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

Eilani, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Growing up I always knew I wanted to do something that had to do with the arts, but what that was exactly, I didn’t know. I got into makeup because of cheerleading. I would watch any and every makeup tutorial I could find on YouTube and I would let it consume me. I was so fascinated with the fact that people could completely transform the way they looked with makeup. Throughout high school nothing really peaked my interest and it wasn’t until senior year that I decided that I wanted to go to school for makeup and learn the entire process. After high school, I attended school for makeup and special fx until that was cut short due to the pandemic, however, I did not let that stop me. I continued to learn and explore every detail of the art. I knew that my future would be makeup, but I didn’t know what aspect of makeup that would be. In 2021, I worked on my first short film “Gods Land” and that is what really solidified that I wanted to take on makeup in the film industry. I began to learn the ins and outs of what being on set looked like and it only made me more excited to grow my career.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi everyone! If you’re new here, my name is Eilani Flores and I am a makeup artist. I got into makeup because of all star cheerleading. When the first competition came, and I looked like a clown I knew something needed to change. I made it a mission for myself to learn how to do my makeup so that I didn’t take the stage looking like a clown again. Learning how to do my makeup sparked an interest in me that I didn’t know I had, and my love of makeup began to grow the more I learned about it. When it comes to makeup, I can pretty much do it all. From full glam to light camera ready makeup to bruises. You name it and I can do it! And if I can’t, I’ll make it a priority to learn what you need me to do. What sets me apart from other is my work ethic and the ability to get things done in a timely manor. When it comes to being on set, time really is of the essence, and when I’m told I need to get something done ASAP, I get it done. I am most proud of the relationships that I’ve built along the way. To me, makeup is so much more than makeup, it’s being able to make the people you’re surrounded by and working with feel valued, heard, and like they have someone they can count on. At the end of the day makeup is SO much more than a job to me.

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

To me, the most rewarding aspect of all of this is being able to help bring someone story and vision to life. Makeup is an art and it’s a way of story telling. Through this I am able to help writers and directors bring the visions they have in their mind come to life on the screen. It’s such a rewarding feeling because I know that my art and my passions are helping aid someone else’s passions and ideas. It’s the beauty of film making. As difficult and fast paced as it may be, there is something so special about seeing your work and the story come to life on the big screen. And to know you were a part of something so much bigger than you is such a crazy feeling but something I hope to never give up.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The biggest thing that drives me on this journey is knowing that there is so much more that I have yet to explore. Where I am at this very moment, my goal is to continue to learn and develop my craft, as well as working on as many projects as I can to be able to grow as an artist and as a person. My ultimate end goal is to be able to have the opportunity and experience of working on big productions that reach a wide range of audiences across the world and to be able to help tell stories. Later on down the line, I do want to give back and mentor someone who is wanting to pursue this as a career but doesn’t know how to start. I want to provide an outlet for someone and show them the ropes because I understand how difficult it can be to not have people around you in the same line of work as what you’re wanting to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eilaniflores3.wixsite.com/makeupbyeilani
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeupbyeilani/
• Other: IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15561243/

Image Credits

Jeliza @jeliztagram
Bailey Rye @bailey_rye99
@bodacious.riffs