December Glambassador

Melanie Mills can inspire us all to dream big and most of all DO IT!

Growing up

I didn’t dream of being a makeup artist I didn’t even really wear that much makeup. I was more of a surf chick and at the beach as much I could be. My boyfriend was a surfer. I always had a work ethic and started with babysitting and mowing lawns. Then around 14 I started working at my mom and dad’s Hallmark shop then to Mrs Feilds cookies and other jobs at the mall. After high school I went to community college at Moorpark Ca and worked as a waitress. I took a humanities class that did trips and went on my first European trip to Italy & Greece with them that changed my life. I got the travel bug and started to travel like crazy. I found I loved different languages and started taking multiple language classes. At school in language lab I saw a paper on the wall that said “live and learn in Italy”, I pulled the little paper off with who to call and jumped at the opportunity. I lived in Italy for a year and met great friends from Denmark and Iceland. After living there for a year I came back home and would waitress for 3-4 months then head back to Europe for 6 weeks to 3 months, couch surfing and back packing through Europe. I did this for years. It was in Milan that I stumbled upon a makeup school and thought “wait you can make money doing makeup?!” Wanting another reason to live in Italy I signed up. I also literally thought in the back of my head that my best friends dad, Larry Wilcox (actor from CHIPS), could get me a job in the biz- HA ! It didn’t go that way but gave me a mental push. My Nana who supported anything I wanted to do wasn’t so keen on this one as we have a big entertainment family and she said it was a man’s world and would be too hard on me. I was shocked! While getting my hair done, telling my hairdresser my story, she said “you should meet my roommate she’s in the union as a makeup artist.” I did meet her, Michelle Warner, and she ended up calling me that she heard of a movie that needed an intern and drove me down to meet the team. I ended up getting the gig, I was intimidated as I had never been on a set or done makeup. I ended up interning for free for 6 months! I loved every minute of it and decided that is what I wanted to do. I took a six week night course for makeup at the Sunset and Gower Makeup Academy on the Sunset and Gower Studio lot and would think every time I would walk by the working sets that I would be there one day with a big gig. Years later I did years on that lot for a big hit show “Six Feet Under”! Lori Baker who was the makeup artist and hair dresser from that first film then hired me to be her assistant on a series of low budget indie films mostly in the horror category. I worked with a lot of effects and blood. We worked together for 2 years then she got a gig in India and I started to “Key or Head” the shows. I wanted to be in the union and had dreams of being an Oscar or Emmy winning makeup artist. This led to my first big movie with Master P called “Lockdown” that turned union. Then the next ladder needed to be climbed and I started networking and fell into the hustle of being a working union makeup artist! I did some film like Charlie’s Angles and Anchorman but ended up in the TV direction with sit coms, sketch comedy and episodic’s that led to live TV. I loved my career! I had my daughter at 29 and as hard as it was with the hours we just trucked on as that’s what we did! It was hard working the long hours and to be a mother but I had lots of great support from my family. My career did lead me to Emmy’s, the first from “Dancing with the Stars.” I was there designed the look of the shiw and headed the makeup department for the first 15 seasons. While on that show I needed a body makeup to hydrate and glow and not stain clothing that would make their skin look perfected and gorgeous and to even out spray tans. This led to creating “Gleam” a face and body makeup. The celebritys loved it and would drive to my house for little bits of it. I decided to go for it and look into creating it into a brand. This led to my cosmetic line, Melanie Mills Hollywood. 

Hollywood in Nashville, who would have thought!? After 25 years in the film business as an Emmy winning makeup artist and CEO of Melanie Mills Hollywood, no one including myself ever thought I would move out of the Hollywood biz. Multi generations in LA with both my husbands and my side of the family and not to sound full of ego but probably a few more Emmy nominations and potential wins that could have been picked up, we decided to pack up and go! I loved my career as a makeup artist with all the amazing moments and opportunities that came with being at the top of my industry. I wanted, worked hard and manifested the career I had but the long hours coupled with never knowing your next gig and how cut throat the industry can be were finally catching up with me. I was 47 when Covid hit and our world shut down. The film business closed and my cosmetic line took a huge hit. Financially it was scary, as it was for so many. Melanie Mills Hollywood was set to debut on QVC UK for the whole year for 2020 and the plan was to grow into one of their new major brands. This was a massive project with massive forecast and investment. My first airing was in April of 2020. Because of the circumstances I was forced to do the show via Skype. You can imagine that it didn’t turn out as it should of. I got through selling out from the first shows by a miracle and some added broadcasts but they could not commit to any further airings due to me being so new there, no one knowing what was going on in the beauty space especially for body makeup, plus the team that brought me on ended up dispersing for other jobs. With this being said we had to sell our home to be able to pay for the loss. We actually had been wanting to get out of LA and looked at cities that were close enough for me to fly or drive in for work, nothing was appealing not to mention the stress that would of been piled on me to travel in for work was looking ridiculous. It took the shut down to realize I love makeup but was no longer happy working film and TV. After some deep meditations with my crystals and singing bowls I kept asking what do we do, where do we go and the answer came barreling at me – Nashville! We didn’t know anyone here. We jumped on a plane to check it out and decided to do it! We sold the house and as a family with our daughter made the road trip. Financially we were able to take a year off and soak in the city, our family unit, the garden, and the community. I was also able to have more time to surround myself with my beloved crystals and create an altar room dedicated to my manifestation work. The last home we lived in for 12 years we knew one neighbor toward the end of living there. Also a lot of “friends” were just there for career opportunities and moved on quickly for that next opportunity. In Nashville within a week we knew everyone on the block and even behind us! We fell in love with southern hospitality and the slower pace and loved being on the fringe of a city that was growing too. Friends were in as friends not for opportunities.

In the back of my head as sick of the business as I was, we partly chose Nashville because I figured there would be plenty of celebrity makeups to do. As the year was coming to an end and a second career act besides running Melanie Mills Hollywood needed to come into focus, as I always got to keep busy, I decided to try to “get back in the game” of doing makeup. I needed to restock and refresh my makeup kit and found out there was no professional makeup shop in Nashville! The light literally snapped on and we realized our new purpose and within a week (no joke) “The Makeup Altar” idea was born! I had always dreamed of a makeup shop for my cosmetic line and now it all made sense.

Create a space for community with all the things I love for both inner and outer beauty:

My family, makeup, expert makeup advice, makeup service, makeup education, crystals, tarot & oracle, yoga, sound baths, candles etc. The Makeup Altar was our new purpose! It all made sense as what’s most important is family and community. It’s been really exciting and more than anything fulfilling. Gathering the Artist community with professional makeup that is needed that could only be got online paired with makeup education and then the metaphysical side with sound baths, mantra immersions, yoga and tarot has meshed together into a lovely different experience for all. I cannot thank the community enough for welcoming us and our concept. The fulfillment I get from this experience and doing and teaching makeup for people that are in need and truly grateful is beyond! People always ask if I miss doing celebrities and being on set and I say, “no!” I’m thankful for the career and all it brought to me but more thankful to be my own boss and in control of our world with my family, surrounded by things we love. We just celebrated one year in October! 

As you can see I’m a manifestor and a go getter.

My best advice is to get further education and to travel. And most importantly, DREAM! But also, DO!

It won’t come without the work. It’s ok to not know what you want to be or do and it’s ok to change your mind later too. Don’t expect a career on a platter the minute you think you are ready with top pay. Be willing to intern and do gigs for free. Every opportunity you take will be a stepping stone towards another opportunity and they just keep getting better! Manifest, vision board and journal. Start your day with finding three things you are grateful for and I swear it turns into 10 and starts your day off with an awesome energy. Always be respectful of other people’s positions and why they are ahead in the game. Find a mentor. Learn budgeting, finance and marketing as well as hospitality and professionalism. Know how to read the room. Get involved with people in all age groups. Put yourself out there. Make sure work doesn’t feel like a jail cell. It’s great to be competitive but remember there is plenty of work for everyone and you are stronger in a community.

Last but not least be kind to all and especially yourself! If you find your self in a dark place know that it can change for the better and the sun will always shine the next morning! 

PS I also offer mentorship zoom meetings and I can help you sort through a lot from building yourself as a brand, building your profession, helping you find a path with changing careers, anything makeup related, building your own brand or line or helping with any rut or anything I have had experience in. Just email customerservice@themakeupaltar.com :) 

GET CONNECTED

@gleam_melaniemillshollywood

@melaniemillsmua

@themakeupaltarnashville

& websites are: 

Melaniemillshollywood.com

Themakeupaltar.com 

Emmy Award winning makeup artist Melanie Mills is one of Hollywood’s leading makeup artists, beauty consultants, and educators known for her glamorous flair, talent, and vivacious personality. Melanie’s love affair with glitter & glam started early, influenced by the women in her life; her vibrant great grandma, her jazzy grandma, and her stylish mom.

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Melanie is a master of her craft and an expert in a variety of media including television, film, and editorial. Melanie is most known for her work on Dancing with the Stars, The Real Daytime Talkshow, and Nickelodeon shows including iCarly, Henry Danger, and Victorious, amongst others. Melanie has won two Emmy Awards – first for Outstanding Makeup Design in 2008 for DWTS, and later for Outstanding Makeup Design in 2021 for The Real. Melanie’s talent has earned her a total of twenty-one career Emmy nominations, including two double-nominations. While working on Dancing with the Stars, Melanie introduced trendsetting glowing skin and

statement makeup looks that were rare to see on television up until that time period. While on DWTS Melanie created her first beauty product – Gleam Face and Body Radiance – which was born out of a professional need to perfect the cast’s body makeup for HD and stage lighting.

This revolutionary transfer-resistant multipurpose face and body makeup, perfects and

illuminates the skin in six stunning shades. This led to launching her brand Melanie Mills Hollywood in 2011 – which now offers illuminating shimmering powders, 18 vegan makeup brushes and brush soap as well as the now viral Super Lite Long Lasting Setting Spray.

Melanie released her first book Glitter & Glam, published in 2013 by Penguin Books, which

showcases her creative vision and demonstrated the various technical skills she had mastered over the years. Featured throughout the book are celebrities including Jennifer Grey, Brandy

Norwood, Liz Gillies, Jennette McCurdy, Ariana Grande, Danielle Monet, Avin Jogia, Natalie Coughlin, and Audrina Patridge, to name a few. Melanie has personally appeared as an expert

on hit shows including The Talk, Dr. Oz, Access Hollywood Live, and was a “family member” as a beauty expert for Hallmark’s Home and Family and was on the show over a dozen times. 

National publications included SELF, Essence, Allure, Shape, InStyle, US Weekly, OK! Magazine, and Redbook, among others.

Following a move to Nashville in 2021, Melanie identified a need for a top-tier resource for

beauty professionals in this market and opened The Makeup Altar in October 2022 to fill the void. Catering to professional artists and beauty devotees alike, Melanie sought to bring a curated selection of her favorite products to professionals in the region as well as to create an

approachable, elevated space where consumers can explore the offerings. Equally focused on inner beauty, Melanie also has introduced an array of spiritual elements including crystals, singing bowls, handmade candles and incense, sage wands, bells, and chimes. Melanie resides in Nashville with her husband Nick and daughter Solaris.