Viva Glam: The Lipstick That Changed the World—and Kept Changing It
“It wasn’t a shade. It was a stand.”
In 1994, the world was silent. Quiet about HIV. Scared of the sick. Unwilling to say the word “AIDS” out loud.
But M·A·C didn’t stay quiet.
Co-founders Frank Angelo and Frank Toskan made a call that would change beauty history forever:
Create a lipstick. A bold, unapologetic red.
Give every cent to the fight.
No gimmicks. No diluted donations. 100% of every Viva Glam sale went to people affected by HIV/AIDS.
And it still does.
No corporate skimming. No asterisked fine print. Just pure, radical generosity.
That first lipstick, Viva Glam I, wasn’t just red—it was blood-deep.
It stood for lives lost and voices silenced.
It painted protest across lips.
Today, Sparkle Society XO doesn’t just house it—we protect it.
The one that lit a match in a world full of shadows.
This lipstick didn’t just change makeup—it made beauty mean something. And who better to ignite that fire than RuPaul? In thigh-highs and platform boots, towering, unapologetic, and fierce, Ru wasn't just modeling the lipstick—she embodied the mission. She didn’t just sell a red. She sold resistance and representation. The world noticed.
Suddenly, lipstick wasn’t just about looking good. It was about doing good.
💋 Why It Still Matters:
Viva Glam I didn’t just start a campaign—it started a legacy.
It’s raised over $500 million globally for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
It gave voice, visibility, and support to the LGBTQ+ community, long before it was safe or trendy to do so.
It proved makeup could carry meaning, that glamour and grit could share the same tube.
In the Sparkle Society XO Vault, we hold that original bullet with reverence. The matte finish, the bold red, the no-nonsense casing—it all screams MAC’s DNA: bold, inclusive, and unapologetic.
This is activism red.
🧠 Fun Fact: MAC chose Viva from the Latin for life and Glam to remind us that life should be lived loudly and fabulously.
And they didn’t stop there.
Over the years, a constellation of stars carried the Viva Glam torch:
RuPaul (the original trailblazer)
Pamela Anderson (smoldering ‘90s sex appeal with heart)
Elton John (legacy and flamboyance)
Christina Aguilera, Fergie, Cyndi Lauper, Nicki Minaj, Ricky Martin, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Taraji P. Henson, Dita Von Teese, Rosalía and more—each choosing to lend their fame to something greater than themselves.
Each one contributed a new shade and a new moment in time. But Viva Glam I is still the one that echoes the loudest.
🧬 Why We Keep It in the Vault
Because glam should give back.
Because red lips can fight shame.
Because beauty, when done right, does more than sell—it saves.
At Sparkle Society XO, our Viva Glam display isn't just pretty.
It’s a reminder. A responsibility.
We’ve preserved: not just the original lipstick—but posters, promotional displays, and rare releases spanning the decades. From the Pamela Anderson display to rare packaging runs, Viva Glam lives on our walls and in our hearts.
This Isn’t Just a Lipstick. It’s Legacy.
Every time we look at that shade, we remember:
Glamour isn’t shallow.
It’s powerful.
It’s radical.
It’s necessary.
And Viva Glam proves it.
This lipstick didn’t just belong in a drawer—it belonged in the fight.