Jessamy

Carnival of Masks presents Scotts Valley, CA based makeup artist, Jessamy Barker, as part of our Beyond the Carnival: Interviews with Costume Folks Around the World series.

Pink glitter spike makeup. Photo by Jessamy Barker / @Lordofmxrule

CoM: Jessamy, tell us about what you do.

JB: Drag. Goth makeup looks. Curation of outfits.

CoM: What inspires you?

JB: Goth, fetish, leather culture, nature, British culture (I'm British, living in California), and fellow disabled artists.

Lady Gaga tribute. Photo by Jessamy Barker / @Lordofmxrule

CoM: How did your life in costumes begin??

JB: When I was 16 (in 1997) and I started goth clubbing. Since then, I've been a regular at Torture Garden Edinburgh. There’s a high dressing up standard at this fetish club. And I have continually pushed the envelope with my style efforts.

CoM: Do you attend costumed events?

JB: Yes. I attend the Edwardian Ball in San Francisco.

Liberty in America: January 2026. Photo by Jessamy Barker / @Lordofmxrule

CoM: What's your favorite thing about costumes?

JB: The potential for creative expression. Also, as a disabled person who uses a wheelchair, I'm so invisible. This work makes me hard to miss.

CoM: Who do you want to give a shoutout to in the costume world?

JB: Wyte Phantom Corsetry - Jenny is an old friend and incredibly talented corsetière.

Award-winning Hellraiser costume. Photo by Jessamy Barker / @Lordofmxrule

CoM: Anything else you’d like to share with us?

JB: As a queer and genderqueer person, my presentation daily is very much about communicating where I am in that moment. I love that costumes are a powerful way to do that.

CoM: Thanks so much, Jessamy!

WANT TO SHARE YOUR COSTUME STORY?

Holly King drag. Photo by Jessamy Barker / @Lordofmxrule