PAST ICONS, FUTURE FACES

MAC COSMETICS

CAMPAIGN

Anniversaries often look backward. Past Icons, Future Faces treated MAC’s 40-year history as something still in motion. Instead of revisiting past looks, the campaign recast them through new characters shaped by the same spirit of self-expression.

From punk to supermodel to club-kid glamour, each era became a persona rather than a reference. The work showed how MAC’s influence lives on through individuals who reinterpret beauty on their own terms. The result positioned MAC’s legacy not as nostalgia, but as a foundation for the next generation of artistry.

SOLAR RETURN — Played by Princess Gollum

A nod to MAC’s darker, rebellious past, Princess Gollum channels early 2000s grunge with a monochromatic gothic look—smoky eyes, dark lips, and an air of defiant glamour. The moment is sealed with a single flicker: a birthday candle blown out, marking MAC’s 40th solar return.

BIRTHDAY SUIT — Played by Ama Elsesser

Ama embodies the unapologetic confidence of ‘90s beauty icons like Pamela Anderson and Lil’ Kim, adorned in bedazzled gems and mirrors—a reflection of celebration and self-expression. Inspired by Pamela’s iconic Viva Glam campaign, a birthday message is spelled out in rhinestones across Ama’s bare back, bringing MAC’s legacy full circle.

HIGH-SPIRITED — Played by Patrick Kit Hill

A vision of playful exuberance, Parker Kit Hill brings the high-energy, candy-colored surrealism of the 2010s to life. Vibrant, saturated hues create a whimsical makeup look, with balloons peeking into the frame—an ode to MAC’s 40th in full celebration mode.