Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Gibson.
Hi Mandy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
To really understand how my journey as an artist began, you have to go all the way back to my childhood. I grew up pretty rough, and school was always a struggle for me. I had learning disabilities, and my mental health didn’t make things any easier. At the time, it felt like one challenge after another, but looking back now, I can see how those early obstacles shaped me and eventually defined me as an artist.
As life went on, I became a single mom of three. For my oldest’s birthday one year, I wanted to make the day special, even though money was tight. So I thought, why not try face painting? I went to my local craft store, picked up a Snazaroo kit, and honestly, ever since that day, everything changed. What started as a simple gesture for my kids turned into the spark that lit my whole path.
But the real turning point came after I survived a very traumatic domestic violence relationship. Coming out on the other side of something so dark, I needed a way to rebuild myself something that was mine, something healing. I threw myself full force into learning every art form connected to makeup: face painting, body art, special effects, beauty, character work all of it. It became my therapy, my outlet, my way of finding color again after so much darkness.
And that’s when my career truly took off. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the craft. Doors started opening, opportunities grew, and suddenly I was being invited to places and events I never imagined I’d be part of.
Looking back, it’s incredible to see how a rough childhood, a single birthday kit, and even the hardest moments of my life all played a role in shaping the artist I am today. Every struggle, every brushstroke, every step brought me here to a life filled with creativity, resilience, and purpose.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Overcoming things has really been the thread running through my whole life,” I’d say. I grew up in a very broken home, and while my childhood was far from easy, I always want to acknowledge that my mom did the best she could. Even while she battled her own demons, she loved me fiercely, and that love stayed with me.
My teenage years were a different kind of struggle. I constantly felt out of place in school. Traditional learning never clicked for me I didn’t understand things the way other kids did and that led to frustration, acting out, and feeling like I was always one step behind. Those years left a mark, but they also taught me how to navigate a world that didn’t always make room for me.
As I moved into adulthood, the challenges shifted again. I ended up in abusive relationships that took a toll on my sense of worth. Leaving those situations, choosing myself, and rebuilding from the ground up became some of the hardest decisions of my life. But they were also the moments that showed me what I was truly capable of.
All of these experiences the brokenness, the confusion, the survival shaped me long before I ever considered becoming an artist. They strengthened me. They gave me grit. And eventually, they pushed me toward a place where creativity could finally bloom.
Art didn’t come first survival did. I wasn’t born an artist. I was born a fighter.
Art saved me in ways I didn’t expect. It gave me purpose, confidence, and so much more. Every obstacle I faced from a broken childhood, to learning struggles, to abusive relationships became fuel for my creativity. My journey isn’t just about becoming an artist. It’s about overcoming, rebuilding, and choosing light again and again.
And that’s the heart of my story: art didn’t just make me an artist… it helped me become myself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In my career, I’ve really grown into a master of my craft, and the horror world has become the place where I shine the brightest. Out of all the different art forms I practice, horror makeup is my strongest suit and it’s actually what I’m most known for. A lot of people in the industry call me the Queen of Horror, which has been such a wild and fun ride.
Teaching has always come naturally to me, and it’s something I’ve done throughout my entire journey as an artist. But in the horror industry, I’ve truly thrived. Right now, I’m the Director of Makeup and Costume at Laurel’s House of Horror, and I wear many hats there. When your full-time job is something you genuinely love, it’s an incredible and rewarding feeling.
Beyond the haunt world, I also travel across the country teaching at conventions alongside my makeup partner, Alejo Casalotti. Together, we’ve really pushed the boundaries of what traditional haunted attraction makeup can look like. We’ve developed techniques, elevated standards, and helped reshape the way many artists approach the craft.
What sets me apart is my ability to blend creativity, technical skill, and storytelling and to teach those skills in a way that inspires others. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but I’m even more proud of the impact my work has had on the artists and attractions around me.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I always hope that my story reaches the people who need it most the ones who are in the middle of their own trials and tribulations. If there’s anything I want others to take from my journey, it’s that you can overcome. You can rebuild. You can create a life that feels meaningful, even after the hardest chapters.
I truly believe that art can save you. For some people, it’s makeup; for others, it might be painting, crafting, cooking, music art comes in so many forms. It gives you a place to put your pain, your joy, your curiosity. It gives you a way to express what words sometimes can’t. That’s why I preach it so passionately: creativity is healing.
My path hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been an incredible ride one I would choose again and again. The places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, the opportunities I’ve earned, and the things I’ve accomplished make every struggle worth it. And if sharing that helps even one person believe in their own strength, then that means more to me than anything
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freakshowfx13?igsh=MW5xNmNlZm5leTM5bQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FPctgypW7/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@freakshowfx13?_r=1&_t=ZP-9256i0Vdupj
