Since 1959, Barbie (opens in new tab) has been at the helm of little girl doll collections around the world. Now, Barbie has teamed up with celebrity makeup artist Sir John (opens in new tab), the genius artist responsible for many of Queen Bey's (opens in new tab) most seductive makeup moments. In a new beauty-focused editorial (opens in new tab), Sir John shows off his expertise by creating six modern makeup looks for Barbie dolls with a variety of skin tones, facial features, and hair textures.

"I love that Barbie is a way for me to learn about myself, what I want to look like, and how I want to be as an adult. I mean, she's had over 200 careers!" Sir John says. 'As you will see in this collaboration, each doll's look goes in a different direction with makeup and hair. That is what is most admirable and what makes it authentically beautiful."

The collaboration, as is so often the case these days, came about through Instagram. I was looking at [stylist] Siona Turini's Barbie collection [opens in new tab] back in February and was so inspired by her work." I remember seeing this comment at the bottom of the post: 'Oh wouldn't it be cool if Sir John did the makeup?'" And. From there, the brand contacted me, I met the team virtually, and we built a relationship organically," Sir John explains.

"It was really nice to get a great vibe from the people behind the brand, and once that happened, the collaboration was a total go for me."

The artist drew inspiration from works he has dreamed of in the past, including Disney's 2019 campaign for The Lion King. Sir John wanted a look that was a work of art, but also wearable." I'm all about the skin, but I also look for punctuation and statements that elevate the look," he says.

"So for me, the eyes are the best way to convey a feeling or evoke an emotion in an audience."

When it comes to the artist's daily work, he draws creative inspiration from multiple disciplines. Inspiration changes," says Sir John. Yes, I am always inspired by the amazing women I work with, but this year it has taken the form of activism and being a voice for change."

Each of the dolls in the collection has a look that embodies their own personality and style. From playful eye looks to striking and bold lip colors, each masterpiece is a nod to one of Sir John's favorite classic beauty looks." I love winged eyeliner, seductive or flirty eyes, and beautiful skin," he says. 'Cookie cutter glamour is old hat. It's when a look is supported by personality that it looks cool, fresh, and modern. Hopefully, that comes across in their looks."