6. Queen Charlotte’s look inspired by Beyoncé
Produced by Shonda Rhimes, the versatile mastermind behind Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder, Bridgerton is known for its diverse cast. For example, the show stars Guyanese-British actress Golda Rocheuvel as the real-life Queen Charlotte of England. According to PBS, some historians believe that George III’s wife is of African descent from Portuguese royalty.
“When we researched Queen Charlotte and learned that she was of African descent, we had even more scope to create a beautiful look for her,” Mark Pilcher, the show’s makeup and hair designer, told Vogue. “I used period silhouettes, but to celebrate her ethnicity, I used locks, braids, and an Afro-textured style. Her huge Afro was in the form of a Gainsborough wig, but it was influenced by Beyoncé, who played Foxy Cleopatra in Goldmember’s Austin Powers.”
Pilcher echoed the comments to Essence, saying, “When I saw Beyoncé Knowles in Austin Powers’ Goldmember, I thought, ‘That’s what I want.'” I wanted the biggest afro someone had ever seen. That wig in particular was actually four or five wigs lined up. So I got a wig for curly hair, then bought an afro, straightened it and set it on a curl stick, brushed it out to get the best volume of the afro, and sewed them overlapping to get a nice shape. ”
