When Paola Quinn—@blackunicorn2991 to her devoted followers—looks in the mirror, she doesn’t just see a canvas. She sees a portal. Her work speaks in the language of the undead and the divine, stitched from the lace of gothic romance and sharpened by punk’s serrated edge. Drawing from ancestral memory and pop myth alike, she conjures faces that feel like spells—where every line, lash, and pigment reveals something sacred, strange, and stunningly personal.
I’ve always felt attracted by those things. During high school I used to listen to heavier music than my friends and the aesthetic of the goths back in those days was my thing. I felt like it was never a phase. I used to read Edgar Allan Poe and he became one of my favorite authors. Then the horror/slasher movies were my thing—I loved to watch them to see the SFX Effects (especially the 80s movies where the effects were practical) and try to figure out how they achieved that.
I think it’s to pay attention to the little details. When I create a look based on a cosplay, I check out a lot of images, analyze the details, and try to recreate them as accurately as possible.
I think it’s more like a tribute in the most respectful way. I want to transmit something deep, meaningful. A tribute to my culture (I’m Mexican) and when I do “Catrinas” or skulls, it’s to show the world part of my culture.
You know, as Mexicans we celebrate the “Day of the Dead” and it’s a very important part of me. I like to think that death isn’t the end, but the beginning of something special and really beautiful. Sure, I miss my beloved ones, but thinking they’re in a better place helps me feel a little better.
Every look surprises me every time I finish it. It’s like—you make the sketch, or recreate a look you liked, or just something that comes to mind… and when it’s all done, assembled together (the lashes, lenses, wigs, and outfit) it feels like magic.
I always try to add something I love and that gives me life. I love dramatic eyeliner and I try to always draw attention to the eyes. A thick, dramatic liner brings any look to life.
Not any in particular. I've always loved Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and, more recently, Aztec mythology. There's so much material to inspire your designs, so I try to revisit them and continue learning from them. Reading is a very important part of broadening our horizons and applying them to art.
If it's with colleagues, I'm thrilled to see the talent that comes together in a collaboration. Everyone creates something beautiful with their own style, and when I see all the designs, it's truly incredible. And if it's with a brand, I love it when they have a gothic theme, and I feel freer to create something with my style that I know they'll like.
I hope that if they're having a bad day, it makes them feel better. There have been times when friends or followers mention that they're excited to think about what I'll create next, and I'm also excited to inspire new generations. Some followers have even mentioned that their children get excited when they see my designs, and that makes me really happy.
I've always wanted to do a better cosplay of Queen Amidala from Star Wars, and I hope to achieve that next year. I'd love to collaborate with major international brands or create a design for Day of the Dead Barbie. Even the possibility of one day releasing a doll inspired by my designs and style would be fabulous.
