Bow down! Kim Kardashian landed the latest virtual cover of Violet Grey’s The Violet Files rocking one of her boldest beauty looks to date—but in fact, she’s not the focus. The soon-to-be second-time mom, 34, played model to celeb makeup artist Pat McGrath, who used the reality star’s face as a canvas to reimagine Elizabeth Taylor‘s unforgettable Cleopatra eye makeup.
“Elizabeth Taylor’s makeup in Cleopatra has been recreated countless times, but for Kim I wanted to create a version that has never been done before, a futuristic 3D version,” McGrath—who serves as the creative design director of P&G Beauty, which includes CoverGirl—told the ‘zine. “I wanted to portray a luxurious decadence by using elements of ornate facial jewelry constructed into shapes that pay homage to Egyptian culture, and of course to the rich exotic character that Taylor played in this role.”
Consider the mission accomplished! In the artsy spread (the first in a series McGrath will work on for The Violet Files), Mrs. Kanye West rocks liquid gold eyeshadow and brows, a beaded smoky eye, and even molten mini-feathers glued into wings—each a modern take on those spotted in the 1963 film. The rest of her face is bare, and her hair is pulled back tight, keeping all the focus on her pretty peepers.
Of course, being the huge fan of Taylor’s that she is, Kardashian was of course thrilled to be involved. “I love Elizabeth,” the reality star—who is such a known fan of the late actress, she even interviewed her for the March 2011 issue of Harper’s Bazaar—said. “Pat and I have had conversations about how iconic she is, and how iconic Cleopatra is.”
She added, “I would have done anything—I would have trusted Pat’s vision no matter what she wanted—but I was really excited that it was the Cleopatra vibe.”