When a recognizable face from RuPaul’s Drag Race decides to change cities, it’s more than a new address: it’s a reshuffle of habits, friendships and creative priorities. Model and fashion designer Gigi Goode moved to Paris after a short visit expanded into a longer stay. In conversation she explains that the city’s walkable streets, public transport and cultural density altered how she moves through life. Little details — like taking the metro for the first time — became markers of a new chapter.
Leaving behind the rhythm of Los Angeles meant trading some convenience for a denser social and professional network. Gigi says she found a broader circle of friends in Paris than she expected, which helped dissolve a sense of stagnation she felt in L.A. Beyond logistics, the city gave her permission to experiment with style and to be bolder without feeling watched in the same ways she once did.
A new creative chapter in Paris
Gigi launched her first collection in 2026, a milestone she still talks about with enthusiasm. The move interrupted her studio setup — she even had to part with her sewing machine while relocating — but the designs and sketches remain. She plans to resume work as soon as she secures a studio, and she intends to collaborate with local fashion students to bring fresh perspectives into her process. This mix of professional ambition and community-driven mentorship positions her work at the intersection of craft and education.
Beauty rituals and practical tips
Daily essentials
Gigi describes a compact morning routine that balances effectiveness with speed. Her basic regimen starts with a gentle cleanser — she mentions CeraVe as an example — and she avoids fragrance because it can irritate sensitive skin. Shaving and moisturizing are nonnegotiable steps, but brand loyalty is casual: she often relies on samples from brands like Kiehl’s or Sunday Riley. An anti-wrinkle stick serum goes under the eyes and on the forehead, followed by a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Altogether, the pared-back routine takes about ten minutes, combining practicality with attention to protection.
The “total shower” ritual
Beyond the minimalist daily routine, Gigi reserves time for what she calls the “total shower”, an hour-long regimen that includes hair washing, body exfoliation and full-body shaving. For freshly shaved skin she runs cold water to tighten pores and reduce the risk of ingrown hairs — a simple tip rooted in experience. Makeup nowadays is intentionally light and strategic: fine strokes of eyeshadow to suggest an almond-shaped eye, softened brows to appear lighter, and subtle lip contouring to visually reduce the space between nose and mouth, which contributes to a more youthful appearance.
Identity, surgery and what’s kept private
Gigi speaks openly about how medical transition shaped her relationship with appearance. After undergoing facial feminization surgery, she says she developed a healthier and more satisfying rapport with her reflection. She credits advice and practical wisdom from older trans women — her sisters — for everything from post-op recovery to scar care. Those community-shared techniques, she explains, were essential and lifesaving at times. In the bathroom she keeps what she considers most intimate: her hormones, a reminder that this space is not only for grooming but for preserving personal dignity.
She identifies a few bathroom constants: a razor kept close at hand for emergencies, the ritual of removing makeup every night — “never sleep with makeup on,” she insists — and vivid memories tied to family. Her earliest makeup lesson involved a cherished Clinique palette she used in her mother’s bathroom to create playful looks on a young cousin. The contrast with a painful childhood memory — the loss of a pet turtle after an accidental scalding — underlines how private spaces can hold both joy and sorrow.
What remains central
At the heart of Gigi’s narrative is a commitment to simplicity, community and steady reinvention. Paris has given her a sense of possibility, room to design again after the interruption of a move, and a social environment that feels open and honest. Whether she’s sketching a new garment, teaching students, or perfecting a ten-minute skincare routine, the same principles apply: respect for craft, reliance on community knowledge, and an insistence on routines that protect both health and identity. When she looks in the mirror now, she doesn’t just see an image; she sees the path she has traveled.