Meet Alyssa Fitchie | Commercial Hair and Makeup Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Fitchie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I consider risk the reason my career has become what it has. It’s the art of putting yourself out there with the hopes that your vulnerability helps position you for success or gets you into rooms you can only dream of. For me, risk comes at the cost of showing my cards. I have to express what I want, that I want to be invited, that I made something and hope people like it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a commercial Hair and Makeup artist that is transitioning into an ideas maker and creative director. I was working in a job that had zero creativity and one day I realized I wasn’t doing anything that lit me up. I quickly enrolled in cosmetology school and started the beginning of my journey.
I always knew that I wanted to work in film and TV and was presented with an opportunity to be on a Google set as a model. While on set, I asked the crew how they got to be behind the camera and they said they knocked on a lot of doors. So, after that shoot, I began knocking. I would regularly look up people who were further along in their career and invite them to coffee to pick their brains on how they got to where they were and ask if they could share any wisdom or knowledge with me.
I think what sets me apart from others is my willingness to put myself out there and take the risk of asking someone to see me. I think “knock on doors” was the best advice I was ever given and has truly lit the fire in me to keep asking for the invitation because eventually someone will welcome you in.
I’ve learned that a helping hand goes a long way and people notice when you take a little of your time to go an extra step. I’ve also learned to treat every small job like a big job; you never know who is watching you and what opportunity you might get next because you worked with integrity even in the unpaid gigs, or the small jobs that seemingly weren’t that big of deal.
I’m most proud of my feature in the New York Times 2023 Bridal Fashion week. I worked on this project for a bridal company and the photos were in print in the newspaper and it was truly shocking to get to see my work in a publication like that.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Portland, Oregon is one of the greatest food cities in the nation. You can have just as good of food from a food truck as you will in an elevated restaurant. The options are endless and the variety ensures that you rarely get bored. If I were to create an itinerary for a week, I’d be sure to include these tops spots that are a must when I have guests come into town: First, if you’re looking for a unique twist on cocktails, Deadshot is the spot. They use savory ingredients, like mustard and cumin, that you’d think would be off-putting, but the balance is spot on and you’re left wanting to order another one the second you’re done. For lunch I’d take you to a Brazilian food truck called Brazilian House and order the #1 Moqueca. I never say this, but the first time I had that dish, my world changed. I mourn the day the owner closes for the winter and heads home to visit family, and eagerly await for her return in the spring. Dinner would include the won-ton nachos at Expatriate (yet another dish that changed my world, I can’t help but order two because one is never enough) along side more experimental cocktails.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a whole host of women that have been in my corner and propelled me forward into spaces and opportunities that have been dream situations. To them, I owe so much and am forever grateful for their support and belief in me.

Instagram: @Alyssa_fitchie

Image Credits
Headshot – Kaitlin Green