The Delightfully Strange Strazzere

 If you took Wednesday from The Addams family, mixed her with Scully from The X files, then added a dash of  Mary-Kate Olsen, with the artistic ability of Dali, and then traveled to the Twilight zone...... that would begin to describe our beloved Steffanie Strazzere.

We have all heard the interviews where they say "I find inspiration in everything" but then its usually a mountain, a sea horse or a flower? Well what about a skull, a dark movie, or witchcraft? Steffanie brings us into the wonderful world of finding beauty in the strange or dark. To find what might slightly frighten us and then fall in love with it.

What first caught my eye about Steffanie were her huge studded Jeffrey Cambell shoes. The fact that she could even walk in them was a sure sign that she was something magnificant. They were the kind that was missing the heel so it almost looked like something out of the Arrival (a creepy movie about Aliens). Here is a picture of when I first met her, she worked as a MAC trainer in Norcal. This is her and Christopher Roa, also a trainer. They were leading a training together.

So cute right? I wish I could say it was her bubbly personality, her wealth of knowledge or her position with MAC that made me fall in love with her. But I am going to assume its actually the same thing that made all of you fall in love with her. Her fearless astounding talent.

Whether its her makeup

Whether its the makeup she does on others

 Or its her so unreal-it-looks-real art

She has crept her way into our hearts. Now lets get to know her heart for all things makeup, art and creative.

1.Tell us about how you first got into makeup.

 I walked into a MAC store with a friend. At the time I didn’t wear make-up and really didn’t know who MAC was. I was a senior in high school and I was preparing to go to art school in the fall. I was drawn to the facecharts. I thought to myself that it was quite a bit similar to painting. A few months later I brought my resume and my painting portfolio in. About a month later I was hired part time as a 18 hour artist.

2. What is your favorite thing about what you do?

  I think my favorite thing would be the transformation. Make up is an art form and people use it to transform all different aspects of them. I love when my clients see themselves after finish their make-up. You cannot put a price on feeling good about yourself. And I really pride myself on making people feel beautiful.

3. Where do you gather inspiration?

 I am really quite a hoarder of inspirational things. Hah! What I mean is I keep every magazine, every image or color swatch. I’m the creep at the dentist office ripping pages of magazines out because I love the make-up, the mood of the make up or the color palette. I have so many screen shots on my phone from images I find that I deleted all the music from my ITunes before I deleted my pictures. I do tend to find the most beauty and inspiration the strange and unusual. I always preferred the villains in Disney films when I was younger. They always were so much more interesting looking. Now looking back on it, their make-up was always way better too. Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I think being able to transform yourself into anything you want has always been something I was interested in.

4. I saw that you recently got to meet the glorious Alex Box, tell us about that experience.

 Where do I start?! I’ve met and worked with many celebrities over the years and nothing compared to the nervousness that I felt, and my shaking when I met Alex box. I drove 5 hours each way to see/ meet her. Watching her do make up in person was seriously life changing. It was so refreshing to not have an artist explain what they were doing, why they were doing it and about the tools they were using. Instead, Alex had a fantastic mix of music blasting and she just zoned out, creating. Everyone was just watching her every brush stroke. It was magic. After watching her complete an incredible make up in a half hour, I got to meet her.  I introduced myself, shaking, and such a mess. I told her I had just driven 5 hours to see her, and after I left I was getting back in my car to drive the 5 hours back. She grabbed me and hugged me, kissed me on the head and told me “I can’t believe you drove all that way to see me!” I, of course, gushed and told her she had been my make-up inspiration and idol for at least 7 years, and I couldn’t pass up the chance.” I told her “I love that you’re not afraid to be inspired by darkness and the unusual things.” She replied “all the most beautiful things are unusual, there’s so much beauty in darkness." We talked briefly for another minute or two, I hardly remember any it, I was so happy. She held my shaking hands while we spoke. We took a picture together and that was it. She was more incredible, humble and sweet than I possibly could have imagined. Needless to say, it’s hands down one of the best days of my life.

5. Where do you see yourself going with your makeup career?

 Well, honestly.. having just recently left the only job I’ve ever had (at MAC), After 11 years. I really just want to create. I feel like I constantly have ideas rushing through me that I could never do anything with before. Recently I’ve been involved in quite a bit of conceptual make-up on photo-shoots. It’s been an incredible and rewarding experience already. I do however; miss the educational/ teaching aspect of make-up. I always aspire to inspire when I’m doing any type of make-up. I love the experience of teaching, and watching people learn and develop their own skills and talents. I hope in my future I’ll be able to facilitate/ teach and create with make-up artistry.

6. If you didn't do makeup what would you do?

 I think I would probably go to school to study ancient Egyptian/ancient world history. It’s always been so fascinating to me. Then afterwards study Ancient Alien theories.

7. What is your favorite project you have ever done?

 I’d have to say the recent shoots & concepts I’ve been a part of. Something about watching an idea come together with a talented group of people is so rewarding. Then having others notice and want to publish your work. It’s so rewarding.

8. What has been the hardest thing about your career?

 Leaving MAC was hard, very hard. It was all I had ever known of the cosmetic industry. 11 years is a long time. While my friends were going off to college I was moving to Las Vegas to pursue my make-up dreams. I feel like I grew up as a person and artist with the brand. I have friends that are like my extended family all over the country from working for MAC. It was the greatest learning experience of my life to date. But, like all learning experiences, I felt like I had wanted to create on my own and experience, learn and grow on a new adventure. Finally, after months of internal debating, I decided that there was no more time to think of “what if’s”, and I went for it.

9. Why MAC cosmetics?

 I felt like after years of being made to feel uncomfortable and alone in my own skin, after years of the name calling; “freak, weird girl, art Goth” in middle school and high school. It was a place that accepted me right away; no one thought I was weird or a freak. The brand welcomed my originality and wanted me to be who I was. I was with accepted and embraced with open arms.

10. What's the craziest interaction you have ever had with a client?

 Working in downtown Boston certainly brought out more interesting clients than I ever experienced before. I had one customer compliment my winged eyeliner, and then ask if she could call me “Cleopatra”. I giggled and replied “of course, if you want to.’ Before I knew it she was talking about how “I ruled over Egypt”. Saying things to me and other customers around us like “better watch out, the romans love that Egyptian eye. They’ll be all over you.” This went on for about 15 minutes. At the end of the transaction, she kissed my hand and said "thank you lady pharaoh for all you’ve done”. It was pretty wild.

11. What are 3 items every girl should have in her makeup bag?

 Some type of brow gel or brow brush. Brows are so important and most of the time takes minimal effort to make a huge difference. A solid super nourishing lip balm (my personal obsession are the EOS round lip balms without SPF). And bold/dark/bright statement color lipstick. Whenever you’re running short on time, a perfect polished lip color is the best accessory you can have.

12. Describe your personal style.

 I’m a total creep. Hah, I don’t know if that exactly describes anything I guess if Lydia Deetzand Mary-Kate Olsen had a baby that only wore black… that would be pretty much me? I have an unhealthy relationship with Jeffery Campbell shoes it’s become quite the collection at this point.

13. What advice do you have for those just starting out?

 Get ready to work your butt off. Have goals in place, where do you want to go? How are you going to get there? And then once you’ve decided on your goals. Do everything and anything in your power to get there. I have moved across the country 4 times. I’ve done so many free make-ups to promote myself. I use to work for trade with photographers and models just for experience. If you are hungry enough, you will do whatever it takes to get there. Also, be nice, and considerate to EVERYONE you meet in this industry. Your reputation is everything, and word of mouth travels quickly. Plus, you never know if you will end up working beside them backstage some day.

14. What advice do you have for those who are looking to gather a large following?

 Be authentic to you. There are so many people that do things because other people are doing them. If you stay true to you, to your own personal style and artistry people will be interested and want to follow your work.

15. What questions are you asked the most?

 "Why don’t you ever do your make up the same twice?" I firmly believe in always challenging yourself as an artist. For years I always wore a nude lip, dark brows and a Smokey eye with black winged eye liner. I mastered that look, but was nervous and felt that I "didn’t look good" and "couldn’t pull off” other looks. It was all in my head. I was holding myself back artistically. Now, I challenge myself to try different things daily.

16.What is “stay creepy” all about? 

“Stay creepy” started out as a joke back in 2004 ish? Co-workers would always call me a creep for my macabre interests ect. People would refer to my make up and say things like “keeping it creepy” ect. Eventually somehow it just turned into coworkers saying things like “that is a very 'stay creepy' make up.” It was funny and when I started my Instagram I decided to just hastag my make-ups with it. I think if anything it means more so to just stay-authentic to yourself. If you’re into creepy stuff, embrace it.  

17. What is the oddest request you have ever got doing makeup? 

I once had a bride/bridal party. And the night before her wedding, she sent me an email asking me to not make anyone look better than her. I think that one caught me off guard.

18. Expand on the thought of "it's more than just makeup"

 Make up is art.

19. What do you use that's not MAC?

 My foundation is Bobbi Brown Foundation stick. My brows are Make Up Forever Aqua brow. I’m obsessed with Nars large lipliners. Illamasqua lipsticks are some of my favorite. Not only because of the color pay off but also because of the matte finish. My most recent lipstick obsession is Melt Cosmetics lipsticks. I can’t get enough of them!

20. Is MAC your only point of view?

 Not at all!! I use a little bit of everything. I really feel like well-rounded make-up artists know and understand that each brand has great products to offer.And now with so many IG MUA’s and Beauty Blogs it’s really easy to find out what brands have amazing products!

21. What are some less expensive (drugstore) options that work really great as well?

 I can’t stress enough how much I love wet n’ wild matte lipsticks! Talk about a steal. Amazing color pay off and colors, so cheap! I also love Ardell lashes. They are great quality, so many varieties to choose from and you can’t really beat the price at all! Also, TJmaxx and Marshalls have some real treasures in their beauty sections! I’ve gotten so much stuff for my kit there, and the prices can’t be beat!

22. What experience is a client going to have with you?

 I’d like to hope that it will be a learning experience that they won’t soon forget. That they will leave our interaction feeling more confident about make up application, that they leave feeling better about themselves and how they look. And with the confidence to know that they now know how to achieve this look. And If need be, with questions or concerns, I’m only a email or call away.

Hopefully at this end of this interview you are both creeped out and inspired. If you aren't inspired at the end of this interview then you arent human, and if you aren't human and you are reading this.... well call Steffanie because I am sure she would be delighted to meet such a creature. 

A huge thank you to Steffanie for being a part of this blog and being so willing to open up to her fans. We can expect to see huge things from you Steffanie! Go weird em out girl