Bianca Matisse Taylor is a model and creative based in Los Angeles. She’s young, fun, fresh and beautifully honest. When she’s not fronting campaigns, she’s talking about therapy and dating on YouTube. Her beauty MO: hot baths, sabbaticals, skipping makeup and calling her Mother.
How do you define beauty?
I define beauty as seeing someone holistically. It’s about putting care into who you are internally as well as externally. When I meet a beautiful person, what touches me is not what they look like but the feeling of being around them.
Do you think your childhood shaped this at all?
Definitely. I grew up dancing competitively (forced to wear makeup, having my hair manipulated often). I ironically felt the most beautiful when I was at home playing with my friends and experiencing joy.
What’s your earliest beauty-related memory?
Probably the smell of my Mother. The perfume she was wearing, the leather seats in her car and the suede bags she’d carry. My Mother is really beautiful and led by routine. She still smells the same to me now.
Who or what was your earliest beauty influence?
Britney Spears and Beyoncé.
What’s your approach to beauty now – do you have a philosophy?
Beauty to me is waking up and loving what I feel like, how I’m thinking and feeling. These come first to me before looking in a mirror. People say beauty is pain, but I truly believe beauty is pleasure. Being pleased with yourself and all you are… knowing what you need and giving that to yourself.
Have you found that ageing has evolved the way you perceive yourself?
Definitely. I stopped regularly wearing makeup around the age of 18. I started focusing more on what I eat, skincare, exercise… I love myself so much more when I’m in my most natural form.
How do you feel about growing old?
I find it daunting but I’m hopeful. I’m practicing detaching myself from society's expectations of a woman my age. I’ve always felt so young and have been surprised at how much the world has tried changing my mind. It’s difficult and scary. I am older than I look though, so I’m grateful for that. I think I’ll definitely be a MILF.
How do you feel about cosmetic procedures, especially given you work in the modelling industry where work and worth can be very much attached to looks?
Hmmm… I view those things the same way I view someone on psychiatric medication. You can take the pills, do the prescribed thing or opt for a quick fix, but you need to make sure to always pair it with intentional healing. No matter what, we are always growing and changing. Time can not be stopped and there has to be a level of acceptance and growth there. I have empathy for the experience though, it’s a tough world to be in right now as it pertains to beauty and what people find attractive.
How has your relationship with your reflection changed over the years?
I have learned to love who I see. I physically wear the stuff I’m going through emotionally. If I ever don’t like what I see, it’s probably a sign that I’m not taking care of myself as well as I could.
Has anyone or anything influenced this?
Modeling definitely has. I’ve noticed I show up on set looking the most alive when I’ve had a good night's sleep, am hydrated and not stressed out. I always take the best photos when I am feeling good on the inside. There’s really no way to make ourselves perfect. Especially as a model, photographers will always get an angle of you you’ve never seen before. I’ve accepted that I am more beautiful than I think I am – being photographed often has helped that a lot. Others see beauty in the things we can’t see about ourselves. I think that’s pretty cool.
What do you feel is your most beautiful feature?
I really love my personality. My favourite compliment is when people tell me they feel like they can be themselves around me.
Do you have any beauty hang ups?
I love my natural curly hair. However, it has taken me years to get to this point of comfort. I still have moments where I don’t feel fully like myself with my hair in an Afro. I grew up with straight hair, people always complimented my straight hair. It’s taken a while to detach from that.
What’s one beauty lesson you wish you could tell your younger self?
It’s so beautiful to look like you. It’s beautiful to grow older and look at yourself in the mirror and love who God created you to be.
Do you have a beauty icon?
I’m not necessarily inspired by anyone’s beauty as much as I’m inspired by their intelligence. I really love Maya Angelou. Also, moments when I see a woman sitting alone confidently at a coffee shop, or when I see people rocking their natural beauty. I think that’s hot.
What catches your attention when you look at someone you think is beautiful?
Usually, their comfortability within themselves.
What kind of beauty look do you feel the most comfortable in?
No makeup, light jewellery and my skin/hair straight out of the shower. I love reading alone in a good outfit. Also, when I’m working as a model, being on set feels so deliciously glam. I love being gently touched – getting my makeup done feels like such a treat.
Do you think modelling has shaped your sense of self?
Modelling has helped me to feel beautiful externally. I have spent so much time healing myself internally that I didn’t really notice I had matured into someone classified as ‘model pretty’. It’s upped my confidence, for sure.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
I think about the dreams I had overnight, spiral a bit about what to do with my day (if I don’t have any work projects), before convincing myself I am needed in the world and that I should get up and create something...
And the last thing you do before you go to bed?
I always read a few pages of my current book under a red light until I fall asleep.
Do you need much sleep?
Yes. 10 hours every night. I am a spoiled brat in that way.
Can you tell me your top five skincare products?
I love the brand Eadem. Their lip oils, toner and dark spot serum have seriously changed my skin. I have just started using the DamDam Tokyo eye cream – it has matcha in it. It really works.
What about hair care?
Water and tea tree oil are essential. I'm testing out styling creams from Gisou, Pattern Beauty and Bread Beauty. I appreciate their focus on hair textures like mine.
When you wear makeup, what do you like?
What’s your favourite lipstick?
I enjoy YSL Beauty Loveshine in Candy Glaze, Eadem’s Le Chou Chou lip balms and Fara Homidi’s new lip oil.
How do you feel when you put lipstick on?
Ready to yap, kiss and take a selfie.
What’s your signature scent?
Right now, it’s between a couple of the LORE World scents, YSL Beauty's new Libre Vanilla Couture, or CHANEL Chance Eau Splendide.
What feeling do you look for when you’re finding a perfume?
I want to feel natural but elegant, sexy and rich.
What ritual helps you to channel power or confidence?
My yoga practice. Followed up by a sauna in an infrared blanket. I love sweating.
Any other wellness habits that have changed you for the better?
Having an early bedtime, fresh bedding and calling my Mum often. I like to take social media breaks too.
What is the strangest thing you’ve done in the name of wellness?
Earlier this year I took a month-long solo trip to Rio De Janeiro. I was feeling really overwhelmed, uninspired, and wanted to get out of survival mode. It turned out to be one of the best months of my life.
What’s the most L.A. thing about you?
I drive a convertible and the top is always down.
Your favourite L.A. wellness cliche?
I am a die-hard yoga practitioner. I also understand the benefits of a good walk or hike.
What’s the best spot for a facial in your city?
I really love Noorb By Sona in Larchmont Village.
Is there a ritual you lean on when you’re having a crisis, or a bad day?
A hot bubble bath with oils and a joint.
What is the last beauty product you recommended to a friend?
I really enjoy Flamingo Estate’s soap bars. I modelled in the campaign and smelt good for days after. Everyone deserves one in the shower.
The last product you got because you were influenced?
I have had a few aestheticians recommend Sofia Pavit’s Mandelic Acid Serum to me. I’m now hooked.
What film do you think has the greatest beauty moments?
I recently watched Birth by Jonathan Glazer and could not stop staring at Nicole Kidman. She speaks so much through her eyes in the movie and I really love the cinematography and set design. Whoever styled her deserves an award.
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
I really would love to play myself. I think I’d do a superb job.
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