Meet Ashley Zamora-Strukelj | Pro Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Zamora-Strukelj and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, why did you pursue a creative career?
From a very early age, honestly, as early as I can remember, I was always interested in makeup, my mother and my grandmother both and significant collections, which I enjoyed getting my hands on, but I think the point where I realized I wanted to be a professional makeup artist was in middle school. I was regularly bullied for various reasons, and the one thing that made me feel internally and externally beautiful was makeup. The way makeup makes me feel, is how I hope to help other people feel as well. Seeing a clients face after you apply a beautiful makeup is truly priceless and will never get old to me. Some people view makeup as a superficial/material item, but I truly believe that makeup enhances the beauty that is already there!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I was in High School (Go CV Coyotes!) I became fascinated with how older horror films and how incredible the special effects makeup had to be, obviously there weren’t CGI and Video Editing tools back then, so makeup artists had to get pretty creative when it came to altering faces and bodies for film and television. Slowly, I started teaching myself the basics of special effects makeup by watching videos online and applying makeup on whoever I could, whenever I could, which meant also sitting in front of my own mirror and trying techniques on myself.
After graduating high school, I decided to move to Florida where I came in contact with a horror movie director who needed someone to do special effects makeup for a movie. This was a huge opportunity for me and I loved every second of it. I then started working for a couple big cosmetics companies and started my freelance makeup artist business, which focused mainly on Wedding makeup.
At the end of 2019 I moved to California, and then the Pandemic happened which unfortunately put all of my makeup dreams to a halt. Not all was bad though, I met my husband and we ended up getting married a little over a year later.
In early 2022 we moved to Idaho, where I started my dream job at a huge cosmetics company and worked there for a little over a year, and then I decided that it wasn’t what I thought it was, although it was a great opportunity, I feel that my skills should be used for art and to help clients feel beautiful about themselves, not treat them like dollar signs like these horrible corporate companies want you to.
We decided to pack up, and moved back to Gilbert where my Freelance business will focus on all makeup from wedding, editorial, movies, and formal events. My goal is to focus on what the big retail stores do not, and that is the client. People deserve to have an MUA who truly cares about them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My best friend is actually planning on visiting me in the near future, since I lie in Gilbert, I would definitely take her to the down town Heritage District! We would start at Culinary Dropout for some great food and tasty drinks, grab an ice cream cone at Petersen’s, and stroll around the district! I would also love to take her to Tempe Marketplace because we both love shopping and entertainment, the Marketplace has awesome live shows very often. My goal would be to end up in Sedona to look at all of the beautiful sights and breathtaking views that you truly cannot see anywhere else in the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband, without him I would have never built up the courage to pick up a makeup brush again! He pushed me to apply for a cosmetics company that I have always dreamt of working for, but never felt that I had the talent to have a job there, and because of him, that dream came true, and he’s the reason I will never give up on my dreams of becoming the best MUA I can be!

Instagram: @ashzamglam

Other: Tik Tok- @ashzamglam