Meet Madelyn Michael of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madelyn Michael

Hi Madelyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I knew from a young age that if I wanted to be anything, it was on me to imagine and make it happen. I was a little girl sitting alone, creating entire universes in my head so I could be anywhere but in my dingy duplex, on the sad beige carpet. When I looked up at my little TV in my little room, I sang from my guts about not wanting to pay Rent, knowing little about what real rent would look like as an adult. I remember hearing my parents talking about me outside my door when I’d finish my song and the sinking feeling of hoping that one day someone would someday believe in me.

Fueled by a brassy combination of creativity and spite, I have always had to support myself, make my dreams a reality, and never give up on myself.

I moved from a teeny tiny town in a Dallas suburb to Austin, Texas only two days after I turned 18. I remember finding the door to my room locked and crawling through the window to get in. Nothing was going to stop me at that point. I worked three jobs to pay my $400 a month rent and, at one point, I was trading my ability to cook for the meal that would result. I modeled, I answered phones and I made pizza.

If this feels like foreshadowing, you’d be right. I ended up in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School and owned a bakery after graduation. Do you remember 2009? When people had an obsession with cupcakes but the economy was tanking? Well, that’s about how well that venture went.

Recovering from the recession, I knew I needed to pivot to simply keep a roof over my head. Again, I answered phones. I got coffee. I found opportunities to make myself useful. Soon, I was starting and running smaller office projects and events and found myself being the only one looking forward to the organization process and bringing the team together.

That time of my life feels like a blur of giant blueprints, memos, makeup brushes, and lots of coffee. By day, I was the smiling face at the front desk, by night I was the makeup artist traveling around the city to educate makeup lovers. I think I cried when I got my acceptance letter to makeup school in the UK.

I moved to London alone, with everything I owned in a backpack and duffle bag. I lived in a glorified closet under the stairs and school was a 12-hour day on average. It was there that I learned how to elevate a love of unfettered creativity into a career I knew I could grow and count on. While in school, I booked my first movie doing special effects for a schlock horror film a high school friend was making.

From there I was hooked. I spent the next several years booking as many films, photoshoots and producing opportunities as I could. I’m grateful to have worked with some incredible brands, and artists and on unforgettable projects.

When the pandemic hit, I had already been working for myself, either on the road with makeup or at home with producing – for years. So what did I do with my time? I built a computer that would run a camera where I could do my makeup for those wanting to learn. I did what I had always done, make the best out of a situation in which I had little control. So for almost two years, I streamed makeup or video games every single day.

In 2022, I made the move from Austin to LA. I’d seen countless colleagues try to move out here to just come back in six months. I vowed to never let that be me. Once I got here, it felt like minutes before the strikes hit. I watched both friends and artists I admire struggle to find work. Now that the strikes are over (thank goodness), it seemed like the start of the industry was slow to reach everyone in need.

All my career, I had planned projects, helped others and seen dreams come to life. Vervain Creative came from a simple want to help my friends.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In junior year of high school, I spent my weeks couch hopping and doing what I could to find a place to call home. I’d been reassured that I wouldn’t find help from my family. I’d been forced to emancipate myself because my parents “didn’t believe I could succeed in college” and they “didn’t want me to bring them down”. In school, I studied twice as hard to ensure I graduated with honors.

Growing up, my parents didn’t and still don’t believe in illnesses you can’t physically see, so when I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 30; suddenly the puzzle pieces started falling into place. I finally started to understand why my life seemed like a video game on hard mode but everyone else had the cheat codes. Finally understanding my lens on the world has helped me find the vocabulary and support I’ve needed all my life. I’ve had to learn my value and worth, with methods and tools acquired on my own and through therapy.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Coming from a dynamic background, I’m known for bringing creative ideas to the table and looking beyond to find solutions to problems. I bring teams together. The greatest part of my job is not only bringing creative humans together but also bringing my community together. In makeup, I specialize in high fantasy concepts. In production, I specialize in being Terminally Helpful. In my work, I bring a drive to connect and create a collaborative experience which my team is excited to work on.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
When I shifted from working in front of the camera to working behind the camera, I looked at my peers. I paid attention to the makeup artists, creative directors, and producers around me to learn what methods worked for them. Once I was brave enough, I asked a local well-respected makeup artist if I could wash her brushes. For months, I would do nothing but wash brushes and apply skincare while I learned next to an incredibly talented and patient artist. Never ever stop being curious. Curiosity will keep you engaged in what you love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vervaincreative.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisiskit_/

Image Credits
Danielle Sabolch
Emerald Klauer