watching their videos and escaping into a world where I could finally be me. I think that is where my passion for makeup and creating comes from.
You’re still so young with so much ahead of you! What’s the biggest milestone in your career so far?
The biggest milestone in my career so far is having my own makeup palette with Shaaanxo and xoBeauty. As I just said, Shan was one of my childhood inspirations so this collaboration was a monumental full circle moment for me.
I created the ‘She’s Everything’ palette from the ground up, from the concept to the campaign launch. I’m so grateful that xoBeauty allowed me full creative freedom and let me test the formula for over 2 years until it was perfect!
It’s honestly unreal yet so real at the same time, y’know? You gotta believe in yourself!
“I just want to make people feel beautiful, special and confident.” - Kylee
You have an extensive career as a content creator in the beauty industry, how do you stay passionate? What keeps you going?
I’ve been creating on social media since I was about 12 years old, so I’ve definitely had to adapt over the years and reinvent myself a few times!
What keeps me passionate is trying new things. I’ve evolved from making YouTube videos, to being on reality TV with TVNZ’s ‘Glow Up’, to posting lo-fi TikTok tutorials all the way to high-end cinematic productions. Never be afraid to branch out, even when people tell you not to!
At the end of the day, my main drive to keep going is people talking. As a Māori gay boy who isn’t afraid of femininity and putting myself out there, my whole life I’ve been singled out, judged, laughed at, mocked. To them I say: more talent in my left thumb, HA!
What advice do you have for other creators that are feeling creatively stumped or burned out?
My happiness used to rely on whether a video got over a million views, how good my hook was or whatever. That mindset will eat you alive, sooner or later.
I stopped caring how many people saw a video and started caring WHO saw it. 1000 views, but what if one of those 1000 is on Beyoncé's creative team thinking "I want him"?
When you stop conforming and just be yourself, work stops feeling like work. It feels like fun. Which means you'll never give up, which means success becomes inevitable.
What’s next for Kylee De Thier? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
It might look like I have it all sorted out, but I too stress about my future and what direction I want to go in! That’s what your 20s are all about though, and I’m actively working on living in the moment and just following what feels right.
Wherever I end up in 10 years – whether I’m directing music videos, leading marketing campaigns or working as a celebrity makeup artist – I know it will be full of colour and creativity! Only time will tell…
“When you enjoy your work, you’ll never give up, meaning success becomes inevitable.” - Kylee
To see more of Kylee, visit him on social media or check out his talent page.
