We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angelica Blyden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angelica below.

Angelica, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Philly, mid-2000s. MySpace is poppin’, I’m creating lipstick shades to match my outfits, and rocking my pink Doc Martens at the Art Institute. My bag is full of fabric swatches, patterns and charcoal drawings… until Muzic Class pops up on my page. A local band of artistic genre-bending geniuses mixing, hip-hop, pop, and rock. Ahead of their time. Untouchable.

Somehow, I fall into their orbit. One day I’m in the studio listening to their latest track, the next I’m doing hair, makeup, and styling for models in their music video. At first, it’s just weekends.

Passion

It’s like a song you can’t get out of your head, it follows you.

Soon, I’m answering calls from directors, actors, music artist, models during Fashion History 101 (my professor was not a fan), taking more calls and fewer notes. I went from sewing outfits to making sure every face, strand of hair, fashion detail was lit, sprayed, and perfect. Started working with local artist, radio, and tv stations. Weekend gigs became weekdays, my ’99 Suzuki Esteem aka Big Red was racking up miles, while holding on for dear life.

And then… the risk. The plan was safe: finish in Philly, transfer to Santa Monica for fashion design by the beach, with a school that “guaranteed” a job waiting after graduation. But life had other plans.

Since then, my work has spanned music videos, brand campaigns, celebrity events, television, and film. I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects featured on Youtube, Amazon, Netflix, MTV, and BET. There is nothing like the thrill of being on set, watching every moving part click into place like puzzle pieces that’s the magic.

Big lights. Long hours. All heart.

The real risk wasn’t walking away from my original plan it was daring to follow the thing that made me come alive. To trade “guaranteed” for possibility. And I’m glad I did, because every project since has been something different, something new, something worth the risk.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a production makeup artist who lives in the space between glitter and gore. My specialty is natural glam and hyper-realistic effects. My philosophy is simple: enhance what’s already there, unless I’m in SFX mode, where I get to transform completely. From a bruised stunt double to a bride in soft glam, my goal is always the same: the look should feel authentic, comfortable, and connected to the story.

In the film industry, I’ve seen how easy it is for performers to feel unheard, and how that discomfort can affect their performance. I create a space where actors, models, and clients feel safe to speak up about their needs, because how you feel and how you see yourself in the mirror shapes the energy you bring to a scene. I help create the visual continuity and emotional truth that keeps a character believable on screen. I’m so intricate with details that even when I’m just watching movies, I catch every tiny thing, it’s second nature at this point.

What sets me apart is the combination of artistry and empathy I bring to each job. I’ve worked my way from a lunchbox filled with 3 letter name dollar store makeup brands to high end, professional supplies. That little black and white lunchbox held the beginnings of my career, the proof that even with limited tools, creativity could stretch far enough to make magic. My very first short action film job was supposed to be a brutal fight scene, but my “beaten up” look ended up making the actor look like he’d been eating dirt. That early mishap taught me the importance of constant learning, experimenting, and refining my techniques. Since then, I’ve built my career almost entirely through word of mouth, forming genuine friendships and professional relationships that have lasted over a decade.

I’ve always been creative, thanks to my parents for encouraging that, whether it was Halloween costume transformations or building a school diorama complete with sound, lights, and animation. That love for imaginative detail is still what drives me today.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come, the people I’ve worked with and grown alongside, and proud of the work I put my name on. Every project is an opportunity to push the craft forward, to create something unforgettable, and to make sure the people in my chair feel respected, understood, and confident.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is breathing life into something that once only existed in my imagination watching an idea take shape, gain texture, and live and breathe on its own. There’s a kind of alchemy in that transformation. It starts as a spark in the mind and, through patience, skill, and intuition, becomes something tangible that can be seen, touched, and felt by others.

I live for the moment when a character, a scene, or the smallest detail resonates with someone when they pause, and something just clicks. Whether it’s on a film set, in a theater, or at a gallery, I want my work to create an atmosphere that lingers in someone’s memory long after they’ve walked away.

For me, art is a bridge. It’s how we connect with people that may never meet, how we can speak truths that words alone can’t carry. If my work can make someone feel empowered in their own skin, acknowledged, or inspired to create something of their own, then I’ve done my job.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the belief that my work needed to be “industry approved” before it had value. That there was some traditional, step-by-step path I had to follow to be legitimate. For a long time, I thought success in beauty and film meant stacking credentials, chasing the right stamps of approval, and ticking off boxes someone else created.

I’ve never been against learning, that’s why I went to beauty school to become a licensed esthetician. That is why I went to beauty school in California to become a licensed esthetician. I wanted to deepen my knowledge on skin and makeup, but instead, they wanted me teaching the makeup class. At the same time, I was being turned away by brands because I preferred natural beauty over heavy, cakey trends. It felt like no matter which way I turned, people had a box they wanted to keep me in.

What I’ve learned is that if you don’t follow what’s in your heart, you’ll end up living with regret or resentment. Most of my growth came from doing it scared saying yes to jobs before I felt ready, taking gigs that stretched me beyond my comfort zone, and figuring things out as I went. Those nerve-wracking moments proved my ability more than waiting for someone to grant me permission ever could.

Letting go of that old mindset opened doors I would have missed if I’d kept waiting for others permission. Now I know that passion, resilience, and real-world experience can be just as powerful as traditional credentials. My artistry has value because of the stories it tells, the people it represents, and the impact it leaves behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nakedbrush.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmspinky
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6746755/

Image Credits

POP OUT – Photo by Bianca Jacobs