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

Hi Harleigh, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I try my best to live by 2 “rules”: 1. Always have a good time & 2. Maximum comfort. You have to take risks in your life and career, especially in the entertainment industry. Having the discipline to prove you to yourself, and gaining the core belief that you and your work are worth the effort (as well as a strong support system) are some the most important parts to not failing.

At times, going freelance in this industry has been truly terrifying. It’s always floating around in my head if the benefit outweighs the risk to my physical and financial security, the strain on my social and personal relationships, and my mental and physical health. That’s where challenging myself to build my portfolio, and having a quality support system has made a huge difference. I’m so happy to say that the people in my life have shown me love, acceptance and kindness- so much so that even when I’ve had a bad day on set, or a particular effect/look didn’t turn out right, I know my progress was worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Special Effects makeup is just so weird-and I love it. To put it simply, in beauty school we are taught to identify some basic standards for beauty (obviously that’s heavily impacted by where/when/who is teaching) on our model and enhance them to the occasion. Since I’ve specialized in Gore and Practical Special Effects, its that same initial process, but instead I find the “standard” and f*ck it up. It goes against what I was taught, and I am able to create some pretty mind bending stuff. I just started learning how to make my own prosthetics a few months ago which has been such a cool process.

The next few things I am super excited for makeup (other than being blessed and booked through most of the fall season) is getting into creature work and creating fantasy characters for the rest of the year. I am also working on my American Sign Language Communicator Certification at Tarrant County College, my ultimate dream is to work with the Deaf community to create media in and with ASL.

It has been the opposite of easy. I admit that there have been times that I let outside opinions come in and disrupt the progress I’ve made.

I burnt myself out so much on school and life, I stopped doing hair/nails the first 2 years I lived in DFW, and makeup completely for almost 3 years. I also graduated college during a pandemic which lead me to accept a job as a Morning News Producer, and that was a huge mistake. Its taken a lot of healing and self acceptance to get to where I am today, and it’s only because of my support system that I am here. It’s okay to trust and stand up for what you know is best for you, and to lean on the people that love you. I’ve learned that if you take the time to get to know yourself, set your own beliefs and values that you can live by, the right people will be there. Also the right ones won’t just accept you, its 2022, it is time to have people that FULLY CELEBRATE YOU!

I mostly want the people to know that everyone is different and comparison steals joy. Live your life in a way that makes you the happiest and healthiest you. You are worthy of your dreams, you deserve good things, you deserve the space to create, and you are strong enough to create the safety needed for all of those things. Splash a little fake blood on it and that’s my brand

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite spots to go and do stuff would definitely be the Coyote Drive-In, the Texas Discovery Parks, and the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Texas Theater. Food wise, I don’t think I have ever had anything bad from any of the food trucks, but a particular favorite is Insurgent food, they hang out a bunch in Denton but go to the metroplex sometimes. Flower Child and Spiral Diner always hit right for this pescatarian. I’m also a brunch b*tch and love Snooze, and AM Eatery, 7 Mile Cafe, and Loco Cafe in Denton. There’s also a few lakes that you can choose from, Lake Lewisville is super swimmer friendly and I love getting away from the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people. Another artist that I’ve had the privilege to work alongside (and learn something new from every time) is Wendy Rager, and while we haven’t worked on a project together, Sarah Brill was so kind and encouraging when I got started in special effects and still lets me come to her with questions 2 years later. The friends (some are co-workers now, and I get so happy every time I get to think that) I’ve made over the years are beyond incredible. The random people that I’ve connected with at jobs constantly inspire me to practice and remember that that is my progress. My oldest friends from junior high Brittany and Trystin, remind me of how far we’ve come in our lives, and help ground me when things become a bit much. My family as well, even if I question whether or not they understand what it is I actually do for work, they love me in ways that keep going when it gets tough. My cats. I would be nowhere, without my cats Baby, Stevie and Blue.

I’ve decided that living is a group effort, and that we are simply reflections of who we surround ourselves with.

Website: www.itsharleigh.com

Instagram: @itsharleighyo

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/harleigh-nelson/

Other: Tik Tok: @itsharleighyo

Image Credits
Z.L. Singleton Alison Milyo Nikolas Zukowsky

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