Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Mancuso.
Hi Stephen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been creative. As a kid, I liked drawing and painting. And my mom always made me dance with her. So after barely getting through high school, I was planning on leaving Buffalo to become a dancer on Broadway. I had started taking lessons from a local dance school because a friend of mine was there and they needed boys for the opening number to the dance recital. The number was put on your Sunday clothes from Hello Dolly. Found out that I loved it but I was also really good at it. I was bumped up to one of the lead boys and also got a solo in the recital. It was all I wanted to do. Meanwhile I could also pick up a pair of scissors and figure out how to cut hair. It wasn’t perfect or correctly cut, but I could do it and was cutting my family and friends hair. So when I said I wanted to move to NYC my parents said if you go to beauty school and pass you can go. I certainly wasn’t going to college. Couldn’t get past algebra.
Went to beauty school. Got my license and was deterred from
Moving to NYC. Unisex hair salons were in fashion. There was a salon in Buffalo that Orbe worked at. I had to get in there too. It was disco and fashion and all of that. So I did that. But my heart was still wanting to dance in NY. So then I decided it was time to go. And I did. I danced for 15 plus years professionally. Finally living my dream.
In one year I turned 40 and my mom died. A friend of mine that I hadn’t seen or talked to in over 15 years was living a very successful life here in Atlanta. He sent me a ticket to come visit. My first day here I met someone and fell head over heels. I kept coming down to a long distance relationship. I didn’t know that he was already in a relationship at first. But it didn’t matter because I was in love with him so I kept coming. And my friend started talking to me about coming here and starting a new life. A new career. I was getting way too old to dance. He had a friend who was an agent at elite management and set up an interview. I was also doing make up. When I was doing salon work I was also doing photo shoots for local department stores. So I said ok. I met with him. He set up a couple of test shoots and signed me. I moved permanently in 2000 and have been here ever since. Still working.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not. At first the industry was small and I came barging in. Also, I was not southern. And I was a man. But gradually it started to turn around. I worked hard. Still do.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am here in the industry still doing hair and make up. I started out in fashion editorials. The catalog work. I do some television. I was on camera for a show called Movie and a Makeover for tbs. Also was department head for their sister show Dinner and a Movie. I do commercials and celebrities. And I do a lot of advertising work. Pharma, Cars,Hotels, big clients like Coke and Delta.
I specialize in natural beauty. Skin is my favorite thing to work on. And I think the thing I’m most proud of is how long I’ve lasted and the relationships that I’ve cultivated over the years. Phot shoots can range from fun to boring to just plain hell and can last anywhere from 10 to 15+hours. If you’re not with people you like or love, you can go crazy. Especially after 30+ years.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Christmas.
Summers at Crystal Beach as a child
Summers piling in our dance teachers car to spend most of the summer training in dance. My teacher had a few students dancing on Broadway so we would sleep on their floors. It was like sleep away camp but New York in the 70’s!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stephen-mancuso.com
- Instagram: _stephenmancuso_
