Meet Madeline McCue

We recently connected with Madeline McCue and have shared our conversation below.

Madeline, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

When I look at my daughter, resiliency becomes inherent. There is only a world in which I am successful so that I can provide her with the life that she deserves and that also means working hard to be the best version of myself. I have learned that my example is ultimately the starting point of the choices that she makes for herself. She is a mirror and if I misstep, it’s reflected to me. It is a gift that allows me to adjust and grow which has been incredibly healing.

I got married relatively young to a man who was ill equipped to support himself, let alone to be in partnership and although he tried, the responsibility led to resentment which led to a lot of abuse. When I left him, I felt bereft. It was as if, I couldn’t breathe. I had become so co-dependent on this deeply dysfunctional and cruel situation that I didn’t know how I would possibly survive it. I had turned myself inside out trying to make him the person I needed him to be and through that, I had enabled him to dive deeper into his addictions and had completely abandoned my own sovereignty and my own career.

In my desperation for him to hold a job, I helped him start multiple businesses. We owned a food delivery business and a window washing company. Then we graduated to a franchise of a remediation company. Running that business was the most educational and soul crushing experience of my life. It was in direct opposition of everything that I enjoyed and I forced myself to show up every day and work. This was after being the only parent providing rides, cooking, cleaning ect… while he went to a bar every day after work. When that business failed, we opened an Aircraft Detailing Business, which was very successful initially, but at some point, something gave in me. I wanted to go back to the career I had chosen for myself and I wanted some kindness.

I started to transition back into makeup and started the process of joining my local union and I told him that I wanted a divorce. The divorce took longer than my initiation into the union and I was able to start rebuilding the career I loved so much. While I was entirely focused on getting to a point where I was financially solvent and raising my daughter, my ex-husband began his campaign to isolate me from the majority of our shared community, which since we had grown up in the same town was most of my childhood friends. It was devastating. I became a pariah to the people I had trusted the most and it was by far the most painful thing that I had ever experienced.

I decided then that the best way to move forward was with as much love and grace as I could muster. And when they say “when God closes a door, he opens a window” they aren’t wrong. People came into my life to help me as if they were angels provided for my journey. Somehow, when I had to work an hour away for 14 hours a day, I was able to place my daughter in incredible schools that supported her when I couldn’t. A woman from one of those schools provided rides and support. Parents that live in our neighborhood have provided transportation to and from school. Her Godmother has been another angel, showing up for both of us in some of the hardest moments.

And although, it’s been challenging, we are both thriving. She is a straight A student and an incredibly talented and dedicated athlete. I am represented by a prestigious agency and have had the opportunity to department head multiple films with some of the most talented people in the world. It is dream that has been hard won and continues to be so. Nothing worth having comes easily, but through perseverance, a deep dedication to self-reflection and a mission to be the best example and representation of my own worth, I have shown her that anything is possible.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a makeup artist for film and television. I also enjoy doing commercial and print work and have a bridal business on the side to pay for my daughter’s education.

As a makeup artist, I have the privilege of connecting with and supporting a diverse range of people. Whether I’m helping an actor bring a character to life, collaborating with a company to visually represent their brand, or making a bride feel radiant on her wedding day, I get to show up during powerful moments of transformation—while creating art.

I’ve been doing makeup for over 25 years, and when people ask how I got started, my answer is always the same: it chose me. I come from a long line of fine artists, and my unique gift is painting faces. Coupled with my love for people, makeup artistry has become a meaningful and fulfilling blend of my greatest passions.

I am always looking for new projects and collaborations and have multiple films coming out in the next year or so which you can learn more about by visiting my IMDB.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Some of the traits that I think have gotten me to where I am today are fearlessness, a relentless pursuit of self-knowledge and the understanding that you should always treat people with respect and kindness.

Everything is less scary than you think it is and once you start putting yourself in uncomfortable situations they become less and less frightening. You have to build up your tolerance for risk if you want to be successful.

The more you understand who you are and how you want to be in the world, the better you will be able to serve yourself, your loved ones and community. When you know who you are and are working towards the most healed version of yourself, people respond to that in kind. You find yourself surrounded by the types of people that you can collaborate with for mutual success.

Treat everyone with same level of respect and kindness always… nuff said.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The film industry is in a very transitional space and many people who depend on it are struggling to make ends meet. While I have been better off than many people, it has affected me as well. I am always open to any and all opportunities to diversify. Currently, I am potentially going to get my Barber’s license to expand upon my current knowledge and create new avenues for income. I am also a certified integrative health coach and love to support my clients in becoming healthier versions of themselves. My talent often leave the makeup chair with lists of health products and alternative education sources.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://madelinemccuemakeup.com
• Instagram: @madelinemccuemakeup