What is the 'Asoka' makeup challenge, a trend that celebs like Marian Rivera and Ivana Alawi have hopped on?
A new makeup challenge has taken over TikTok!
If you've been scrolling on the short-form video app in the past weeks, you've probably seen videos of the Asoka makeup transformations. Social media users, content creators, and celebrities alike have expressed how amazed they are at these TikToks, but how exactly did the trend come from?
The challenge was derived from the 2001 Indian epic historical drama film titled Asoka, which dramatized the early life of emperor Asoka of the Maurya Empire, who ruled most of the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BCE.
The film, which you can stream on Netflix, stars Shah Rukh Khan as the titular character alongside Kareena Kapoor, a "prolific leading lady of Hindi cinema" since 2000. It follows the former's "transformation from a vengeful and cunning warrior into a legendary leader and teacher of Buddhism."
How does this film relate to the trend?
In the viral challenge, content creators do various makeup processes paired with fast-paced, cinematic transitions while lip-singing San Sanana, a song initially played in the film and was popularized by Indian playback singer Alka Yagnik.
According to Sony Music India, the song was played in the film when Asoka (Khan) and Kaurwaki (Kapoor) first met.
How does this trend begin?
One of the earliest videos on the trend was by Indonesian bridal makeup artist Sita Suwarnadwipa, whose video has garnered more than 71.4 million views, 5.8 million likes, and more than 108,000 shares as of writing.
@suwarnadwipa.mua Ngabuburit bareng @aidafitrizahra 🔥🔥 makeup by me @suwarnadwipa.mua Ib : @ibra #muatanggamus #fyp #explore #transisimakeup #bollywood ♬ suara asli - Sita Suwarnadwipa
The Asoka challenge featured a traditional Indian bridal look, which is vibrant and colorful.
Most of the content creators did a Bengali bride look, which, according to Vogue India, features "beautiful doe eyes, which are best highlighted with kohl," a traditional Indian eye makeup that enhances the shape and appeal of the eyes by applying it along the waterline to produce a dramatic, smokey look. The trend also emphasized eye makeup using a "liner and a heavy hand of mascara."
More than the detailed makeup, elaborate jewelry makes the trend look more fashionable and glamorous.
A growing trend in the Philippines
With the challenge taking over TikTok, Pinoy beauty content creators have taken it on, including Lenie Aycardo, whose version has received 8.6 million views and 14.8 million likes, respectively.
Other TikTok creators who took on the challenge were Janio, Marie Twins, Xspencer, Chrishanna Luisa, Jharna Bhagwani and Thai superstar Yoshi Rinrada, among others.
Meanwhile, the trend also inspired a Filipino version featuring the song Piliin mo ang Pilipinas. Batang Quiapo star Ivana Alawi added Pinoy flair to her transformation as she showcased classic outfits like festival costumes, salakot, Barong Tagalog, and the Filipiniana.
@ivanaalawi PILIPINAS 🇵🇭 (@Angge G.) #fyp ♬ original sound - SHADOWKNIGHT_911 - ALPHAXZ
Though Ivana started the Philippine version of the makeup transformation, content creator Angelica Gegante prompted the idea to do the challenge, suggesting various hand gesture transitions.
On the other hand, Kapuso star Marian Rivera added her own flavor to the trend as she chose to do the challenge to the theme song of her 2007 hit show Marimar.
"Taking you back to 2007– Asoka style," the caption read.
The video, which was posted as part of the local star's celebration of 30 million Facebook followers, has more than half a million likes and 7,000 shares on Instagram, as of writing.