Behind many Chiefs Kingdom sideline moments is this makeup artist who is gaining national attention

Local makeup artist Joey Diaz has gained national attention for his work, whether that’s applying a bride’s wedding day lip liner or adding a touch of glimmer to the wife of a Chiefs player. What started with facial doodles in his school notebooks and experimenting with cheap Walgreens eyeshadow palettes has blossomed into a career that recently earned recognition in People magazine and took him to the Super Bowl. See how Diaz balances the art of creating longwearing makeup looks under Arrowhead lights while juggling multiple weddings per weekend.

What inspires you in your work? Red carpet looks always inspire me. I like to look at previous work from different eras of makeup artists to see what was trending back then and figure out how to modernize it. Instagram is also always a great inspiration. I can always pick up little tricks by seeing other artists and their work.

When you’re doing game day makeup for Chiefs’ wives and girlfriends (WAGs), what’s your thought process behind each look? It has to be long wear because some of these girls have to get ready around 7 am for a night game. The key is making sure that the skin is super prepped. A lot of the girls take pictures on the field, so it’s also important that the makeup is captured well in these photos. 

If it’s a sunny day, I have to add more shadow and a little bit more color than I typically do. If it’s an overcast day, I can play with a little bit more shimmer since the lighting is more forgiving and won’t wash them out. Some products, like eyeliners and lipsticks, are 12- to 14-hour-wear products, and I have to test them out first to see how they wear. I have to really ensure that what I’m using is waterproof, and I also teach the girls how to reapply throughout the day.

Do you try to tailor makeup around the WAGs’ outfits? Most times we’ll know what the outfit is prior, and then we’ll work the makeup around that. We try to coordinate so it looks cohesive. If we don’t know the outfits, then I’ll typically just do something neutral and then add a pop of a lip or add a little sparkle—something that doesn’t overwhelm the look.

What has been your most “pinch me” moment in your career so far? This past February, I went to the Super Bowl. Being there at the hotel with everybody felt so surreal. Andy Reid was even there. It’s the biggest sports event in the country, and I’m there glamming and getting everybody ready for it. It was a really defining moment. I cried on the plane going home.

What are some other ways you’re involved in the local makeup scene? When I’m not doing games, I’m doing bridal makeup on the weekends. So Fridays to Sundays, I can have up to three or four weddings plus game-day looks. By the end of it, I’m just kind of surviving off coffee.

What goals or dreams are you working toward next? I’d love to do the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show one day, or at least a red carpet in L.A. I really want to do the Oscars. I just want to be a part of the whole chaos of an award show.

Who would be your dream client? Mariah Carey. I’m such a huge fan, and she’s always been my dream client. I’ve studied her makeup and dreamed about how I would do it.  

Diaz’s KC Favorites

Café Corazón

“My favorite. So good!”

The Wise Guy

“Super yummy. It’s smaller, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. The menu is also small, so you don’t feel like there are too many options
to choose from, which I like.”

Loose Park

“I love to go there, bring a hammock or blanket, and wind down and recharge my battery.”

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