Because that was the style. And Fagba looks waaay gayer than they did. They looked like they liked females and just happened to wear makeup. Ashba looks like he likes to pretend he is female and fuck men.
In many ways, Ashba's style is up-to-date as well. In many ways it is the style from now.
I don't agree Ashba looks waay gayer than Axl did back than. I always thought of that period as a very gay period in metal/rock, even though it wasn't meant to be homosexual (as it's surely not Ashba's intention). But it was intended to look quite female (as provocation, which is surely not Ashba's intention!). Because many bands did it, is not a good reason for me. I don't like it now, and didn't like it back than (as far as I remember it).