Big Break
MB: My first big break was in 2004 when a local ABC affili-ate found me online while searching for a professional makeup artist to come in and do a segment on a live TV show called AM Northwest. Afterwards, a woman came up to me and paid me a won-derful compliment. She called me a few weeks later, asking me to come in at 4 a.m. to do Geraldo Rivera’s makeup and hair for an interview with Fox News. To this day, she uses me as her number one make-up artist for celebrities.
Film/TV Sets vs. Editorial, Print Fashion Shoots
For TV, you have to be five times faster, especially for live TV. I have had some situations when I have had to do some-one’s full face makeup in five minutes. As the saying goes, in the entertainment industry “time is money”. The last thing you want is the director or pro-ducer waiting around for you to get your job done. I am known in the industry for being really fast yet a perfectionist. For editorial shoots: they are way more conceptualized, planned out and you have more time to really work with the model and can take hours to finish the shoot. Also I may have to re-touch their makeup several times and redo their hair, whereas TV, they try to keep it consistent.
Best Job
MB: First, there is the artistry, the ability to take someone who may not be looking their best that day and make them look like a cover model. Then there is the diversity: TV, vid-eos, commercials, print....no boring desk job for this girl! I like to know that I will have a varied work schedule and plenty of opportunities from one week to the next. Lastly, when I am getting to know the celebrity, talent or pro-duction crew on a personal level and I am really starting to connect with them, know-ing that I made new friends and clients makes me feel accomplished.
Barack and Michelle Obama
MB: Working with Barack and Michelle Obama was the pin-nacle of my career. With two other shoots scheduled for that day in May 2008, I was very excited to get a call to do makeup for Robin Roberts’ Good Morning America interview with the Obamas. I knew that this would be the oppor-tunity of a lifetime whether Barack Obama ended up becoming President or not.So with a ton of secret ser-vice agents and other securi-ty around, they came walking toward me — very refined and poised — introducing themselves and saying what a lovely state we have.The whole experience of doing their makeup was very fast, but the anticipation was incredible. Michelle loves to wear her makeup in a sophisticated style with emphasis on the eyes. So to compliment the navy blue she wore, I used a beautiful navy blue eye shadow called Goddess with a contrast grey color called Gunmetal, both by Urban Decay. Her skin is already beautiful but with the Koh Gen Do High Definition Foundation, I made it look even more flaw-less. President Obama’s was easier, since men usually require less. For men, it’s more about evening out their skin tone and removing any depth under their eyes that may show on camera.After I was finished, they graciously posed for a photo with me. I gave my camera to a secret service agent and he took a quick picture (albeit not the clearest one). Out of the hundreds of celebrities I have worked with in my life, this was very momentous because obvi-ously Barack became Commander in Chief.
Katherine Bigolow
MB: Her publicist hired me for her appearance on AM Northwest where she dis-cussed Hurt Locker, as well as for later in the evening when she attended the 2009 Portland Oregon Woman’s Film Festival. The look I achieved was very natural yet flawless for High Definition TV.She is a very classy woman who doesn’t like a ton of makeup. I emphasized her eyes using matte finish shad-ows and black gel liner on the upper water line, making her lashes appear thicker and to show more shape. She loves her hair down with soft, natu-ral waves, so it doesn’t look too structured. Simplicity was key. I really enjoyed working with such a knowledgeable and genuine woman.
Dakota Fanning
MB: Dakota Fanning is a beau-tiful and talented young lady. Dakota’s style is very simple, she doesn’t like a lot of fuss. I dusted her with HD powder by Koh Gen Do, used Natural lip gloss by NYX, filled in her brows with Ardell matte finish color, gave her a little pink cheek color with Nixie and a hint of mascara by Smashbox. For her hair, she just wanted a little hair spray and a comb through.
Alicia Silverstone
MB: Working with Alicia Silverstone was so surreal for me. She is one of my favorite actresses. Who doesn’t remem-ber Clueless? In October 2009, she was in town plugging her new book, The Kind Diet, and we hit it off right away. We had such a great time getting to know each other. As for her look, she loves to wear her beautiful long locks down, but she likes it kind of rocker style — textured, but not too soft. Her makeup was clean, classy and natural, emphasizing her eyes. Make Up For Ever-High Definition Foundation and Matte Bronzer; NARS’ Mikong, Blondie & Abyssinia eye shadows, Tarte’s Thursday lipstick and Benefit’s BADgal lash mascara in black.
Summer Style in Hollywood
MB: One of the most request-ed styles for makeup right now is the smoky, edgy, dramatic, not-so-perfect eye makeup. Summer 2010 is all about shimmer eye shadows, coral lips, long, lustrous heavy lash-es, bronzer to give that skin its natural glow, liner on the tops of the eyes only and a neutral blush. For hairstyles right now: Sleek pony tails, loose soft waves and braids! This sum-mer, textured hairstyles are back, this could range from waves, crimping or curling.
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