Beauty and Brains- Zombie Halloween Creative Collab

Pinup Zombie: When Glam Meets the Grave

Every October, I love diving into spooky season with something a little weird, a little beautiful, and a whole lot of fun — and this year’s Pinup Zombie collaboration did not disappoint.

For this creative shoot, I teamed up with three insanely talented Austin artists:

💄 Makeup by Keishlanis – [Keishx Makeup]

💅 Nails by Mattison – a.k.a. [Nail Gremlin]

👁️ Lashes by Hayley – [Queen of Hearts Beauty ATX]

Together, we dreamed up a look that blends classic pinup style with full-on zombie fantasy. Think vintage curves, bold lashes, and decaying-glam energy — beauty that’s risen straight from the grave.

The Look

Keishlanis created a show-stopping zombie transformation that was both creepy and beautiful — complete with bold red eyeshadow, exaggerated undead details, and comic-style contouring that brought our pinup zombie to life (or… unlife). The intricate face and body paint looked amazing under the lights, highlighting every crack, scar, and shimmering detail.

Hayley from Queen of Hearts Beauty ATX designed brain-inspired lashes that were both whimsical and a little bit disturbing — the perfect touch of glam horror. They fluttered just enough to make you forget you were staring at a zombie.

And of course, the nails. Mattison, better known as Nail Gremlin, went all out with zombie-themed nail art featuring tiny details and gory inspiration. Each nail looked like it belonged in a Halloween gallery — sharp, shiny, and perfectly creepy.

The Shoot

For the photography, we played with contrast — mixing vintage pinup styling with dark, smoky lighting. The set included everything from classic full-body portraits to tight close-ups that showed off every detail of the artistry.

And because we couldn’t resist adding a little humor, we staged a playful “dinner” scene — our zombie beauty delicately holding (and later dramatically “devouring”) a platter of brains. The mix of elegance and horror made for some of my favorite shots of the season.

What I love about shoots like this is how much personality comes through. Behind the makeup and props, it’s all about creativity, collaboration, and having fun with something completely out of the ordinary.

Why I Love Creative Collabs

Working with other artists always brings new energy and inspiration. Everyone involved brought their own ideas to the table, and it turned into one of those sessions where you could feel the excitement in the room. It’s a reminder that beauty doesn’t always have to be traditional — sometimes it’s bold, weird, and even a little bit gory. Working on collabs is also a fun way to network. I was able to add someone wonderful to my team

I’m so grateful to Keishlanis, Mattison, and Hayley for bring this vision to me and letting me be a part of it.

If you’re in the Austin area and looking to level up your spooky-season look (or just want to work with some seriously talented creatives), be sure to check them out:

✨ @keishxmakeup

✨ @nailgremlin

✨ @queenofheartsbeautyatx

More creepy-beautiful collaborations are already brewing… stay tuned

Its Halloween in my studio all year!