As an entertainer, you learn the importance of having a charismatic stage presence. This may explain why celebrities pay over $10K for stylists and glam squads to ensure they have a memorable look whenever they perform. 

Don’t even get us started about the amount of time they spend preparing for the big day! According to the founder of The Gumbo, Nadirah Simmons, the process can take over five hours to perfect a look from head-to-toe. 

“Depending on the look, hair can take anywhere from 1-3 hours and makeup can take over an hour,” she explains. “Then there’s at least another hour to get your manicure and pedicure done.”

As for the fashion, Simmons reveals that it can take anywhere from 30-minutes to an hour to apply final alterations and enhancements to a look. And that’s not even taking into countless hours entertainers spend approving fashions before the day of their appearance. 

Clearly, all the time paid off for these Best Live Performer nominees, who deserve to be celebrated for these eye-catching performance looks spotted at concerts and award shows. Below, take a look at the performance fashions that have us excited to countdown to the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards.