Kyan Douglas
Encyclopedia
Kyan Douglas was the grooming expert on the American television program Queer Eye
.
, Kyan Douglas was raised in Tampa
and Tallahassee. He has a sister, Kelli (who first taught him about styling hair). After high school he moved first to Dallas, where he studied philosophy at Brookhaven College
and first became interested in religion and the healing arts. He then moved to Austin
, where he had initially planned to pursue his interest in acting by studying drama at the University of Texas at Austin
, though he was precluded by his extreme shyness. In his mid-twenties he moved to New Orleans, where he earned a degree in TV production and theater studies at Loyola University
. In 1996 three of Douglas' close friends were murdered in a restaurant robbery where both they and Douglas worked. This motivated him to leave New Orleans.
Douglas was in a serious relationship with publicist and gay rights activist Gregory Durham from March 2004 - August 2006. In July 2006, they became briefly engaged. He was previously linked (in fall 2003) with Queer as Folk actor Robert Gant
. Gant confirmed to TV Guide
that the pair had dated briefly, but were just friends.
Douglas moved from New York to Los Angeles, California in 2007. He told the now defunct TV show Out in Dallas that he wanted to pursue acting, and was taking acting classes. In November 2007, he told Sirius
satellite radio
channel OutQ that he was in the process of purchasing land in Mexico, and was considering opening a yoga
retreat there.
, then helped them set up the Aveda Institute, a hairstyling and grooming school. He enrolled in its cosmetology program, and after graduating at the top of his class, he joined the New York-based hair salon Arrojo Studio as a colorist. He began working on the makeover TV shows What Not to Wear
and While You Were Out
, and for Child Magazine, as well. In 2002, a client at Arrojo told him about a makeover show that was being cast. Kyan sent a photo of himself and a short bio he'd written to the producers. They called him for an audition and quickly hired him as the show's "Grooming Guru".
As part of Queer Eye
s "Fab Five" Douglas has co-authored a book and appeared on a soundtrack CD and accompanying DVD
based on the show, as well as appeared on many magazine covers and TV talk shows. In 2004 he published Beautified, his own book on grooming for women, and became a spokesman and product advisor for L'Oréal
. He was also invited back to speak at his alma mater Loyola University New Orleans
in 2004.
In 2009, he took over as host of Ten Years Younger (starting with the show's fourth season) on TLC.
's Humanitarian Award for his work with a number of charities, including HRC
, DIFFA, and AmFAR
.
Queer Eye
Queer Eye is an American reality television series that premiered on the Bravo cable television network in July 2003. The program's name was changed from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy after the third season to broaden the scope of its content...
.
Biography
Born as Hugh Edward Douglas, Jr. in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Kyan Douglas was raised in Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
and Tallahassee. He has a sister, Kelli (who first taught him about styling hair). After high school he moved first to Dallas, where he studied philosophy at Brookhaven College
Brookhaven College
Brookhaven College, located in Farmers Branch, Texas , is one of seven colleges of the Dallas County Community College District . Brookhaven opened in 1978 and is the newest DCCCD college....
and first became interested in religion and the healing arts. He then moved to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, where he had initially planned to pursue his interest in acting by studying drama at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, though he was precluded by his extreme shyness. In his mid-twenties he moved to New Orleans, where he earned a degree in TV production and theater studies at Loyola University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
. In 1996 three of Douglas' close friends were murdered in a restaurant robbery where both they and Douglas worked. This motivated him to leave New Orleans.
Douglas was in a serious relationship with publicist and gay rights activist Gregory Durham from March 2004 - August 2006. In July 2006, they became briefly engaged. He was previously linked (in fall 2003) with Queer as Folk actor Robert Gant
Robert Gant
Robert Gant is an American actor. He is sometimes credited as Robert J. Gant.-Early life:...
. Gant confirmed to TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
that the pair had dated briefly, but were just friends.
Douglas moved from New York to Los Angeles, California in 2007. He told the now defunct TV show Out in Dallas that he wanted to pursue acting, and was taking acting classes. In November 2007, he told Sirius
Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −1.46, it is almost twice as bright as Canopus, the next brightest star. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek: Seirios . The star has the Bayer designation Alpha Canis Majoris...
satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
channel OutQ that he was in the process of purchasing land in Mexico, and was considering opening a yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
retreat there.
Career
Douglas moved to New York City in 1999 and started work in sales for AvedaAveda
Aveda Corporation is a company headquartered in Blaine, Minnesota, that manufactures skin care, cosmetics, perfume, hair care products, and trains students in cosmetology and esthiology at the Aveda Institutes in Minneapolis, New York City, Washington, DC, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and many other...
, then helped them set up the Aveda Institute, a hairstyling and grooming school. He enrolled in its cosmetology program, and after graduating at the top of his class, he joined the New York-based hair salon Arrojo Studio as a colorist. He began working on the makeover TV shows What Not to Wear
What Not to Wear (US version)
What Not to Wear is an American makeover reality television show based on a British show of the same name. The program currently airs on TLC in the United States and Canada, and foreign versions in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina...
and While You Were Out
While You Were Out
While You Were Out was an hour-long American television reality program that aired episodes on the cable channel TLC. The format of the show is similar to TLC's Trading Spaces...
, and for Child Magazine, as well. In 2002, a client at Arrojo told him about a makeover show that was being cast. Kyan sent a photo of himself and a short bio he'd written to the producers. They called him for an audition and quickly hired him as the show's "Grooming Guru".
As part of Queer Eye
Queer Eye
Queer Eye is an American reality television series that premiered on the Bravo cable television network in July 2003. The program's name was changed from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy after the third season to broaden the scope of its content...
s "Fab Five" Douglas has co-authored a book and appeared on a soundtrack CD and accompanying DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
based on the show, as well as appeared on many magazine covers and TV talk shows. In 2004 he published Beautified, his own book on grooming for women, and became a spokesman and product advisor for L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
. He was also invited back to speak at his alma mater Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
in 2004.
In 2009, he took over as host of Ten Years Younger (starting with the show's fourth season) on TLC.
Awards
Queer Eye won an Emmy in 2004 for Outstanding Reality Program, and received a nomination again in the same category in 2005. In 2006, Douglas was awarded the HRCHuman Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
's Humanitarian Award for his work with a number of charities, including HRC
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
, DIFFA, and AmFAR
AmfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy.-History:...
.