Known for her bold, avant garde makeup style, makeup artist @maoomua (aka Mia Dermanovich) didn’t expect her post to go viral at the end of 2025 – but it did, gaining over 160,000 likes and starting a digital phenomenon. Uploading a curation of her most unapologetically maximalist beauty looks from the year with the caption “I put clean girls into a coma,” Mia started a trend that had other MUA’s sharing their own takes on the end of the clean girl era.
What she started was a movement in beauty that collectively agreed 2026 will be more dramatic, more adventurous, more playful, and more fun. And Mia’s at the front of that movement. We linked up with Mia to talk about the beauty industry, her inspirations, and trends she defo won’t be hopping on this year.
What made you first want to become an MUA?
“I find it so much easier to express myself through painting face. The whole process of creating a look gives me so much excitement and bliss at the same time. I simply love playing with colour, shape, different textures and face features which helps me sell the vision I have in my mind.”
Your makeup looks are insanely bold, avant garde, and feel super original. Where do you get your inspiration from?
“Everywhere around me really. I am mostly very much inspired by nature and fashion, and combining both gives the avant garde feel. My inspiration also comes from Drag Queens who never fail to amaze me!”
You recently started the viral trend of posting maximalist makeup looks with the slogan “I put clean girls in a coma.” What first inspired you to make that post?
“I just needed an excuse to post a slideshow of my makeup and wanted the slogan to be as bold as the looked I do. I didn’t intend it to become a trend, but the internet did its thing and I am really happy that a lot of artists understood what it meant actually. [The] makeup industry was painted beige at least for the past four years, and I think we need uniqueness and creativity more than ever today!”
In the caption you said that “beauty [has been] in a recession.” Who are some MUAs, aside from yourself, who are pulling beauty out of this recession?
“There’s so many creative people I’ve come across on the internet who are contributing to it, but the ones I would single out are: Yan Fang, Garance Murru, August, Rowi Singh, and Dee.”
What’s your favourite beauty look you’ve created?
“It’s either my most recent one I did, inspired by a doll that @pidgindoll made, or the punchy purple/blue with white eyelashes winter inspo makeup I did back in December.”
What’s a beauty trend you’re loving right now?
“That trends are lowkey about to die down and we are embracing being ourselves!”
What’s a beauty trend you will never be persuaded to start doing?
“Hmm I don’t really know because I am not as influenced as much. But I would say anything AI beauty related… I think that’s an insult to humanity.”
What’s your favourite beauty moment in film/TV?
“Lady Gaga in American Horror Story: Hotel.”
What advice would you give to young creatives who want to do what you do?
“Cliche as it sounds, just be yourself. Be interested in everything and test your creativity in every way possible, and remember to create for yourself first.”
