The Black Lipstick Army: Not a Label, But a Legacy

By Carolyn Wolf

There’s a deep misunderstanding that often follows women who wear black lipstick, dark eyeliner, tattoos, or plaid shirts. People are quick to label—“gang affiliated,” “chola,” “hard,” “dangerous.” But labels are lazy. And labels lie.

In my ongoing painting series, Black Lipstick Army, I’m not painting fashion. I’m painting truth. These women are not stereotypes. They are strength, beauty, struggle, pride, and identity—rendered in acrylic. The black lipstick is not cosmetic—it’s armor. A shared symbol that unites these women, showing how alike we are at our core, even when the world tries to divide us.

What I want people to understand is that each woman I paint carries her story on her skin, in her eyes, in her posture. Their appearance is shaped by the places they come from—and that is not something to fear. That is something to honor.

Many of the women in my series are Chicana, with deep roots in the barrio—women whose style reflects culture, family, and resilience. Dark hair, maybe some blonde streaks, plaid shirts, bold lips. It’s a look that’s iconic, even globally admired—especially in places like Japan, where this style is celebrated with sincere appreciation.

But make no mistake—this series isn’t only about Chicana women. The Black Lipstick Army is made up of all kinds of women. Some are full-figured. Some are wrinkled, their skin telling stories that only time can write. Some are young, others carry generations in their gaze. They come from different cultures and regions, each bringing their own voice, their own background, their own truth.

What they share is a presence that makes people nervous—because they defy expectations. They don’t fit into neat categories. And that, too, is something to embrace.

The world wants to look away from what it doesn’t understand. But I challenge you to look closer.

Take the time to really see these women.Read their stories.Let yourself feel something.Find your compassion, your connection, your common ground—because whether you recognize it yet or not:They are YOU.

I’ve lived the judgment these women face. I wore plaid because my grandpa wore it when we went hunting. It meant something to us. But outside that context, it made me a target for assumptions. I learned early on that appearance can overshadow truth. But the women I paint teach me again and again: never apologize for who you are.

My Black Lipstick Army tells the stories of women who walk through the world unapologetically. Women who’ve been misunderstood, mislabeled, and underestimated—but who keep showing up. Who raise children, survive trauma, create beauty, and hold it down for their communities every single day.

Whether she comes from a neighborhood where the streets speak louder than textbooks, or from a place where designer dogs and handbags are the norm—every woman is a product of her environment. That doesn’t make one better than the other. It just means their stories are different. And every story deserves respect.

This series is my way of saying:You are not alone.You are not a label.You are not here to fit into someone else’s box.You are here to be seen—as you are, where you are, in all your fierce, complicated, and beautiful truth.

The Black Lipstick Army isn’t a trend. It’s a tribute.

To the women who walk into a room and don’t shrink.To the girls who were taught to tone it down and decided not to.To the mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends who carry generations of strength in their bones.

You are the army.And you are not here to be explained—you are here to be honored.