Meet eli Medina | Makeup artist & Studio Manager of The Sparkle Bar

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

Hi eli, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think it’s important to take risks , to challenge yourself , to make yourself uncomfortable . I tell each of my new artists this that they need to get get uncomfortable to grow . Ive taken several risks in my life some great some not so great but one thing has always happened , I learned something new about myself each time . When i was in high school I left home at the end of my sophomore year at the risk of my own mental health . I knew if i stayed in a toxic environment I where I felt alone and could not truly express myself that i would self destruct so I had to grow up real fast out of my own home so I had to grow up fast . Taking that risk had a huge impact on the rest of my life was it a tough road to get where I’m at today , ABSOLUTY but I’m so glad I did because that risk lead me to so many unique experiences , wild and insanely creative people that have become my family and lead on carrier path I had never considered that continues to fills my life with art and joy and also still manages to pay the bills

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I actually have always been a creative even at a young age Id always color ,draw, paint, sculpt I didn’t care if I wasn’t good at it i just loved making something and being like “Damn , I did that” . I think because I was constantly around performers and later becoming a dancer , circus performer and drag queen Im not afraid of the odd , the different , the strange . I get asked a-lot what my favorite kind of makeup to do is and honestly i love a look thats imperfect something a little or grudgey because its real and also to me it takes a codefendant ass person to smudge mascara all over your eye and wear it out as apposed to someone with a beautiful blended eyeshadow . One other thing that i think sets me apart is my personality I always tell my clients I’m just trying out my stand up routines on them . Makeup should be fun and not stressful because at the end of the day its makeup it wipes off so why stress about that when there are thousands of other things you can put that energy into . I always want my clients to feel like Im just there gay fairy glam-father here to get you ready for the Ball

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well first thing first we need a cocktail , so definitely take them to one of my favorite places FEZ for G-Spot with an extra gummy worm please and they’d have to try there sweet potato fries with their famous garlic apricot aioli . probably show them all of the mountains on our way to Fashion Square Mall because 3 floors of shopping with stores my friends cant get back home …. sign us up !!! probably stop in old town for a cold drink at Tea time then swing by The Sparkle Bar to give my friend an Eyes Lips Cheeks application which is an express service we offer here in studio ,perfect someone one with only 20-30min. Then wed probably go have dinner at Otro Cafe they have delicious ceviche and they also serve breakfast till close so if you want chilaquiles at 7:30 pm you got it . then wed probably go see some amazing drag entertainment at Kobolt down town .

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would say Ive had many different influence’s on my life that have brought me to this point. Im big believer in the Universe will always give you what you need not what you want . I was lucky to find a very eclectic friend group made of all walks of life that definitely opened my eyes to different ways of thinking and perspectives on life . For a short time i lived with a group of drag queens that welcomed me with open arms . One in particular became my drag mother and literally would call her mom. Kinda of funny to think back on it and id literally be calling this full grown man out of drag “mom” in a Walmart im sure we raised a few eyebrows. But my Drag mother legit treated me like her child shed check my homework , made sure i studied , gave me gas money fed me and also boosted my confidence because at the time i was very hurt and fragile and she taught me the value of self worth . My best friend / former roommate is also someone who has always been there since the day we met to this day he is still to this day I make it a point to fly home and be there for his birthday . He taught me the very important lesson of living in regret he’s one of the main reasons i became a makeup artist . I still can recall us up late having a few adult beverages and him listening to me moan about how i don’t like hair school . he looked me dead in the face and said ” so what you going to do with your life eli “? he then explain how if i was unhappy doing hair to do makeup he mentioned how he works for MAC and could easily get me a job but Id have to saddle up and apply myself . cut to me dropping out of hair school the day i got hired at MAC and have now been a makeup artist for about 10 years now

Website: www.thesparklebar.com

Instagram: @twistedbeauty77

Image Credits
Jessica Seiferth Alex Bradberry