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Sunlight spilled across my vanity, catching the glass bottles of perfume just as Ashley Ysabelle answered the call from New York. Four days after the Met Gala, the Filipina makeup artist was still cleaning brushes between conversations, fresh off one of fashion’s biggest nights.
Born and raised in San Francisco within a close-knit Filipino community, Ashley’s introduction to beauty came through her uncle—a makeup artist known for working with Piolo Pascual and other ABS-CBN stars. From watching his transformations come to life, Ashley quietly developed her own fascination with beauty—one that would eventually evolve into the boundary-pushing artistry she’s now known for.
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The Start of an Avant-Garde Vision
Looking back, Ashley realizes her fascination with beauty started earlier than she thought. As a child, she often became her uncle’s muse during Halloween transformations—moments that quietly shaped her creative instincts.
“I didn’t realize how much of a seed was planted when my uncle introduced me to makeup and the beauty world,” she started. “I grew to love beauty. After high school, I sought out more creative fields.”
With the support of her parents, Ashley later trained at Make-Up Designory in Los Angeles, refining her technical skills while working retail jobs that sharpened her artistry in real time. When the pandemic hit, she took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles full-time to pursue makeup professionally. “I had $800 in my bank account, and I used that to move. It took six years to get to where I am now, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Lessons from the Creative Industry
After six years in the industry, Ashley credits her growth not only to talent, but to the relationships she’s built along the way. “Ever since I started in Los Angeles, every person that I’ve met that has helped me get to where I am today is exactly who I should be thanking,” Ashley said wholeheartedly.
“Every producer that has trusted me, every single hair artist that has put my name in rooms, every client that wanted to keep me and kept coming back—it was the people I’ve worked with that brought me here.”
“A lot of people think that the creative industry is your talent. In reality, it’s 70% how you treat people.”
Working with Audrey Nuna
Having worked together for nearly four years, Ashley and Audrey Nuna have developed a creative language rooted in experimentation and trust. Both are drawn to pushing boundaries—Nuna through her genre-blurring music, and Ashley through what she describes as her “ethereal, provocative, and thought-provoking” approach to beauty.
“Being able to work with her, build a relationship with her, and having her trust me with my creative ability really means a lot to me,” Ashley reflected. “During this K-Pop Demon Hunters era, we had to work within Netflix’s vision, but Audrey still gave me space to express my artistry.”
And that creative freedom became the foundation of their collaboration, often encouraging one another to push ideas even further.
“When I want to go avant-garde, she would tell me it’s a little too classic. ‘Let’s go weirder,’ she’d say,” Ashley shared with a laugh. “We send each other references until we meet in the middle, and then we do the same with the stylist and hairstylist.”
Giving credit where credit is due, she mentioned Nuna’s stylist Daniel Brown for helping shape Audrey Nuna’s standout fashion and beauty moments this season. “I think we’ve been able to shine, especially during awards season, because of that collaboration,” Ashley said. “Daniel gave us so much freedom and creative direction.”
A 48-Hour Sprint to the Met Gala
Even Audrey Nuna’s recent Met Gala look came together in real time. For 48 hours, the team exchanged references and refined concepts until the very last second. They eventually landed on the asymmetrical eye makeup, while the now-viral rhinestone black lip wasn’t finalized until the morning of the Met Gala itself.
Despite the whirlwind pace behind the scenes, Audrey Nuna’s Met Gala debut quickly landed on multiple Best Dressed and Best Beauty lists—making the pressure and chaos worth it. “The Met Gala is the Olympics for stylists, makeup artists, and hairstylists, and to be seen globally for my work is insane,” Ashley reflected.
Philippine publications also spotlighted Audrey’s beauty looks throughout the season—recognition Ashley says feels especially meaningful as a Filipina creative. “I’m very thankful that I’ve been getting a lot of love and to also be recognized and seen from the Philippines,” she added.
“I haven’t had any time to process what’s happened in the past six months, especially with Audrey, K-pop Demon Hunters, and the whirlwind of how my life has changed since all of that has happened.”
– Ashely Ysabelle
Just Do It
Having taken the leap herself, Ashley encourages aspiring creatives to do the same. “Go for it. Chase your wildest dreams,” she said simply.
For Ashley, success began with trusting a feeling she couldn’t fully explain yet—a belief that she was meant for something bigger. “Everything is scary, everything is temporary, and everything works out in the end. So believe in yourself and don’t let anyone stop you.”
“If you have that inkling that you’re going to be something one day, you are. I believe in it 1000%. To any makeup artists, creative, anybody that actually wants to make it in this world—do it.”
– Ashley Ysabelle
Watch Ashley Ysabelle continue to carve her space in beauty with her fearless and evolving artistry.
Featured Image and Photos: ASHLEY YSABELLE (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Ashley Ysabelle is a San Francisco-born Filipina makeup artist known for her avant-garde and ethereal style. Her interest in beauty was sparked by her uncle, a makeup artist for ABS-CBN stars, who used her as a muse for Halloween transformations. She later refined her skills at Make-Up Designory in Los Angeles.
Ashley and Audrey Nuna have worked together for nearly four years, developing a creative language based on experimentation and trust. Ashley describes her approach as “ethereal, provocative, and thought-provoking,” and notes that Audrey often encourages her to “go weirder” with her designs rather than sticking to classic looks.
The look was finalized during a high-pressure 48-hour sprint. While the asymmetrical eye makeup was planned in advance, the viral rhinestone black lip was not decided upon until the actual morning of the Met Gala.
Ashley believes that talent is only a small part of the equation, stating that the industry is “70% how you treat people.” She credits her career growth to the strong relationships and trust she has built with producers, hair artists, stylists, and clients.
She encourages others to “chase your wildest dreams” and trust their instincts. Her philosophy is built on the belief that if you have an inkling you are meant to be something, you should pursue it fearlessly, noting that “everything is scary, but everything works out in the end.”
