Kiara Romero’s ‘Descendants: Wicked Wonderland’ Premiere Look: Curls, Roberto Cavalli and Rhode

Kiara Romero just had her first big red-carpet premiere moment—and she made sure her natural curls got just as much attention as her dress. The actress stepped out for the premiere of Descendants: Wicked Wonderland last week wearing a vintage 2004 Roberto Cavalli gown in a shade of burgundy chosen as a nod to her character, Hazel Hook. As for the beauty details: rather than smoothing out her natural texture for the carpet, Romero wanted to lean into it, working with her glam team to keep her curls front and center.

We caught up with the star to get all the inside details behind the glam process, the skin-care step she never skips before a big event and the one thing that calmed her nerves before walking the carpet.

Walk us through your premiere-night beauty routine. Who’s doing your hair and makeup, and did you have any input into the look?

“The incredible Christian Marc and Cherish Brooke Hill did my hair and makeup. I love my natural hair, and it only felt right to show off my curls on my big night. I can’t do glam in silence, so music is always part of my process! As for my dress…I got to wear a gorgeous 2004 Roberto Cavalli. I always knew I wanted to wear the color burgundy as a nod to my character, Hazel Hook. Tabitha Sanchez really brought my vision to life. The whole look was a dream!”

Is there a specific beauty product or step you never skip before a big red-carpet moment?

“The one product I will never skip out on the night before any big event is the Barrier Butter Intensive Moisture Balm ($36) from Rhode. I slather that on before bed to rehydrate my skin, especially if I’ve had a full day of makeup on. I love a good skin-care routine. Another product I never skip out on the actual day of a big event is my Patrick Ta Major Glow Balm ($50). I love the way it makes my arms shine on the carpet.”

Hazel Hook has such a distinct villain-daughter aesthetic. Did playing her change how you think about makeup or personal style at all, even off-screen?

“I am obsessed with Hazel’s costumes in the film. They are so fierce and beautifully detailed. I would say I am less afraid to take risks. As long as I love what I am wearing when I walk out of the house, that’s all that matters. At least that’s the attitude Hazel would have, so I definitely took some of that with me.”

You trained at Joffrey Ballet School before moving into acting. Does that dance discipline show up in how you take care of your body or skin, or in your pre-performance rituals?

“I learned it is so important to have a good self-care routine! After a long rehearsal day or performance, you need time to unwind and listen to your body. When I shot Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, I had a conveyor belt of remedies I’d do when I got home…shower, skin care, foam roll, Epsom salt, bath bomb, compression legs—the list goes on!”

Any pre-premiere nerve-calming rituals—beauty-related or otherwise—that help you feel confident walking into a night like this?

“One hug from my little brother was all I needed to cure my nerves! He really is such a light in my life. It was so special having my family by my side.”