Meet Ariana Padro | Makeup Artist

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

Hi Ariana, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I’d definitely say that the makeup community is not as inclusive as it’s made out to be. It is very cliquey, and you need to kiss up in order to make it anywhere. That is not who I am, so I sometimes struggle with finding my place in this industry for many reasons. I am a self-taught multimedia makeup artist meaning I do Beauty Makeup, Special Effects Makeup & Body painting. That is not very common…Most artists choose one lane to stay in. I’ve never felt like I have a place to fit in. My style of beauty makeup is “too much” for the beauty community & My SPFX work is great but may not be enough to many in the industry. I struggled for so long with figuring out which lane I fit into, so I just decided to create my own. I have built my own community that supports me & my artistry wholeheartedly and that’s all that I need. Don’t let the feeling of never being included stop you from your dreams. That only makes you better.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a self-taught makeup artist that specializes in Beauty Makeup, Special Effects & Body painting. Most artists stick to one media of makeup so the fact that I am a triple threat definitely makes me stand out. I started my journey with SPFX when I was 14 years old and then began beauty when I was 17. I practiced and practiced and failed until eventually I succeeded. It was extremely difficult but my love and passion for transformation kept me going. Your job should never feel like it’s work. It should always feel like you are at peace. I learned to stop being so hard on myself because after all I am a human being that is going to fail and make mistakes here and there and once, I stopped being so critical of everything I was able to create better. If you don’t like something, take it off and start over. I would love for everyone to know that being an outcast is ok. One day you will find your community of people that support you and appreciate your artistry. There is no better feeling than doing what you love to do. Create what you want for you not everyone else.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, I’d definitely take them out to eat some bomb Puerto Rican food. I’m a foodie so eating is always on the itinerary. I am from New York so a nice trip to Manhattan is a must. We’d hop on the ferry to get some beautiful views and have a drink. I don’t get to go to the city often, so I love to walk around and take in all its beauty. I would make a stop to the new stranger things pop up museum and to finish off the night maybe stop by Magnolias Bakery and get some dessert.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would have to thank my parents & my grandmother for their unconditional support from the moment I told them this is what I wanted to do. They have pushed me to do things I never thought I could. They help my visions come to life and without them I would have no clue where I would be.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariana__mua/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arianafx/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1DGBVaQv8Svu3pX7mvcFUg

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ariana__mua

Image Credits
Frank Gutierrez (@visualartistrynyc) & Myself (@ariana__mua)