Makeup Artist Allison Kaye and Donna Kelce.Photo:Allison Kaye
Allison Kaye
Touchdowns, secured. Touchups, not needed!
Donna Kelce’s game day glam was just as much of a win as the Kansas City Chiefs victory against the Houston Texans after collaborating with sought-after WAG makeup artistAllison Kayefor the divisional playoff matchup on Saturday night.
And with the Super Bowl-defending team’s ongoing pursuit to secure the first-ever “three-peat” in NFL history, the spotlight continues to shine on Donna who’s the mom star tight endTravis Kelce— so when it comes to her makeup amid the increased attention, she “knows” what she wants.
As for Donna’s outfit choice, the football mom woreseveral accessoriesthat seemingly nodded to Kelce’s girlfriendTaylor Swift, who wasalso at the game on Jan. 18. Among them included asnake ringand aThe Tortured Poets Departmentmerch bracelet.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Kaye — who’s solidified her status as the go-to WAG makeup artist across the NFL, NBA and beyond — shared all the details beyond Donna’s game day glam, including the “signature” lip color she “specifically” requested to complete her look.
Allison Kaye, Donna Kelce.Allison Kaye
For a game that started at 4:30 p.m., Donna was in the glam chair starting at 8:45 a.m. For Kaye, that meant creating a look that “could stay on her face literally all day and all night long since it was a long day,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively.
Since growing her clientele to a star-studded roster of WAGs, Kaye has an entire process down when working with clients on their makeup looks. This made the collaboration with Donna effortless.
“I like to ask a bunch of questions… what do they like, what do they not like,” Kaye says, noting that Donna specifically referenced the makeup she had done for theOctober 2024 coverofGlamour Magazinealongside the moms ofBeyoncé,Billie EilishandSelena Gomezas a look she “loved.”
Kaye understood the request — but of course, added her own special touches to align Donna’s glam with the football occasion. “The goal was obviously to still keep her looking herself and not overdo it,” the makeup artist makes known.
Allison Kaye glams Donna Kelce before the Chiefs playoff game against the Houston Texans on Jan. 18, 2025.Allison Kaye
However, there was a particular enhancement that Donna was down to use. “She told me, ‘I’m good with false lashes… As long as they don’t hit my glasses,'” Kaye recalls of their conversation mid-glam from a hotel room in Kansas City. “And I was like, ‘Don’t worry, I packed a small pair for you, actually!'”
Keeping with Donna’s request to “look like my normal” self, Kaye described the beat they decided on as “a very elevated soft glam.” Still, there were two very specific makeup selections the NFL mom had requested.
“She specifically mentioned that she likes a berry-colored blush,” Kaye reveals, noting that she usedBeauty Pie’s Supercheek Cream Blushin the French Raspberry shade. “It looked amazing on her.”
In addition to the blush ask, Donna selected a specific lip color, too. “I kind of would just almost call it her signature makeup look… And if I look back, she does that same kind of tone of lip,” she points out. “It’s all just very similar throughout her makeup.”
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Kaye usedBeauty Pie’s Wondergel Long Wear Lip Linerin the Damzel (Cool Toned Berry Pink) shade. She described the hue as a “warmer pink,” but says it “photographed a little bit darker than it looked in person.”
Kaye’s portfolio primarily consists of WAG clients, which meant she “definitely” changed the approach to how she glams with Donna. “On the clientele that I’m usually working on, I will set people’s faces with powder,” she says, adding, “But not for Donna’s glam, specifically.”
“I didn’t even use powder on her. I only used liquid and cream products,” Kaye says, revealing, “Even down to eyeshadow. I’m using an eyeshadow stick, which is a cream instead of a powder.” She explains, “I don’t want to use powder on it because it will really kind of get into fine lines.”
Donna’s complete game day glam consisted of the berry blush, little lashes, eyeliner and face base. “She does full coverage and she likes concealer,” Kaye says. “So we definitely glammed her up, even though maybe that’s not even how she normally is… but she was all for it that morning!”
Of Donna, Kaye adds: “She was definitely spot on with what she loves.”
Allison Kaye’s makeup work station for Donna Kelce’s glam session ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs vs Houston Texans playoff game on Jan. 18, 2025.Allison Kaye
Now, Kaye — who’s glammed everyone fromSimone BilestoCamille Kostek— considers Donna one of her “top favorite clients.” Conversation while glamming was easy, too, due to their coincidental common ground.
“I’m from Cleveland and Donna is from Cleveland, so we talked all about Cleveland and people that we know in Cleveland. So that was kind of a really cool bonding moment for the two of us,” says Kaye, who adds that there was “a little connection” to her son Travis, too.
“I’m kind of close in age to Travis. He’s a little bit older than me, but I definitely remember 15-plus years ago Travis being at the same bars that I would go to in Cleveland,” she shares. “Actually, Travis and I do have a mutual friend… so Donna and I were talking about him too.”
Makeup artist Allison Kaye and Donna Kelce before the Chiefs playoff game against the Houston Texans on Jan. 18, 2025.Allison Kaye
Kaye adds, “She’s just the most down-to-earth person ever.”
When speaking about Donna’s jewelry, which featured several nods to Swift, Kaye recalled their conversation. “She told me actually that her bracelets, they all mean something to her… and they’re a huge part of her game day outfit,” the artist tells PEOPLE. In addition to theTTPDinitials, Donna also wore several friendship bracelets, which hold a special meaning for Swifties as well asSwift and Kelce’s love story.
Kaye clarifies, there’s “meaning behind each bracelet that she wears.”
The road to the Super Bowl continues for the Kansas City Chiefs on their quest to clinch their third consecutive NFL Championship title and be the first team to do so in the history of the League. The Chiefs will go head-to-head againstJosh Allenand the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
As for Kaye, her sights are set on a future collaboration with the NFL mom should her son get there.
“I definitely let her know that I will be at the Super Bowl,” Kaye says. “So if the Chiefs were to make it to the Super Bowl, I would hope that I would have another opportunity to do her makeup there in New Orleans!”
source: people.com
