Inspiring Conversations with Kalah Vance of The Glam Reaper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalah Vance.

Hi Kalah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?

Growing up, Halloween was a big holiday in my house. I would win awards in elementary school for the elaborate character costumes my mom would make — a life size slice of pizza made of foam and the statue of liberty to name a few — and a love for Halloween has followed me ever since. As someone who is a bit of a character myself, it’s no wonder a career creating characters found me.

My first job ever was at a Merle Norman. By the time I graduated high school, I was doing makeup for proms, pageants, and everything in between. I largely stopped doing makeup through undergrad and grad school, but during a rough time in life, I picked up my makeup brushes again.

I always felt that colorful eyeshadow was scary and that it wasn’t meant for black girls because the colors always looked washed out or muted. This was one of the first things I attacked. “Why should colorful eyeshadow only be for lighter complexions”. I started experimenting with colorful eyeshadows, colored liners, rhinestones and all the other things that seemed “out of the box” of my perception of what makeup for black girls looked like.

Halloween that year, I did my first character makeup look, and each look after got more and more comprehensive. I started making props, body painting, and learning new application techniques. With this foundation, I landed a role as a makeup artist at Six Flags for Fright Fest. This was one of the most invaluable makeup experiences I’ve had to date.

Career wise, I worked as a Senior Brand Manager for a creative and production agency helping brands create content and managing processes like creative concepting, casting, wardrobe, set design, and managing on set video and photoshoots. This role ignited a love for all things production.

The combination of my love for Halloween, makeup, and production lead me to launch The Glam Reaper.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
You could say I have been the literal conductor of the struggle bus!

I launched The Glam Reaper during a period of major transition while facing a lay off. Instead of dwelling on what was a seemingly negative life change, I decided to take it as an opportunity to pursue something that had always called to me. At every opportunity I could, I reinvested back into buying materials — which meant funds were extra tight. Body painting and special effects (SFX) makeup are very specialized services, which means it requires relatively specific materials to meet industry standards for application, longevity of the makeup, and caliber of the materials. But making sacrifices is somehow easier when you’re doing it for something you genuinely care about.

Working in Georgia has presented another unique challenge. The film industry has experienced a significant slow down, which means opportunities in SFX and character makeup for film and TV aren’t as easy to come by. Rather than waiting for those opportunities to come to me, I’ve focused on expanding into live entertainment, festivals, private commissions, and content creation.

Looking back over the last year, I see how those experiences were equipping and growing me. It forced me to become resourceful, taught me how to market a niche business, diversify my work, and build something that reflects who I am and all my interests instead of trying to fit into what already exists or what we’re told we “should” be.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Glam Reaper . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
As The Glam Reaper, I specialize in SFX makeup, body painting, and character transformation and design. While I offer beauty makeup services, my passion lies in creating characters that allow people to step into a completely different version of themselves. Whether it’s a rainbow cut crease, a purple fairy, or a zombie, The Glam Reaper provides transformative makeup looks.

I also provide 1 on 1 makeup application classes for everyday makeup, airbrush, and SFX. Each class provides a hands on application. You won’t just watch me do it and take notes, you’ll do everything yourself so that you leave with the skills to practice at home. You shouldn’t have to book a makeup artist for every occasion, but you SHOULD get to feel like a baddie every day. With my 1:1 makeup class, you’ll leave feeling confident enough to beat your own face at home. As a completely self taught makeup artist, I had to learn skills like airbrush and SFX application on the fly. In doing so, I often felt unconfident or like the least experienced person in the room. With my airbrush and SFX application classes, the goal is to lay a foundation of industry standard skills that you’ll need to feel confident in any scenario. I wish I’d had someone to sit down with me and teach the basics, and I want to be that resource for other budding makeup artists.

What makes The Glam Reaper stand out, is that in a world where everything is “on trend” and aesthetic, The Glam Reaper embraces the bold, the unique, and the weird. I’m especially proud that The Glam Reaper is a space where creativity comes before convention. I want people to know they don’t have to fit into a certain mold to enjoy makeup — or life for that matter. As adults, we lose so much of our child-like wonder and curiosity, and The Glam Reaper is about embracing whimsy, and being exactly who you are — or becoming someone else entirely.

Ultimately, The Glam Reaper, is built around the transformative and defiant nature of Halloween. It’s a day where people let go of the reigns a little bit. People who wouldn’t usually wear green lipstick, or a certain outfit, or act a little silly, suddenly feel comfortable to step outside of their comfort zone. Halloween is an excuse for people to stop worrying so much about being “normal”, and I want to encourage people to keep that alive everyday.

Whether you’re a cosplayer, a live performer, or you’re staffing your next production, The Glam Reaper is here for all your makeup needs from the crypt to the catwalk and from gore to gorgeous.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeglamreaper/
• Other: therealglamreaper@gmail.com

Image Credits
Cobby Banks – green alien