IN CONVERSATION WITH SPENCER HEDGES

interview by JANA LETONJA

Celebrity makeup artist and digital creator Spencer Hedges, widely known online as “Painted by Spencer”, has become one of the beauty industry’s most recognisable and trusted voices through his transformative glam tutorials, striking before-and-after artistry, and deeply personal storytelling. Spencer has spent the last several years building a career that bridges professional beauty expertise with authenticity and accessibility, working alongside major brands and high-profile clients while educating aspiring artists online. Now entering a major new chapter, Spencer has recently been named Global Brand Ambassador for ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr and is preparing for several major launches, including his fragrance brand The Hedges. Beyond beauty, Spencer has also become an important voice in conversations around modern family-building, openly sharing his emotional IVF and surrogacy journey as a proud single father while advocating for more honest discussions around fertility, parenthood, and nontraditional families.

You first built a huge following and recognisable identity as “Painted by Spencer,” and now you’ve rebranded across your socials as Spencer Hedges. What inspired that shift and evolution in your personal brand, and how would you describe the journey from Florida to becoming one of LA’s leading beauty creators?

“Painted by Spencer” was such a huge chapter of my life, but I started realising I was growing beyond just makeup. I’m interested in exploring different creative spaces that go beyond just being a makeup artist. I also never publicly used my last name online before. I’ve always been really protective of my private life and the people closest to me, so I think there was a part of me that kept my real identity separate from my online persona. But becoming a father changed that. Having a daughter with the same last name made me want to embrace our family name instead of keeping it so guarded. It feels more honest to who I am at this point in my life.

The move from Florida to LA was honestly driven by instinct. I knew I wanted a bigger life creatively, even though I had no idea what that would look like yet. There were a lot of years of uncertainty and figuring things out as I went, but I think that pressure shaped me into who I am today.

What initially drew you to makeup artistry at such a young age?

It was one of the first things that made me feel genuinely confident in myself. It gave me a place to create and escape a little during a time when I didn’t always feel comfortable in my own skin. I loved how transformative it was, not just physically, but emotionally. Then, once I started working on other people, I realised I could give them that same feeling too. Watching someone sit differently in their chair after seeing themselves in the mirror never really gets old to me.

Your before-and-after transformations became hugely popular online. What do you think people connect with most in your content?

I think people see possibility in them. A lot of people watching don’t necessarily see themselves represented in traditional beauty campaigns, so when they watch these transformations, they can actually picture themselves in it. I also think people connect to the emotional side of it. It’s not really about makeup at that point, it’s about confidence and seeing yourself differently for a moment. Sometimes it’s less about the transformation itself and more about how someone carries themselves afterwards.

How do you balance technical artistry with the personal storytelling that’s become such a key part of your platform?

I think the artistry gets people in the door, but personality is what keeps them there. Makeup is visual, so obviously the technical side matters a lot to me, but over time I realized people were connecting just as much to the way I speak, the calmness my videos bring them, my life experiences, my honesty, all of it. I think people can tell when someone is trying too hard online, and I’ve gotten to a point where I’m less interested in performing and more interested in just being myself. The older I get, the less interested I am in feeling overly polished online. I’d rather people feel like they actually know me.

You’ve recently become Global Brand Ambassador for ONE/SIZE. What does this partnership mean to you?

It means a lot because it feels natural. I was already using the products before this role ever came into the picture, so it never felt forced. I’ve also always respected Patrick for creating a brand that feels expressive and inclusive with its community top of mind. That balance is hard to pull off. ONE/SIZE has always felt very unapologetic in its identity, and I respect brands that know exactly who they are. So being trusted to represent the brand on a global level honestly feels surreal.

You’ve been increasingly open about your IVF and surrogacy journey. Why did you feel ready to share that part of your life publicly?

For a long time, I protected that part of my life because it was so personal. But over time, I started realising how many people quietly relate to these experiences and don’t really see them represented openly. I also didn’t want to pretend my story looked traditional when it doesn’t. There are so many different ways families are created now, and I think there’s something powerful about being honest about that. Especially online, where people tend to only share the polished version of life, I wanted to be more transparent about what becoming a father actually looked like for me.

What has surprised you most about the conversations your story has sparked online?

Probably how many people were surprised that single fatherhood was something I intentionally chose. I think society is so used to viewing single parenthood as the result of a breakup or some difficult circumstance, not necessarily as a conscious decision someone made for their life. It also opened up bigger conversations around how families look today. Not every family fits into one mould anymore, and honestly, I think that’s a beautiful thing. I’ve had a lot of people reach out, saying it challenged ideas they didn’t even realise they had about what a family is supposed to look like.

How has becoming a father changed your perspective on success, creativity, and life overall?

It’s made me think much further ahead than I used to. Before my daughter, I think success felt more tied to work and achievement. Now I think about the kind of life I’m creating for her, the example I’m setting, and the legacy I leave behind one day. It shifted my perspective in a way I don’t think anything else could have. It also made me realise how important it is to slow down sometimes and actually be present for the life I’m building.

What challenges do you think still exist around conversations surrounding fertility, surrogacy, and nontraditional families?

I think there’s still a lot of misunderstanding and judgment, especially online. People tend to fear or criticise what feels unfamiliar to them. At the same time, family structures are evolving whether people are comfortable with it or not. The world looks different now than it did twenty or thirty years ago. I think the conversation just needs more openness and less shame attached to it. There’s still this pressure for people to explain or justify why their family looks different, when at the end of the day, what matters most is love and stability.

The beauty industry moves incredibly fast. How do you stay creatively inspired and authentic within it?

Honestly, I think chasing every trend is the quickest way to lose your identity. I pay attention to what’s happening, but I try not to let it completely dictate what I create. A lot of my inspiration actually comes from outside of beauty. Films, music, museums, old photography, random moments while travelling. Sometimes I’ll see a lighting setup in a restaurant or a colour palette in an old movie, and it’ll spark an entire idea for a shoot or tutorial. That’s usually where the ideas start for me.

Outside of beauty, what other creative passions or industries excite you right now?

This may feel random, but hospitality really fascinates me. I’m obsessed with the experience of it all and how rooted it is in customer experience. Whenever I stay at a hotel, I’m constantly observing how they care for their guests and how every little detail contributes to the overall feeling of the place. The lighting, the scent in the lobby, the music, the way staff greets you when you walk in, how attentive they are to your needs, all of it. I love seeing how different hotels put their own twist on hospitality to create something memorable from the moment guests walk through the door. You can always tell when a place takes real pride in what they do, from the upkeep of the property to the energy of the staff and how they match the experience their guests are looking for. To me, it’s not just about aesthetics, it’s about making people feel something and creating an experience they’ll remember long after they leave. That’s honestly not that different from beauty or branding to me.

TEAM CREDITS:

photography ROMAN LOPEZ