Meet Madeline Rouge | Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madeline Rouge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madeline, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
For the most part, makeup artistry is a solo job you do with others. There weren’t a lot of other options when I started. In my industry, you build yourself and your business up, and eventually when you get good enough, you hire more artists ( if you work in the bridal world) or you join the union or agency ( for the production/commercial/celebrity world).
So I guess it’s a bit backwards in comparison to other fields. Personally, I love having control of my career, my business, and my time, but it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Time. Time is what sets me apart from others.
There are so many makeup artists these days. People are trying to get into the industry, and there are plenty giving up and leaving. If you stick around long enough, you meet your people, and then when it is finally your time you and your people rise up and start becoming leaders in the industry.
Pay your dues. Build your portfolio, Test with everyone and meet everyone. Train your eye. You never know from where or who your next big opportunity will come from. These are all things that come with time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take you for arepas at La Latina, window shop around the Design District, then dinner and drinks at La Trova, pop over to Ball and Chain for live music and dancing. Also its immensely important to have a cafe cubano and a paselito de guava while you are in town, because if not… did you even go to miami??!!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My best friend and hair partner, Emily Malin, has been such a huge part of my story. I’m so lucky to have met this this visionary woman. Her artistic talent is obvious in everything that she does. Hair and wigs are her focus but honestly, her makeup skills are also incredible, so i feel lucky that she even works with me because she could easily be a one-woman show.
I admire her aesthetic taste and how knowledgeable she is. Life and work are so much more fun with her in it!

Website: http://www.MadelineRouge.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/madelinerouge