Chappell Roan Revealed Why She's Always Painting Her Face White, And It's Pretty Heartwarming

    "That’s why I actually wear my white face."

    Of course, you know Chappell Roan — and if not, where have you been?!?

    Chappell Roan at an event, wearing a sheer, flowing dress with a deep neckline, accessorized with a cross necklace and unique gloves with long metallic nails

    If you've been following Chappell's meteoric rise to superstardom this year, you've probably noticed that she wears white face paint a lot.

    Person smiling, wearing a beaded mesh headpiece and matching outfit, on a red carpet or event setting

    Like, a lot.

    Drag performer in a futuristic costume sings and gestures on stage, with a band member playing guitar in the background

    Well, during a recent performance in Manchester (via Pop Crave), Chappell explained why she dons the makeup so often — and the explanation made a lot of sense.

    Chappell Roan performing on stage, wearing a sequined blue bodysuit with star embellishments and gold fringe epaulets, holding a microphone with eyes closed and red nail polish

    “Other people in my hometown would call gay people clowns. I don’t say this very often," she said. "That’s why I actually wear my white face."

    A person dressed in gothic-style clothing with feathered sleeves and bold makeup passionately singing on stage. No names are provided

    “Like, bitch, I’ll show you a clown.”

    A performer with curly hair, wearing a red and black outfit with star accents and dramatic stage makeup, energetically sings into a microphone

    In the clip, Chappell also stressed the importance of community-building through her music. “This is what I care about because I see you, and I see a community,” she told the audience. “I really needed this whenever I was 15. I need it so bad. To just be in a room of people that looked like me.”

    A woman with long, curly hair wearing a patterned headband and a gray blazer speaks at a podium. The background features a wooden panel and partial text

    “Thank you for showing up, and know that this is a place where you belong.”

    Aly & AJ's Aly Michalka performing on stage, wearing a sparkly, embellished sleeveless dress, holding a microphone, and smiling

    Hear, hear!