Making it Big: Alex Rivera, Platform Artist for Fromm Beauty

Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.

Alex Rivera is born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago: 10 pounds 1 ounce.

Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.

Gets his first hair cut at local barber shop.

After getting noticed through social media, Fromm Beauty invites Rivera to platform at America’s Beauty Show, demoing shears, cutting techniques and hair tools.

Graduates from cosmetology school and becomes an assistant at Bloomingdale’s Pink Hair Salon. Caption: As luck would have it, Rivera and First Chair editor Alison Alhamed were in the same graduating class at Pivot Point International.

Enrolls in cosmetology school at Pivot Point International in Bloomingdale Illinois. Enters first beauty competition at the Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools Statewide Student Competition.

Rivera participates in a study abroad trip to London with his beauty school, discovering a love for travel and advanced education.

Launches Instagram and YouTube accounts under the name @alexfaction, beginning a career as a social media make-up artist.

Begins freelance career specializing in bridal parties.

Rivera and classmates have their first experience with professional make-up application. “This is where Alexfaction is born!” he says.

Riveras social media platform opens the doors for vast opportunities to share his makeup tips and tricks. Attends Make-Up Designory (MUD) academy at Pivot Point Evanston to become a MUD educator.

Applies to the NYX Face Awards make-up competition and places in the Top 30 finalists. Pictured here: An Adam Lambert impersonation created by Rivera for the NYX Face Awards.

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Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.

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Alex Rivera is born at Mercy Hospital in Chicago: 10 pounds 1 ounce.

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Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.

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Halloween season inspires Rivera to focus on special fx make-up, gaining thousands of followers in-demand of make-up tutorials and inspiration.

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Gets his first hair cut at local barber shop.

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After getting noticed through social media, Fromm Beauty invites Rivera to platform at America’s Beauty Show, demoing shears, cutting techniques and hair tools.

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Enrolls in cosmetology school at Pivot Point International in Bloomingdale Illinois. Enters first beauty competition at the Illinois Association of Cosmetology Schools Statewide Student Competition.

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Rivera participates in a study abroad trip to London with his beauty school, discovering a love for travel and advanced education.

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Launches Instagram and YouTube accounts under the name @alexfaction, beginning a career as a social media make-up artist.

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Begins freelance career specializing in bridal parties.

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Rivera and classmates have their first experience with professional make-up application. “This is where Alexfaction is born!” he says.

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Riveras social media platform opens the doors for vast opportunities to share his makeup tips and tricks. Attends Make-Up Designory (MUD) academy at Pivot Point Evanston to become a MUD educator.

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Applies to the NYX Face Awards make-up competition and places in the Top 30 finalists. Pictured here: An Adam Lambert impersonation created by Rivera for the NYX Face Awards.

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Alex Rivera, Chicago-born cosmetologist, make-up educator and Platform Artist for Fromm Beauty uncovered a talent and passion for beauty after enrolling in Pivot Point International Academy in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

After graduating, he started a freelance career, specializing in bridal hair and make-up, falling in love with the power of transformation. Wanting to expand his make-up artistry skills, he became a certified Make-Up Designory (MUD) educator and began connecting with make-up artists of social media fame.

Because of his location and lack of model access, Rivera was forced to use himself as a model to practice the tutorials and techniques he was learning and creating. He launched a YouTube channel and Instagram account, @alexfaction, where he rapidly gained a following of nearly 40,000 inspired followers hungry for his tutorials. You can find Rivera on platforms around the country for Fromm Beauty, on YouTube demoing special fx make-up or on Instagram by following @alexfaction.

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