Meet Andrea Santiago | Makeup artist, Creator

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

Hi Andrea, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I have always been a weird girl. since I was a child, I have been fascinated with Tim burton’s work and horror films, I also have been collecting the strange and unusual objects that would creep people out, like animal remains and voodoo dolls. I’ve had dreams of helping direct and create monsters for the big screens all over the US.

What I want people to remember me by is my artistry, my capabilities as a woman, and as a special FX makeup artist. I want people to see a film with my work in it and feel something when they lay their eyes on it, fear, pain, disgust. I want people to be grossed out.

I want a legacy of making sure people can’t sleep at night. But I also want people to see and remember the beauty I can create with my skills as well.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Growing up I had a memory retention disorder, so learning was always hard for me. Once Miami Dade schools found out about it, I was always put into special education classes that did n0t teach me anything. They just held me there as if it was a prison. Thankfully my disorder corrected itself since then, but I remember feeling so trapped and I found myself constantly drawing and creating mental escapes for my self to pass the time.

I got so good at drawing that it caught the attention of one of my teachers and she decided to take me to the art room and introduce me to the art teacher, after that every day I would be let go to the art room and build my creative skills by sketching, painting, sculpting, anything and everything that I could creatively do at the time. Then for my twelfth birthday I received some of my first pieces of makeup, by my mother. At that point that’s when I started experimenting with makeup and I would watch makeup videos on Youtube to see exactly what the products were intended for and how I can alternatively use them. During October I would venture out and go to Halloween stores and look for face paints and makeup prosthetics to try them out and see how realistic I can try to get them to look. Every time I tried to do something I would challenge myself to do better, be more creative with it, think outside the box. Basically I would try to one up myself with every piece of work I put out into the world. One thing I have learned throughout the years is to just keep dreaming, and working towards that dream.

Nowadays, I am currently in the works of getting my cosmetology license and in the process of moving from Miami to Orlando Florida to build my career in film and go big with it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Gosh this question is tough, it would have to be in-between Wynwood, Deerfield Beach, and the Florida keys. I love these places so much. the atmosphere of all of these places are so warm and inviting, both the day life and night life are so alive and full of interesting people.

Imagine old Miami beach, just a few sky scrapers here and there, a few little cute motels painted in bright colors. 1920’s art deco architecture, no crazy traffic, family owned restaurants and shops, all on the beach front, that is what Deerfield is like.

if you visit you have to go to “The Whale’s Rib,” and try their California shrimp and scallops.

If you want to be fancy, Oceans 234 is a must, and have yourself the Truffle mushroom risotto and Lobster roll. For drinks, have them give you a surprise.

Wynwood, it’s so full of rich culture and artistry, there’s always a new art galley open and on full display, new art works on every wall, you never see a blank wall, it’s always full of color and life! And some of the food and drinks are just as colorful as the art is. when you go, go visit R House Wynwood, be entertained and enjoy a drag brunch and order the Cinnamon Sweet French Toast.

or go for a nice dinner. Enjoy sandwiches like “The Cuban ” or have one of there “large plates” like the, Short Rib Ropa Vieja.

Not into that? try Coyo Taco one of there burrito bowls.

And If you go down to the Florida keys enjoy the water and rent a Jet Ski. and go a mahi mahi sandwich or giant burrito to eat from key bites. if you wanna eat on the beach I recommend going to Lazy Days, it’s an old stilts home renovated into a restraint on the beach with out door seating below and indoor seating above in the old home, with an out door tiki bar and friendly wait staff, oh and you have to get the conch fritters!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give a little recognition to the Miami conservatory of music in coconut grove, more specifically to my mother’s cousin Nichole Avesani, she was the person who got me the makeup artist position there when I was thirteen. I worked with the company for five years working backstage for every performance they had. It was so devastating that they had to claimed bankruptcy. and unfortunately having to leave. the company at the time of my employment with them was an amazing experience.

Instagram: Styledbyandy_official