Meredith Events Volume I | Page 75

HOLLYWOOD

MAKEUP

BEAUTY

You have had the dream career for a Makeup Artist, working on stage productions, print, television, and film for over two decades. How did you begin your career and what motivated you to choose this profession?

I would not say I have had a dream career by anyone’s standards. I would classify it as interesting, challenging, and diverse. I really didn’t choose to become a makeup artist...the career chose me. I began modeling as a child. My family owned hair salons where they performed hair and makeup services, so I literally grew up in the business. I knew how to apply makeup and cut/style hair for many years before I attended school. As a model, other models and photographers were always enlisting my makeup services because they liked my makeup designs better than the artists they were hiring. When I got my degree in theatre, I liked the behind-the-scenes jobs better than acting; I fell in love with theatre and special-effects makeup. That was what prompted

me to further my career by studying at the Joe Blasco Makeup Institute in Hollywood.

What was your big break, and how do you consider this moment a game changer for your professional career?

I am still waiting for my really big break. When I get to work for Tim Burton, and win an Academy Award, then I will feel like I have made it. Until then, it is rewarding to watch TV shows or films; see the actors looking good and knowing that I contributed to their performance in some small way. Actors tell me that great makeup adds to their confi- dence in their character portrayals.

For MUA professionals seeking new opportunities, what is the next step after receiving their certification and building a portfolio?

This is a difficult question for me to answer briefly; I could write a book on the subject. Receiving quality instruction from a reputable insti-

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