Half disco diva, half assassin—Janella danced her way into our hearts and nightmares. Here’s how makeup artist Carissa Cielo Medved achieved the look
It was more than just glitter and glam for Janella Salvador at this year’s Opulence Ball. Channeling a ‘70s diva, she could’ve blended in with the crowd, but instead, she took the road less traveled and added a lethal edge to her look. With unexpected details that screamed disco with a twist, she made everyone do a double take—and then lean in for a closer look. MEGA caught up with her makeup artist Carissa Cielo Medved to know all there is to know about it, from the original concept to the exact products that made Janella’s appearance at the ball an unforgettable one.
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Disco Meets Danger
“We call this look the Disco Diva, Murderer on the Dancefloor look,” Carissa said, a fitting name that matched the audacity of the look. As the hands and one of the brains behind many of Janella’s show-stopping appearances, she shared the idea behind this one.
“This look is inspired by the iconic queen of disco, Donna Summer, capturing the vibrant essence of the ‘70s disco scene. It also incorporated elements from Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s ‘Murder on the Dancefloor,’ blending glamour with a bit of intrigue,” the makeup artist shared.
It turns out that this look was planned to the last glint and glare. Carissa listed down all the key points they considered, from the color palette and textures to the even the attitude that the get-up would exude. It’s proof that creating a look like this takes much more than just makeup but a whole vision.
Crafting the Killer Look
Up close, Janella’s look was a study in wicked detail. There were bold red “spills” that ran across her face and hinted at mischief. They also had crystals that sparkled at every turn, trailing down to her jewelry for a striking, almost sinister effect. Even her lips were decked out with crystals.
Carissa shared the exact products she used to bring this look to life.
She chose two “deep and bloody shades” of red lipstick, both from Lisa Eldridge, to lay down a bold foundation for the look. Then came the faux blood, artfully splattered across Janella’s face and framed with deep red Swarovski rhinestones that sparkled at every turn. It would also be a disservice to sleep on the understated yet heroic part of her glam: the red mascara. It tied the whole look together and frankly deserved its own moment in the spotlight.
Yet Carissa made it clear that the magic lies in the trio—the outfit, makeup and hair—all working together to channel that ‘70s disco diva persona. To match the boldness of her makeup, Janella’s hair brought just as much drama. Her hairstylist Florenz used a full laced wig made of human hair in wine red and topped it off with another set of colored extensions—because in the ‘70s, bigger really is better.
Decoding the Dark Side of Disco
So why the gory route? Carissa revealed that it all began with Janella. They got it from the Donna Summer-meets-Sophie-Ellis-Bextor idea they whipped up from the beginning. “Then together, we created a cohesive makeup and hair look with some special effects to embody both the disco diva and the mysterious murderer-slash-assassin,” the makeup artist explained.
This Disco Diva, Murder on the Dancefloor look is a far cry from Janella’s past styles. “It’s definitely more experimental,” Carissa noted. The use of fake blood was the game-changer here, signaling a greater sense of creative freedom. But of course, this daring choice came with challenges—like navigating the uneven placement of faux blood from her face down to her neck while keeping everything else seamlessly blended. “It was also an opportunity to push my creative skills,” she added.
And there we have it—another riveting story brought to life through the art of makeup, something Janella and Carissa have down to a science. They flipped a disco theme into a scene straight from a murder mystery, leaving us curious about the next chapter in their beauty saga.
Featured Image and Photos: RYAN AGUSTIN (via Instagram)
