Okay but… we just found out Chappell Roan’s nipples weren’t real and I’m still processing this.
What we thought was a bold, no-rules Grammys moment was actually a full-blown prosthetics illusion — and let me tell you, I’m kind of obsessed.
Those Nipple Piercings? Completely Fake
Let’s start with the part that had everyone spiraling: Chappell’s nipple piercings weren’t attached to actual nipples at all.
Instead, makeup artist and prosthetics designer Sasha Glasser created what she described (to Allure) as nipple-less nipple piercings using silicone prosthetics… essentially “prosthetic pasties.” The goal wasn’t shock for shock’s sake either.
“The idea was for her to not be so naked,” Glasser explains.
The prosthetics came from Out of Kit, a newer brand whose pieces have a sticky backing similar to a Band-Aid, meaning no messy glue was required. Still, for extra security, Glasser and her team reinforced everything with Telesis glue, a medical-grade adhesive strong enough to hold up through the red carpet, flashes, and movement.
Even then, things got stressful. “Genesis and I tested it. We’d put the ring in the prosthetic and tug, and it would rip out, so that was scary.”
The fix? Power mesh — the stretchy fabric used in shapewear and activewear — glued behind the prosthetic so the piercing could sit securely without tearing. Crisis officially averted.
To finish the illusion, Glasser had to paint the prosthetics to perfectly match Chappell’s skin after the rings were already in. To protect the jewelry, she covered them with bubblegum wrappers. Yes, really.
The result? A viral moment that fooled pretty much everyone — and felt very on-brand for Chappell, especially as a current MAC Cosmetics partner, where theatrical beauty and bold illusions are basically the mission statement.
And honestly, after her infamous VMAs moment, should we really be surprised she pushed boundaries again?
Chappell’s Tattoos Were Fake Too
As if the nipple reveal wasn’t enough, it turns out those soft, faded tattoos across Chappell’s chest and back weren’t real either (which you probably already knew if you’re a Chappell stan).
Using a laser printer and waterslide paper, Glasser created DIY tattoo decals, the same kind you probably used as a kid. “It’s basically a paper that has this shiny wax on top, so the ink sits on top, and the moment you put water on the back, the ink falls off.”
The designs themselves were created by stylist Genesis Webb alongside tattoo artist Jenny Collins, mimicking lace and embroidery rather than traditional ink. “The idea was to do something unique,” Glasser says. “That’s why we did them in a brown color, which feels uncommon.”
Between the faux tattoos, the prosthetic piercings, and the sheer confidence Chappell brought to the carpet, the illusion was flawless. So flawless, in fact, that most of us never questioned it.
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