Meet Michelle Surrena: Makeup Artist

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

Hi Michelle, have you seen or read anything online recently that you felt was really great?
Hello world, my name is Michelle Lelia Makeup. I’m a makeup artist for, celebrity, bridal , production, publications and more….. I went to Cosmix School Of Makeup Artistry in Fort Lauder-dale, Florida. After school I had worked in retail, such as, Boots No7 & Sephora, soon after I started doing makeup and hair for photo-shoots, productions, agency models and more…. I work today freelancing since 2009…. The most interesting thing I read online is the battle of Covid-19 and The Makeup Industry, any small business owner and/or freelancer who has been affected from this pandemic, but this is the new normal. It’s a big change we have to accept at the moment. This has been a bad impact on the beauty industry, putting us out of work! It will take a long time before things will go back to the same!

I remember being on a sneaker shopping production set with Lil Wayne and my team reading, that one of our favorite actors Tom Hanks had gotten Corona Virus, after a few days, it became worse , making us freelancers go down, with no jobs available. Unemployment is not easy to apply to because there are so many of us applying for it! Makeup artist work face to face with clients! I have a Full Specialty license as well, It’s very hard to apply for a job at a time like this! We just need faith and hope for the best! I work in production and do lots of weddings, so I’m hoping I go back to work soon, I really miss it and I love what I do.

There is nothing else I would want to do. We have to just keep our head up high, and hope for the best! Life will continue and makeup artist will strive, to whom who wants to pursue makeup keep at it! We makeup artist or any freelancer or small business owner will keep our heads up high, and keeping pushing at what we love to do! That is the most interesting thing I have read lately online!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a freelance makeup artist. What sets me apart from others, I like to work with many makeup artists and creatives. I don’t compete, I work with other creatives and learn from the best. That is how you succeed in the industry. Yes. there are many makeup artist & creatives that want to strive, We do have to make ourselves stand out and be who we are to become a great makeup artist, we all have our own way of doing things differently.

It was not easy to get where I’m today. It took me about 8 years to progress from retail to my freelance business. Production I had started after I had worked in retail. I started with student films and worked my way up to music videos and commercials. I’m most proud of how far I’ve become in my career today, with weddings and productions like Sneaker shopping with Lil Wayne and Guy Fieri, Professional golfers like Lexi Thompson and more…. It took dedication and not giving up! I’m still learning new things as I grow as a makeup artist.

There are challenges I face til this day. We have to network as much as possible to become better! I keep up with current trends and follow top makeup artists! The lessons I’ve learned on the way is to NEVER give up. Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and take risks in this business! That’s how I grow and become a better makeup artist. I want the world to know about my brand by who I really am. I want to inspire other woman and men around the world to feel and look their very best. I listen to my clients needs and what they want! It’s always about the client, great customer service and talent of course, having a great personality is everything. As you do makeup, you will begin to see your pros and cons as a makeup artist! Practice, practice, practice!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had friends or anyone visiting there are many places to go and things to do! If its with my girl friends I always love having a girl day! That means music, dance, drink and get all dolled up! Of course I will do our makeup and hair. I always google and look up reviews for what places are trending. I would visit local art shows, museums, downtown, beaches, dinner shows, the list goes on…. I love creating an experience to remember! I always wanted to check out a drag queen show. I would eat seafood and steak dinner, downtown or by the water! I would check out nature parks, great for sight seeing and just wanting to get some fresh air. I would drive to the keys. Just hanging out in general, cooking something good at home, drinking wine and dancing to music and playing dress up! .

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As mentioned once before, Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry, helped me start my career as a makeup artist! I give a shout out to all my photography friends, production teams and whom believed in me. Since 2009, I have met and learned so much from all creatives who love what they do! It’s not easy to be a makeup artist or anyone who freelances. We have to work hard for what we do, since there are so many of us creatives! I give myself credit for, working hard and staying strong through this process of a makeup artist!