Glen Alen

Glen Alen studied oil painting as a young boy. Where he mastered the understanding of colors and shapes and proportion. After high school, Glen went to work for the Regis salon corporation. During his 17-year career, he became an award-winning hairstylist, award-winning salon manager, and a National Educator. On weekends, Glen was a guest makeup artist for brands like Smashbox, Lancome, Estée Lauder, Make Up For Ever, and Urban Decay. Where he mastered the classic techniques of creating a flawless finish while letting each woman’s individual beauty shine through.  He did hair and makeup for print, student films, music videos and commercials.

After leaving the Regis Corp. Glen Alen began his full time career as a makeup artist for film and television.  Which gives him the expertise in contouring blending and highlighting. As an Emmy award-winning Makeup Artist, Glen’s skill, talent and attention to detail make him one of the most gifted makeup artists in the world.  

Glen is also an expert in the art of drag makeup and celebrity impersonation. After decades in the beauty industry, Glen Alen created ‘Drag Makeup Academy’, where he teaches, throughout the nation, the exciting and transformative art of drag makeup.  When he is not traveling, Glen lives in his hometown of Hollywood California.

Film/TV Credits: Legendary, A Star Is Born, The Greatest Showman, Penny Dreadful, Station 19, The Masked Singer, I Can Hear Your Voice, The Real, Jane The Virgin,  Murder In The First, 911 The Stalker, The Purge 2, Beyond Skyline,  Dancing With the Stars U.S.Tour,  America’s Next Top Model, Days Of Our Lives, America’s Got Talent, Key and Peel and The Sing Off, Dr Phil, The Doctors.

Celebrities: K Michelle, Loni Love, Mary Murphy, Rita Moreno, Rosie O’donnell, Tamar Braxton, TaRhonda Jones, Mel B, Leeza Gibbons,sRaquel Welch, Pat Benitar, Kathy Griffin , Lisa Rinna , Betty White, Carol Channing , Bea Arthur, Debbie Gibson, Kristian Alfanzo, Arianne Zucker, Nadia Bjorlin, Jen Lilly, Camila Banus, Adrienne Bailon

More information: https://www.glenalenbeauty.com/

Charlie Jensen

Charles Jensen (he/him) wrote Splice of Life: A Memoir in 13 Film Genres, which braids together in each chapter traditional memoir storytelling with discussion of a single film. He received a 2024-25 Individual Master Artist Fellowship from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, American Poetry Review, Crab Orchard Review, The Journal, New England Review, Prairie Schooner, Exposition Review, The Florida Review, and Passages North. He hosts The Write Process, a podcast in which one writer tells the story of crafting one work from concept to completion. He lives in Long Beach.

More information: https://charles-jensen.com/my-books/

Manuel Betancourt

Manuel Betancourt is culture writer and film critic. His work has been published in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Esquire, Backstage Magazine, GQ Style, among others. His latest publication, The Male Gazed: What Hunks, Heartthrobs and Pop Culture Taught Me About (Desiring) Men (2023) was named one of the Best Books of 2023 by Time magazine and NPR. He’s a contributing writer to The Cardboard Kingdom graphic novel series (2018, 2021, 2023), the sole author of the 33 1/3 book on Judy at Carnegie Hall (2020) and of the forthcoming, Hello Stranger: Musings on Modern Intimacies (2025).

More information: https://mbetancourtcom.wordpress.com/

Aaron Jay Young

Born in State College, Pennsylvania, Aaron Jay Young is a portrait photographer whose work is a vibrant exploration of the human experience. Inspired by the diverse beauty of individuals, Aaron spent several years capturing iconic moments on RuPaul’s Drag Race and its All-Stars counterpart. Based in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, his studios are where he continues to immortalize the unique essence of his subjects.

Aaron’s photography book debut, Queen, represents over four years of dedication and creativity. This collection showcases his ability to see beyond the surface, capturing the raw, unfiltered emotions of his subjects. In 2018, Aaron’s exhibition “Beautiful Immigrant” spotlighted the portraits of the migrant caravans in Central America, offering a powerful counter-narrative to the media portrayal during President Trump’s administration. Aaron has also collaborated with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and the LGBT Center in Los Angeles on various impactful projects.

Artist Statement

“My work is my passion. It embodies all my life experiences—the pain, the trauma, the journey to find forgiveness, love, and compassion—not just for myself but for others. Photography allows me to truly see people—their pain, joy, and vulnerability—and capture it authentically. With my camera, I embark on this journey through self-portraits and portraits of others.

Each session is an intimate experience; whether a subject stands before me for 30 seconds or much longer, there is an undeniable connection established. We exchange a sense of trust, letting all other distractions fall away. It becomes my sole purpose to see them and capture those moments of truth.”

More information: aaronjayyoung.com and queenthebook.com

Jen Cheng

Jen Cheng is the Fifth West Hollywood City Poet Laureate, the author of Braided Spaces, and a multidisciplinary storyteller who amplifies under-represented voices. Jen is the founder of Palabras Literary Salon, celebrating BIPOC poets and writers, and a 2023 California Arts Council Fellow. Jen blends East-West cultural influences in a new form, Feng Shui Poetry. With stories for tween audiences, mystery detective fans, and queer love, Jen is a cross-pollinator. She is a filmmaker with a documentary project celebrating LGBTQ Elders. She can be found on Twitter/IG @JenCvoice.

More information: www.JenCvoice.com