I still think the backstage make-over artists, coaches and such manipulate the candidates more than we realize.
A few weeks ago there was a segment on the local news about AI and how the singers practice, prepare, etc. All the backstage coaches were interviewed and they said that while they give advice and try to steer the singers in the right direction, the final decision rests with the singers themselves. I would assume that this applies to the make-up artists as well.
If Nadia wants to wear a Mohawk, for instance, then that's up to her. They won't force her to change. And if Bo is dead-set on singing "Remedy" then the coaches will shrug and try to make the best of it.
Whether or not they listen to the advice, I guess, depends on how strong the singer's personality is, their confidence, and how comfortable they are with themselves.
The "veteran" performers like Bo, Constantine and Nadia are likely set in their ways and will take the advice and weigh it against their own experience. The younger performers, however, like Carrie and Vonzelle are very new to all this and probably haven't learned to trust their instincts yet--this would explain the sharp changes in Carrie's style from week to week. She's asking for--and getting--too much advice, IMO.
I guess you're probably right. The more experienced contestants probably do call more of their own shots, while inexperienced kids like Carrie are probably are more like the ball in a pin-ball machine, bouncing from one idea to the next.