MUD Celebrates Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild-Award Winner: Alumna Lauren Lillien

On February 16, 2019, the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild (IATSE Local 706) honored outstanding achievements in make-up and hair styling in television, motion pictures, live theater, commercials and music videos via the 6th Annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards. We’re proud to share that MUD LA grad Lauren Lillien took home the award for Theatrical Production: Best Make-up in The Unauthorized Musical Parody of Rocky Horror!

Our graduates have forged successful careers as make-up artists in a wide range of fields. They’ve also received some of the highest honors for excellence in film, television, theater, retail and print. We’re thrilled to celebrate Lauren’s extraordinary achievements  just 8 months after graduation.

Let’s hear from Lauren:

How does it feel to have won such a prestigious award so early in your career?

It’s the coolest thing ever! I got really lucky. Michael Johnston, who is an incredible artist and a friend, asked me to be on his team for the show and I was so surprised and honored to be part of it. The awards were amazing. It was a surreal experience even just being in the same room with all these talented people that I look up to so much. It just makes me want to work harder and accomplish as much as I can.

When did you figure out that you wanted to be a professional MUA?

I always knew I wanted a career that was creative and fun, so on a trip to LA I visited MUD and decided I would move to Los Angeles from Denver to attend school and see if I could actually do it! Literally the first day at MUD I already knew that I had made the right decision.

Tell us a fun story from your time at MUD.

I had the best time studying at MUD. It was so fun to just talk make-up and art and play and learn with friends all day every day. I loved all the girls in my class. My favorite days were final days when we would get to put everything we worked on for that unit together and create a complete look or character.

Who is someone that you look up to in the industry?

Other than Michael [Johnston], someone I look up to in the industry would be Jacque Mgido. She has taught me so much and has been helping me kickstart my career. She has so much experience and talent, and I learn so much from her. Some other amazing women in the industry are Eryn Krueger Mekash and Ve Neil — I’m totally obsessed with everything they do.

What was your favorite class at MUD?

My favorite class at MUD would probably be Special Effects 301 because you basically learn how to start from nothing and build an entire character — and you get super messy! I didn’t even realize I could do something like that, so it really pushed me and made me a much better artist. I also loved having Mike as my teacher, he was so helpful and supportive and inspiring.

Name a celebrity or other make-up artist that you would love to work with.

A celebrity I would love to work with would be Post Malone just because I’m a huge fan. And I can’t think of just one MUA because every single time I work with someone new I’m so amazed and I try to absorb and learn as much as I can from them.