ELMONT, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: Doja Cat attends the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 07, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)
Doja Cat’s VMAs 2025 Lipstick Stunt Was a Power Move- Here’s Why Natural Beauties Get It.
By Danielle Cox
At the 2025 VMAs, Doja Cat did what Doja Cat always does: shut down the red carpet and sparked a million debates before the show even started. But this time, she did it not in flames or rhinestones, but with lipstick. Dark, moody, unapologetic lipstick that looked like a cross between vintage Dolly Parton glam and a modern alt-girl fantasy. And baby, it was working.
I watched it unfold from my couch, bonnet on, scrolling with one hand and grabbing screenshots with the other. Doja’s vibe was a full-on aesthetic pivot, one that pulled from the recent black cherry makeup obsession we covered here on CurlyNikki a few weeks ago, that juicy, almost-blood tone that Black beauty TikTok made go viral.
Her hair? Long, loose, and effortlessly undone, it gave “this took 3 hours and 3 bundles but I’m pretending I just woke up like this” energy. It wasn’t about perfection. It wasn’t about performing femininity to please the mainstream. It was about owning her face, her choices, her stage.
The Power of a Lippie
We’re in a full-circle beauty era where everything that used to feel like “too much” is finally being re-framed as “just right.” That’s especially true for Black women, and especially true for Black women wearing their natural hair, bold makeup, or no makeup at all. Doja’s look wasn’t about adhering to anyone’s rules, it was about rewriting them altogether.
This is what natural beauty means now: freedom. Not the bare minimum. Not a no-makeup makeup look necessarily. Not even sticking to neutrals. Real beauty right now is about self-definition. It’s about choosing to go soft or sharp. To twist out or silk press. To line the lip boldly or not at all. And when you do all of the above in one look? That’s power.
Doja x MAC: The Ultimate Match
If you’ve been paying attention, this was more than a red carpet moment. It was a brand alignment made in Heaven. Doja Cat is now the face of MAC Cosmetics, and this VMAs lip moment felt like a deliberate rollout. She’s bringing her signature boldness, unpredictability, and creativity to a brand that has long stood at the intersection of artistry and authenticity.
Why It Matters on CurlyNikki
You might be wondering, “Okay, but what does Doja’s VMA moment have to do with me and my coils?” Everything. Because whether you’re rocking a high puff, a silk press, or bare-faced at brunch, the moment you claim your beauty as your own, on your terms, in your own way, you’re participating in this movement.
It’s not about copying Doja’s exact look. It’s not copying my look. It’s not copying Nikki’s look. It’s about channeling that energy. Wearing that bold lip to the cookout. Pulling up to your cousin’s baby shower in a twist-out, red lipstick, and no apologies. It’s about recognizing that you can be glam without being glazed, polished without being palatable.
What This Means for Black Beauty Trends in Fall 2025
Expect a continued rise in personalized glam. Less matching the moment, more making the moment.
For the natural beauties: expect fall to be about contrast. Think soft coils with bold lips. Bare skin with sculpted liner. Deep burgundy lip oils over minimal foundation. Glam, but yours.
And if you’re still looking for that perfect dark lip? Our original roundup of Black Cherry Aesthetic products from MAC, Fenty, and Ami Colé still holds up. I’ll link it below.
Because yes, Doja gave us a moment. But she also gave us permission, to take up space, to wear the lipstick, to be the headline.
And here at CurlyNikki, we’ll always be cheering you on for doing just that.
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FAQ’s
What was Doja Cats 2025 VMAs lipstick statement ?
A deep black cherry lip with vintage glam energy and modern edge that read powerful and intentional.
Why did natural beauties connect with the look ?
It centered choice and self definition. Bold lip soft hair bare skin or full beat all on your terms.
What is black cherry lipstick and who does it flatter ?
A deep burgundy red with brown and plum. It flatters medium to deep complexions and looks luxe on every undertone.
How do I choose the right dark lip for my undertone ?
Warm undertones love cherry with brown. Cool undertones love cherry with plum. Neutral can wear both.
How do I wear a bold lip with natural hair ?
Keep hair soft and effortless like a twist out or silk press. Let the lip lead and keep the rest minimal and polished.
Which brands carry the vibe ?
Look at MAC rich cherries classic liners and satins Fenty deep reds and stains Ami Cole burgundy oils with cushion shine.
How do I make a dark lip last ?
Exfoliate and moisturize lips line and fill with pencil apply lipstick blot and reapply then clean edges with a touch of concealer.
Can I pair a bold lip with minimal makeup ?
Yes. Groomed brows light mascara and a soft contour or blush let the lip be the star.
What does this moment signal for fall 2025 beauty ?
Personalized glam. Soft coils and strong lips clean skin and sculpted liner rich color without apology.
How do I channel the energy without copying ?
Bring a reference and tell your artist you want black cherry confidence in a shade and finish that feels like you.
