Alumni Stories
Where (a few of) Our Graduates are Now
Caitlyn “Cat” Young
From Passion to Profession
Caitlyn Young, widely known as Cat Young, is a makeup and special effects artist based in Las Vegas with impressive national reach. Her passion and precision have established her as an irreplaceable creative force across film, fashion, editorial, and live events. C. Young MakeupInstagramFacebook
Learn More
Prolific Filmography & On-Screen Magic
Cat’s cinematic and television contributions include:
- Herd (2023) – Makeup Department Head IMDb+1
- Bloodthirst (2023) – Makeup Department IMDb
- Seven Days (TV, 2019) – Makeup Artist IMDb+1
- Margaret the Brave (Short, 2024) – Special Makeup Effects Artist IMDb
- Onion Soup (Short) – Makeup Department Head / Special Makeup Effects Artist IMDb
- Fang (2022) – Makeup Department Head / Special Effects Artist IMDb
- Marathon (2021) – Makeup Department Role IMDb
L Makeup Institute Alumna & Artistic Ascension
After attending L Makeup Institute—a highly regarded institution for beauty and special effects training in Las Vegas and Southlake—Cat rapidly escalated her career, earning opportunities to collaborate with world-renowned brands such as Universal Studios, Ooofos, Adobe, Amway, Tesla, Altar’d State, MGM, and Toyota. Her artistry has also attracted high-profile clients including Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Travis Scott, and Derek Carr, further showcasing her versatility in both the beauty and entertainment industries.
Industry Recognition & Team Affiliations
Cat’s talent extends to the elite makeup community—she’s part of the Pat McGrath Labs team, serving as an account executive and celebrity artist. She’s also connected regionally as a member of the 720 Union. Facebook
A Visionary in Beauty and Beyond
With nearly a decade of experience, Cat offers an extraordinary blend of beauty, editorial glam, and character / special effects makeup. Her portfolio spans commercial powerhouse brands, live productions, and cinematic storytelling—making her a leading creative asset for any team.
Adolfo Barreto
A native of Puerto Rico, Adolfo Barreto launched his multidisciplinary career as a dancer and choreographer—performing in commercials, music videos, and high-profile Latin award shows like the Latin Grammy and Billboard Awards—before moving to Las Vegas in 2005 SYFY. After graduating from both the prestigious L Makeup Institute and Cinema Makeup School, he quickly distinguished himself across theatrical, beauty, and special effects makeup syfyfaceoff.fandom.comSYFY.
Learn More
Adolfo achieved national recognition on Syfy’s Face Off (Season 5, 2013), where he competed as a formidable prosthetic makeup artist Wikipedia+1. Currently, he serves as the Lead Makeup Technician for O by Cirque du Soleil, where he oversees and executes intricate makeup and wig looks that transform performers into living artworks. In a feature by Channel 13, he shared how complex designs take 30–90 minutes and how he creatively labels brushes to streamline the process backstage Channel 13 Las Vegas News KTNV.
Adolfo continues to give back to the next generation as a returning Guest Artist at L Makeup Institute, bridging his extensive hands-on expertise with aspiring artists.
Testimonial on L Makeup Institute:
“The technical training I received really set me apart—from working in film and print to primetime shows and live spectacle productions.”
Wendy Ryan Shelton
Las Vegas native Wendy Ryan Shelton is a celebrity hair and makeup artist whose artistry has graced some of the world’s biggest stages. Since graduating from L Makeup Institute in 2012, she has built a powerhouse career, founding SHOWOFF Makeup and working with high-profile clients including The Backstreet Boys, The Killers, All-4-One, Amy Purdy, Capo Milano, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss Universe.
Learn More
Her portfolio spans music, television, pageants, and editorial. Wendy’s work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Playboy, AARP, Lifestyle Magazine, Mass Media Magazine, and she served as Beauty Director for TFW Magazine. She has also collaborated with stars like Jennifer Ramos (“Sexxy Show”), Emily England, Lina Makhoul, Stevie Boi, Cami Li, and John Wackerman.
Known for her mastery across Avant Garde, Bridal, Editorial, Film & Music Videos, Pageants, and Red Carpet, Wendy is consistently praised as a “creative and technical genius” and “one of the best HMUA in the business.”
Reflecting on her training, Wendy shares:
“L Makeup Institute laid out everything it takes to succeed as an artist and entrepreneur, and that foundation helped me build the career I have today.”
Angela Domanico
Early Spark & Education
Angela discovered her passion for makeup in childhood—it was her first medium for building confidence and channeling creativity through artistic self-expression ANGELA DOMANICO. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from UNLV, she pursued her true calling by graduating from L Makeup Institute, specializing in Advanced Beauty Techniques, Special Makeup Effects, Airbrushing, and Body Painting ANGELA DOMANICO.
Learn More
Career Highlights & Specializations
Angela’s expertise spans high-end beauty transformations, intricate SFX work, precision airbrushing, and immersive body art. Her skill set positions her uniquely in the industry.
Professional Credits
According to her IMDb profile:
- American Sicario (2021): Key Makeup Artist & Special Makeup Effects Artist, also credited as DEA Agent IMDb ProIMDb.
- Action! Action! (2025): Makeup Department Head IMDb ProIMDb.
- Other notable work:
- Margaret the Brave (2024) – Key Makeup Artist & Blender Artist IMDb Pro.
- The Sickness (2023) – Key Makeup Artist IMDb Pro.
- Don’t Suck (2023) – Key Makeup Artist & Special Makeup Effects Artist IMDb Pro.
- Red Hood: Outlaws (2023) – Makeup Department Head IMDb Pro.
- Genshin Impact: Sumeru Showdown (2023) – Key Makeup Artist IMDb Pro.
- Television work includes her role as Head Makeup Artist & SFX Artist for the mini-series WEBTOON IRL (6 episodes, 2021) IMDb ProIMDb, and contributions to Death Battle (2020) and Minute Match-Ups (2017) IMDb Pro.
Current Role
Angela now serves as Head Makeup Artist for Ismahawk, a film production company based in Las Vegas, where she leads creative design, direction, and execution for makeup and special effects across diverse media