Professional Film and Broadway Make-Up Artist
Milwaukee High School of the Arts, Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts
Stella Sensel is currently working as a make-up artist on the film West Side Story ; a Steven Spielberg film that opens in December 2020. She is a graduate of Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts and the Milwaukee High School of the Arts- proud class of 1997. During her years at Roosevelt and Milwaukee Arts, she was intensly involved working on costumes for productions. She was "100% in love with her make-up course at MHSA." After graduating from MHSA, Stella pursued her studies at New York University (NYU) where she was involved with the costume department and where she eventually branched out into the areas of make-up design and properties. While at NYU, Stella fell 'head-over-heels' in love with Special FX make-up and fabrication. After graduating from NYU, She spent 12 years in the Halloween Industry. As she advanced in her career, it became "more corporate and increasingly non-creative" and she became "bored and unhappy." She decided to change everything up for something more creative and fulfilling. Stella had always been fascinated with Special FX make-up and decided to enroll at a vocational school - otherwise known as- The Make-Up Designory, or MUD. It was at MUD that she transitioned to being a professional make-up artist. Upon finishing at MUD, she freelanced as an "Indy" (Independent films) artist for about five years. Stella competed on a reality television show called, "Face Off" - (Seasons 7 and 11). "Being a part of that show helped me to launch into serious work." Stella is now in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Labor Union or IATSE. 
Stella continues to explore transformations through make-up, working in film, video, theatre and special projects. Her latest project that just "wrapped-up," was on the set with Steven Spielberg working on the film West Side Story. The interesting part of this story is, while on set, Stella ran into, and is working with her former MHSA classmate, Christina Grant - who is also doing make-up for the same film.
Other IMDb credits for Ms. Sensel include: The Lost Girls -(make-up designer), Addiction: A 60's Love Story - (assistant Make-up design), JonTron - TV series - Special make-up artist), By Dawn - (Special FX), The Dead Don't Die - (additional make-up artist.)
When asked how important it is to "give back to the community," Stella states that she conducts workshops in schools. She believes that her teachers, and the education that she received from Milwaukee Public Schools has inspired her to inspire others - and she does so whenever an opportunity arises.
(Below are examples of her Special FX designs and applications)
Milwaukee High School of the Arts Friends - https://www.facebook.com/groups/213626622439412/
MHSA Alumni Association: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2000989299935602/
Are you an MPS Alum who is giving back to your community? Do you know of an MPS graduate who is making a difference in their community? Send information to the Alumni Hub; valdesd@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
