Outside of the extravagance pictured in every ballroom scene, not every hair and makeup look on the show is super glamourous.
"Since season one, we have had to do a lot of different makeup looks that were emotionally hard to do," Laurence said. "From people dying of AIDS to one of our characters being murdered to bad 'silicone' injections that became severely infected." The devastating physical effects of HIV/AIDS in particular took centre stage in the season three premiere with the AIDS-related death of recurring character, Cubby (Jeremy McClain), whose bright and baby-faced appearance in previous seasons was displaced by darker makeup that made him appear more grim and morbid.
"These are all real things that the LGBTQIA+ community experienced, especially in the trans community of colour," Laurence said. "Then we would have to switch modes and create fantastical ball looks as well."