We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wendy Ryan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Wendy 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?

When I was 14 years old, I was obsessed with the beauty industry. I was always looking at models in magazines, models on the runway. I knew I wanted to be a part of it and I had a passion for styling hair and doing makeup. I would practice doing hair and makeup on my little sister, then having a mini photo shoot with my disposable camera. I still have those pictures to this day. When my cousins would come over I’d love giving them a makeover. In high school I’d sometimes help my friends get ready for a dance or a party. It always ignited my creativity and I knew I had to be involved in the beauty industry.

Wendy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Like many people i had a rough childhood. At 16 I was a rebel, acting out and wasn’t doing well at school. My parents were worried and arranged to have me kidnapped out of my bed in the middle of the night and I was sent to a behavioral modification facility in Provo, Utah for the troubled teen industry. I was there for one year, one month and 3 days. Instead of trying to uplift and heal the children there, they modified our behavior through cruel and unusual punishment. When I graduated the program I left with many more issue’s than I arrived with. I graduated this school a year early and went straight to cosmetology school at 17 years old, in 1997. I knew it was all I wanted to do. After graduating, I worked in a salon for a few years as an assistant/ hairstylist and quite honestly, I wasn’t as passionate about cuts and colors as I was about makeup applications and updos, styling hair. I was also spiraling with mental health issues that I wasn’t aware of, stemming from issues at home and from the damage accrued at the facility. becoming an active alcoholic and became addicted to prescription medication. I lived a very chaotic life, and put myself through hell and back many times over until it came down to “do or die”. I was going to get sober and give life my all. I had been through enough that there were no other options. There was a fire ignited to get well and prove everyone wrong, that I could become someone, become a functioning member of society, that I overcome anything. After getting sober, I went back to school for makeup artistry, where my real passion was at. It was when social media became popular such as YouTube and Facebook. I started seeing makeup artists online and thought, this is it. This is a way to market myself as an artist. I went back to school at the L Makeup Institute. My mentor and the owner, Lissette had laid out a perfect outline of “how to become a makeup artist”. She not only went over makeup application technics but also how to make it as a professional makeup artist. I wanted it so badly I could taste it. I followed that outline to the T. Failure was not an option although I did have to overcome failures, and there were many, in order to learn and grow as an artist and as a person. I had to overcome my internal fears of not being good enough, to overcome the words of naysayers and use their words as fuel to my fire, that I would one day have a reputable name for myself and be able to create something beautiful. Makeup artistry is a very rewarding art. I love being able to make people look and feel beautiful.
Fast forward to 2024, I am a full time freelance hair and makeup artist. I have gotten to do music video “IDGAF” for artists Tee Grizzly, featuring Chris Brown and Mariah the Scientist. I’ve gotten to work with Backstreet Boys for their Las Vegas residency. Also bands Lamb of God and Megadeth for album covers and cover of Metal Hanmer. I’ve worked with Paula Abdul, The Killers, and German superstar Capo on music video “Alles Auf Rot”. I get to travel the world working pageants, and red carpet events. I do weddings, runway, editorial, performers, film, date nights, bachelorette parties, any kind of occasion that you can think of. It was my dream and I can now say, I did it. I made it. I love empowering others to fulfill their dreams. Because of I can do it, anyone can.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I highly recommend to any person in the industry to utilize social media platforms to help you grow your business. When I started out, I joined every Facebook group labeled for local models, photographers and artists. I would research what events/ fashion shows that were coming into town and I’d reach out to those designers asking if they needed my services. I’d reach out to friends and family offering my services. I would always take pictures of my work and post them. Pretty soon your online presence will be seen, heard and known. When you plant your seeds, they will grow!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am in love with making people feel like they are on top of the world. Which is why I love makeup artistry so much. You can literally change someone’s day for the better with accenting their natural beauty. We all have our things we are self conscious about, but a great makeup application can put those insecurities at ease and help you feel confident in any scenario or event. I never think you should rely on makeup only to fix those insecurities. But self love and empowering other’s is a message I like to integrate in my practices. People will always forget what you said, but will always remember how you made them feel.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.showoffmakeup.com
• Instagram: ShowOff_Makeup
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShowOffMakeup?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: Tik tok @showoff_makeup

Image Credits
Chris Hutch Photography Patrick Rivera Photography Bobby Black Photography