October 29, 2016

Meet The Valley Make-up Artist: Marlena Robbins

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlena Robbins.

Marlena, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I always loved playing with makeup, even from a young age. From the age of 4, I was involved in the performing arts doing dancing and theatre shows. In all those shows I was in, having makeup on was always a part of the experience. It wasn’t until I was in high school though did it dawn on me that I could make a career out of it. Friends of mine that I was in shows with would ask me to do their makeup because they loved how I did mine. It was because of those moments that I realized I didn’t have to pursue being in front of the camera or on stage to have a job that would allow me to be artistic and creative, I could pursue being a makeup artist and have those needs met that way. As soon as I graduated high school I went to MUD Makeup Designory where I learned not only skills in makeup artistry but also in the business of being a successful makeup artist. 15 years later I am still working in the field of make-up and I couldn’t be happier. From photo and video shoots, to red carpet and everything in between I can proudly say I feel very grateful to have gotten to this place in my career. I can only hope to continue growing both in my craft as a makeup artist as well as my journey in this industry.

Has it been a smooth road?
My parents always said, “Anything worthwhile does not come easy” I have had many bumps along the road in my journey to becoming a successful working makeup artist. I do think that those bumps are blessings in disguise. Without having rough patches or struggles you often times don’t get the opportunity to learn and grow. It’s in those mistakes made that you get a chance to better your craft.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’m lucky enough to have had many proud moments in my career. Not one of them was better than the other. Anytime I’m told how amazing I made someone feel or my work is positively recognized in any capacity I feel the most proud.

Tell us more about the struggles you’ve faced along the way.
To this day I find myself struggling time to time in my confidence as a makeup artist. Social media is a great tool to use when you need to feel inspired by looking at what other artists are creating, but it can also be damaging if you find that you’re comparing yourself to others and their abilities. Which can happen all the time. And I am guilty of it. What I have to remind myself is that every artist is special in their own way and in their own skill set. Just because one artist is posting lots of beautiful work doesn’t mean you won’t or can’t be doing the same. And just because one artist seems to be super busy with work while you aren’t, doesn’t mean your work won’t pick up. You just have to have faith in yourself and remember that this business is always going to be full of peaks and valleys for everyone.

Is there something we can do as a city to improve the outlook for professionals like you?
I think Los Angeles is a perfect place to start a career in makeup/hair. There is more opportunity to showcase your craft in this town than in most places around the US. Whether you want to pursue doing makeup/hair in the entertainment industry or at a salon, Los Angeles has ample ways to go about making that happen.

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