Life & Work with Juan Bazan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Bazan.

Hi Juan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My creative journey began in 2015 in graphic design, visual design, and art direction. That foundation taught me how to think beyond just creating something beautiful—it taught me how to build a complete visual story, understand branding, and bring a creative vision to life.

In 2019, I expanded that creativity into the beauty industry and began my career as a professional makeup artist. What started as another way to express myself creatively quickly grew into opportunities to work across fashion, editorial, bridal, pageantry, television, and major events. Over the years, my work has taken me behind the scenes of Fashion Weeks in New York, Miami, Milan, and Paris, as well as into the Miss Universe world, where I’ve had the opportunity to work with international talent and experience beauty at a global level.

As my career evolved, I naturally moved beyond being solely an artist and into creative direction, beauty direction, and backstage operations. My background in visual design and art direction came full circle, allowing me to understand not only the beauty itself, but the entire creative process—from concept and image to team building and execution.

Today, that journey has led me to SOMOS Backstage & Beauty House. SOMOS represents the next chapter for me: using everything I’ve learned and the opportunities I’ve been given to create opportunities for other artists. I want to build spaces where talented people can gain real backstage experience, grow their network, develop professionally, and have access to industries and platforms that can sometimes feel difficult to enter.

For me, success has evolved from simply asking, “What opportunity can I get?” to asking, “What opportunities can I create for others?” That has become one of the most meaningful parts of where I am today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was making the transition from a traditional corporate career into the beauty and creative industries. Beauty is not always taken as seriously as other career paths, so choosing to pursue it professionally—especially after having the stability of a career in financial services—came with a lot of uncertainty.

For a period of time, I was essentially living two professional lives. I would work my corporate job while taking makeup clients, accepting gigs, networking, building my portfolio, and saying yes to opportunities that could move my beauty career forward. It meant long days, sacrifices, and learning how to build a name for myself while still maintaining the financial stability I needed.

Being Latino and gay has also shaped my experience and my perspective. There have been spaces where I’ve had to work harder to establish myself, find my voice, and prove that I belonged in the room. At the same time, those experiences helped me understand the importance of representation and of creating spaces where people from different backgrounds feel that there is a place for them.

Eventually, I had to trust what I was building and take the risk of pursuing the creative path more fully. Every challenge—from starting over in a new industry to building relationships and creating my own opportunities—has shaped how I lead today. It’s also a big part of why SOMOS Backstage & Beauty House is so meaningful to me. I understand how difficult it can be to get that first opportunity, so now I want to help create those doors for the next artist.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Today, my career in beauty has evolved into something much bigger than being behind the makeup chair. I started as a makeup artist, but my experiences across fashion, editorial, pageantry, television, Fashion Week, and Miss Universe have gradually led me into creative direction, leadership, and building opportunities for others.

A very important part of my career is also working closely with high-level artists and talent, often traveling with them and becoming part of their journey. There is an incredible level of trust that comes with being responsible for someone’s image during important moments in their career. You’re not simply providing a beauty service—you become part of their team, you understand their vision, and you’re there for moments that can define their next chapter.

At the same time, my background in graphic design, art direction, and beauty has allowed me to see the bigger picture creatively. Today, as Creative & Beauty Director for New York Fashion Week A.M., I’m able to bring all of those worlds together—from developing concepts and establishing visual and beauty direction to building teams, managing backstage operations, and bringing forward ideas that help elevate and evolve the platform.

That evolution is also what led me to create SOMOS Backstage & Beauty House, where I serve as CEO. SOMOS represents another side of success for me. After years of building relationships, gaining experience, and earning access to incredible spaces, I realized that I wanted to use that access to create opportunities for other artists.

I know how valuable one opportunity, one introduction, or simply having someone open a door can be at the beginning of a career. Through SOMOS, I want artists to gain real backstage experience, education, connections, visibility, and the confidence to eventually create their own path.

I think that’s what defines where I am professionally today. When the artists I work with succeed, I feel part of that success—and when an artist I’ve helped gets an opportunity and grows because a door we created was opened for them, that feels like my success too.

My career started with creating beautiful work, but my purpose today has become much bigger: creating the vision, building the team, earning the trust, and then opening the door for someone else. That is probably what I’m most proud of.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
One thing I’ve learned throughout my journey is that success becomes much more meaningful when it extends beyond you. I’m incredibly grateful for every person who has trusted me with their image, their vision, their platform, or their team, because every experience has contributed to the creative and leader I am today.

As I continue growing, I want to remain curious, collaborative, and willing to take risks. I never want success to make me forget what it felt like to be the person looking for that first opportunity or trying to prove that I belonged in the room.

Ultimately, I hope my career is remembered not only for the work I created, but for the people I brought into the room with me. There is enough space for all of us to succeed—and sometimes the most powerful thing you can do with an open door is hold it open for the next person.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jalberto.glammeup

Image Credits
Photo 1: Johana Montoya, Adriana Maurera, Juan Bazan, Alexis Amaya, Margaret Esteves

Photo 2: Juan Bazan, Susana Medina Miss Universe Spain, Alejandro Mastrangelo

Photo 3: Karime Pindter

Photo 4: Elisa Jara, Karime Pindter, Juan Bazan

Photo 5; Juan Bazan, Patrick Star

Photo 6: Juan Bazan, Sophie Sumner

Photo 7: Juan Bazan, Mimy Succar

Photo 8: Juan Bazan, Valeria Di Martino, Mirna Franco

Photo 9: Juan Bazan at Miss Universe 2025

Photo 10: Juan Bazan, Fatima Bosch, Luis David Llomuri