WOMAN OF THE WEEK: Danielle Ruggiero

As Women in Horror recognition month comes to a close, it took me a while to figure out just who I'd want to feature for my final Woman of the Week for this monumental month.  I brainstormed classic Scream Queens, female directors, and countless other women who have already made a huge impact in our genre.  That's when it hit me.  Why should I feature someone who has already gained plenty of notoriety when I can turn the focus to a woman working her way to make a tremor in the horror genre.  You most likely haven't heard of this week's woman, and that's the point.  Not only is she a native of the Chicago burbs, but this is ANOTHER girl from my pageant circuit with a penchant for all things horror.

Meet Danielle Ruggiero.  Danielle is a 22 year old up-and-coming hair and makeup artist.  If you were to take one look at her, you'd most likely immediately assume that she's just some pretty blonde girl with a cosmetology degree and a life of prom up-dos and twenty dollar haircuts ahead of her.  Just so you know, you'd be wrong.  While Danielle makes a living working as a hair stylist, she has mad chops and a huge desire to make the movie monsters that fill our nightmares.  I asked Danielle what exactly drew a "girl like her" to a genre like this, and her answers were not only surprising, but inspiring.

Ever since I was a little girl I have had an interest in scary movies and Halloween and all that it entails. Of course as a little girl I feel like I more tortured myself due to the simple fact that I would stay up and watch these movies and then wouldn't sleep because I was too scared. Ha... As I got older I grew to love them and love Halloween ( which is actually my favorite holiday )... You don't see a lot of girls interested in this field of work... and when everyone asks me what I want to pursue in this career they are somewhat shocked when I respond by saying that I love all the blood and gore. The pretty stuff is just something to do and get the money flow... but I have a true passion for the special effects aspect of it all.....it just all fascinates me! Obviously me being in Chicago is hindering me from working on films or things like that, that I would possibly be doing in California.. but I am a working a few student films and getting my feet wet here because I don't want to be like everyone else and be an aspiring starving artist JUST TO BE IN CALIFORNIA. There are plenty of jobs out here... and I want to prove to all of them that a special effects makeup artist can survive out here. 

The Eye looks very "Freddy Acid Face in Return of the Living Dead" to me. Agree?

I don't know about you, but I'd take this one home for a night ;)

Danielle clearly puts her money where her mouth is and has quite the portfolio developing.  For more information on Danielle's work, you can "LIKE" her facebook page

 

Danielle Ruggiero-Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist