backstage

MAC make-up artists at work

By Tanja Houwerzijl

The smell of hairspray is dominant backstage in the big 'tank' in Beijing's Art district 798. The haute couture show of Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei will start in about an hour. Expensive cars, mostly driving rich and famous Chinese clients are halting in front of the entrance and many onlookers are trying to catch a glimpse of this chic and fashionable crowd. Meanwhile backstage, MAC make-up artists and many hairdressers are frantically working to get all the beautiful models ready to walk the stage. The many models, each of them tall and lanky, are giggling, cracking jokes or are just killing time on their phones and listening to music to calm their nerves.