Windermere makeup artist fulfills Halloween-themed dream

When Bri Bayne packed everything she owned and moved from Maryland to Windermere in February, she had a few a dreams in mind. The biggest of those — and the main reason for her move — was to put her skills as a makeup artist to the test by doing makeup for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. Today, she’s living that dream.

“I moved down here just for makeup in general, and Halloween Horror Nights was one of my main drives,” Bayne said. “When I applied ... I didn’t anticipate getting (the job). It’s a very hard gig to get to, but I ended up getting it within a couple of weeks of applying.”

Bayne is a makeup artist who loves making scary faces and doing special-effects makeup. Her dream of working as a makeup artist for Halloween Horror Nights was inspired by a trip to the annual event in 2014. Four years later, she reflects on her life coming full circle.

“I was through the roof,” Bayne said about learning she had gotten the Universal Orlando job.

Bayne learned the craft at the Academy of Makeup in a small town outside of Baltimore, where she studied some basic techniques for special-effects makeup. A lifelong artist, Bayne was drawn to makeup as her primary medium. Her love for monsters and Halloween drew her to special-effects makeup.

“I started doing my own special-effects (makeup) just because I like to make monsters — I like more of the Halloween-themed things,” Bayne said. “I was curious to see where I could go with my makeup, because I wasn’t sure if I liked the beauty side of it because I loved Halloween. … I try to push myself outside of my comfort zone (by) doing something different.”

After a sustaining a concussion from a bad car accident, Bayne was homebound and couldn’t work for six months. 

“I had an accident that kept me home for six months, and to keep myself occupied, I just self-taught how to play with certain things (for special-effects makeup),” she said.

On top of the accident, she was facing some internal conflict regarding her happiness.

“I had totaled my car, and I just was at a really hard point in my life where I was following checkboxes, doing what I needed to do, having a job that was sustainable for income, but I just wasn’t happy,” Bayne said. “Makeup is where my heart was, where my passion was and I stepped outside of my comfort zone. … I picked up my bags, I packed a car, and I moved out here. I had a dream in my heart.”

With her dream realized, Bayne is living in the moment and savoring every second of her accomplishments. 

“I’m taking it day by day enjoying the moments that I have because I did get to the goal … but I’m enjoying the moments that I have in Halloween Horror Nights,” Bayne said.“I moved here for a purpose. I moved here with a dream in my heart. And if I let go of that, where am I gonna go? What’s next?”