There's no denying that Chappell Roan's make-up is the hottest thing in beauty right now, so much so that you could even say that she's Hot To Go... soz. With aesthetic influences of contemporary drag, club kid counterculture and the New Romantics-meets-Pre-Raphelites, she sure knows how to turn heads with a dramatic full-glam beat. And proving that doesn't fall short with her nails, the singer has now debuted a set that'll go down in the herstory books.
Overnight [September 12, 2024], Chappell Roan attended the 2024 MTV VMAs where she won the Best New Artist award and even dedicated the win to "Queer Kids in the Midwest". But prior to her heartfelt speech, earlier on in the night, Chappell stole the red carpet spotlight with a head-to-toe slay – and I mean that in the most literal way possible.
The singer stepped out wearing a sheer maxi dress from Y/Project with a cloak on the carpet and while posing for photos, she was handed a weapon by her very own knight.
Not one to do things by halves, Chappell matched her IRL sword with XXL claw nails, mimicking the weapon in her hand on her tips. Natch.
Props go out to nail artist Juan Alvear, the creative genius behind Chappell's metallic-looking fingers. As shown above, the OTT mani was complete with bold pearl embellishments and a tapered tip. It's all in the details, folks!
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
