Assistant Instructors & Guest Speakers

Carlene Kirkhuff

Carlene Kirkhuff is a former Empire Graduate whose career as a professional Makeup Artist took off instantly. She works in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas with her most recent work including Department Head of Makeup for the Pussycat Dolls and The Maxim Hot 100 Special on VH1. She has also done numerous commercial print work, music videos, weddings and celebrity events including the Grammy’s, the Academy Awards, and the Golden Globes. Some of Carlene’s television work includes the shows Las Vegas, American Idol, and Entertainment Tonight. Her client list includes Christina Aguilera, Scarlett Johansonn, Taryn Manning, Carmen Electra, Hilary Clinton, Serena Williams, Meagan Good, Danica Patrick, and Samaire Armstrong. Carlene is a guest speaker for the Print, Runaway, & Bridal course.

Kierra Scheffer

Kierra grew up performing in theater and dance where she received her first introduction into both makeup artistry and teaching. Kierra attended UCLA, where studied theater, film, and television. At UCLA, she was involved in the Arts Bridge program - introducing many forms of art into classrooms in impoverished areas of Los Angeles. After graduating, Kierra began substitute teaching at St. Margaret’s Episcopal school and then completed courses at Empire Academy of Makeup to pursue her goal of working in the cosmetics industry full-time. After completing her education at Empire, she began freelancing with Bobbi Brown cosmetics, as well as working with photographers, brides and on multiple films and TV pilots. Her combined passion for education and makeup artistry has led her to assist in the classrooms at Empire Academy of Makeup, inspiring other new makeup artists to follow their dreams of working professionally as a makeup artist.

Lettie Mix

Lettie assists in workshops and courses here at EMPIRE. Lettie’s current work includes doing the makeup for the Venetian Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, the Palazzo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, Tao Restaurant, Microsoft, and Skinflick Fashion Swimwear’s latest advertisements. She was also a makeup artist at LA Fashion Week for Frankie B. and Louis Verdad. Lettie was a Key Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist in the full feature films The Mailman and The Pig People, starring Master P and Lil’ Romeo respectively. Aside from her full schedule doing bridal makeup, Lettie also assists patients at the Image Center in Huntington Beach, CA in applying makeup after surgery.

Meredith Rattay

Meredith Rattay has been educating our Empire graduates for three years during the Authority On Beauty Workshop as a Guest Speaker. She comes to us from the Grossman Burn Center which is the most recognized, well respected Burn Center in the world. Meredith educates Makeup Artists on what takes place with various forms of burns to the skin and how the skin reacts. She will cover the treatment for burn survivors and what it takes to keep infection from happening. She will also explain when it is safe to apply makeup regardless if it is a curling iron burn, a chemical peel or a 3rd degree burn. This seminar is valuable to all Makeup Artists and of additional benefit if working in TV or film in order to have a better understanding of various forms of burns, how they are caused, how they look, and how they heal in order to create realistic character or injury makeup’s on the set.

Sonia Suttles

Sonia Suttles is an Empire graduate from 2003 and is constantly booked for commercial work, weddings and private clients. One of her first bookings was a magazine cover for Ultimate Fighting Champion Tito Ortiz. She has also worked at Mercedes Benz LA Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios for numerous designers such as Agent Provocatuer, Petro Zillia, Baby Phat, and Shay Todd. Some of her other recent credits include work for The Playboy Mansion’s “All-Star Nights,” Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Pageant, Miss USA and the Miss Teen USA Pageants. Sonia is currently working as a makeup artist on Baisden After Dark Show featuring Michael Baisden on KTLA 5. She assists in several courses here at Empire.