Troye Antonio: When One Door Closed, Many More Opened

Troye Antonio, who goes by Mannequinskin on Instagram

Troye Antonio grew up as a creative child, always drawing and painting. Despite the affinity, he decided after high school he didn't want to go to school for art.

When he was 21, his mother purchased makeup artist Danessa Myricks' videos. She encouraged him to watch them, which Antonio was initially reluctant to do. "I didn't want to be a stereotype, a gay boy who was into makeup," he said.

Still, he eventually began watching them and something clicked. "That was the moment. I felt in my whole body that this was what I was meant to do. I can't explain it," he said.  (He later enrolled in a makeup academy to hone his craft.)

He also began to watch videos of his favorite Youtube makeup artist, Spencer Lopez, and downloaded her work to his screensaver and on his phone.

Something about drawing on canvases didn't capture Antonio the way working on a person did. He felt a deeper satisfaction of being artistic on a a subject that responded to his work.

"Makeup kept my interest in a way that other art didn't," he said. "There are so many textures beyond what a pencil and paper can do. It's art in three-dimensional form."

A mostly self-taught makeup artist, Antonio eventually got jobs working in retail for brands including NARS and MAC. He realized he had natural ability with makeup, but he also had a skill with people and making them feel comfortable.

"Doing someone's makeup is like a therapy session," he said. "People confide in you and you connect with them."

Antonio had such a knack for connecting with the customers that many would return to the store and ask him do their makeup for personal events like their weddings.

He became so in demand with customers that eventually it led to a separation from one of the brands, which told him he wasn't participating enough as a team member. Initially an upsetting moment for him, he felt there was no other option but to go freelance. As with many things that at first appear to be a setback, that's when the magic began to happen.

He posted his work to Instagram and began to draw a large following, including catching the attention of some celebrities. Today he works frequently with singer and performer Kehlani, most recently doing her look for the Video Music Awards. His work on her made it to Vogue.com.

His celebrity roster also includes actress Gabrielle Union. Antonio was at an event for her husband, Dwayne Wade, when Union asked who did the makeup of a mutual acquaintance. When she learned it was Antonio, Union followed him on Instagram and eventually asked him to do her makeup.

Antonio remains humble and polite, making sure to thank people who compliment his work on his Instagram and Facebook accounts.

"I'm not one of those artists who works on a celebrity and thinks they're untouchable," he said. "I've never felt like nobody can talk to me now. I treat people like how I want to be treated."

Without a hint of false-modesty, Antonio says his success sometimes surprises him the most. He credits his mentor, Mali Thomas, for guiding him professionally. "She has been there for some of the most impactful moments of my journey," he said.

"I honestly thought I'd work in retail for the rest of my career," Antonio said. "But I get the same satisfaction out of doing a woman's makeup who came to the counter as I do working on a celebrity. They all look in the mirror and feel better about themselves

Antonio's work on celebrity clients is below (Images used with the artist's permission):