We recently connected with Lauren Spanagel and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lauren thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Makeup has always been my passion. It’s been a way for me to get away from the world and let my creativity shine. Makeup sparked my interest when I was around 12 years old. You see, I had cancer at the time and being a young girl with no hair hair and incredibly sick..I wanted to find a way to make me feel like, well, me. A close friend at the time introduced me to makeup and my eyes were opened. I have never had more fun with anything else. It was therapy to me. A way for me to get away from the world. So I slowly built my collection through the years and taught myself application skills through YouTube and internet videos.
Now, 27 years old, I have taken my art to the next level and challenge myself daily with what I can do with makeup. Although my makeup career isn’t my full time job, i have been able to build an audience and be seen by some prestigious brands. I will never stop even if it’s always just a side hustle. I will continue to learn and enhance my skills daily. Because after all, it’s what I love to do.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

When I was 12 years old I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in my left arm. After countless reconstructive surgeries I lost my range of movement in my arm. I was left handed so it was certainly a challenge to adapt to life after I was in remission. I used to draw and since that wasn’t an option anymore, I had to find another way to explore my creativity. Not only was I creatively deprived but I was a young adult with no hair, a physical disability, and weak from all the chemo treatments and surgeries. Shortly after though is when I found makeup. A childhood friend had received some as a gift and we we decided to dip our toes into it one day. Needless to say, I was hooked. Not only was i amazed with the array of products but also the things you could do with them.
Since that day, i started building my collection and doing my makeup daily. I would spend hours on YouTube and the internet learning techniques and ways to apply makeup. It became something I did almost everyday especially since I had to learn with only one arm. But even with some complications..doing my makeup took me to another world where I could create and wear my own art. To this day I haven’t stopped.
I even began to apply my talent onto other faces and even worked as a makeup artist for a small wedding and event company for a brief amount of time. I gained even more knowledge.
I still do others makeup every once in a while but my true happiness is applying my creativity onto myself and inspiring others to do what they love even through life/personal complications.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to give others the confidence to feel like they can do whatever they want despite any challenges that come their way. I want to become an inspiration to others and show them that no matter what, you can find something that brings out your happiness.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing to me is others seeing what I love to do. Building a following because others WANT to see what I do. It feels amazing to know that I am in fact inspiring others with my work. Not only my following but brands organically finding my socials and wanting to work with me. Never in a million years did I think I’d work with and collab with popular brands. It may just be a side hustle, but I feel like I’ve accomplished so much especially recently.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/spanageltheanimal
• Facebook: Facebook.com/laurenashleyspanagel
• Other: TikTok: @laurenspanagel

Image Credits
Personal photo is by @jrdboudiebabes on Instagram