Everyone has a story; its just a matter of getting it out there. Some people might juggle or ride the unicycle, but one would never know unless they ask. De Soto High School senior Alex Knauss, for example, does horror makeup and prosthetics in her free and time and for events, and most people don’t know.

“I’ve been doing makeup for around two years, I started like around freshman year. That’s when my interested starting picking up,” Knauss said. “I was inspired by a lot of horror movies like Saw and older slasher films, and films like The Exorcist.”

In an age of computer created graphics for movies, Knauss specializes in traditional makeup techniques and prosthetics to bring across a classic horror look.

“I’ve  had a general interest in horror movies and aesthetic ways that horror can be portrayed through actual things instead of computer generated imagery,” Knauss said. “”I’ve always wanted to involve myself in movie making somehow, be that animation or special effects makeup, and special effects makeup was the most at hand, and the most fun for me so far.”

Knauss has been doing makeup for a couple of years, and in that time has attended several “zombie walks” wherein attendees dress up and wear make up depicting themselves as zombies.

“I’ve mostly done a lot of zombie walk for hunger things that happen in KCMO, and I do a lot of personal makeup test, usually around Halloween. I’ve also mentored under someone named Jordan Bunce,” Knauss said. “Jordan Bunce is a professional clown who has done a lot of make up work, for himself and others. He has also worked in a lot of Halloween stores. He opened the option for me to study under him, and while working with him I’ve learned some of the tricks of the trade.”