Yvonne and one of her creations on 'Face Off'. Taken By: Janice Rosas Sr. Director, Public Relations for NBC Universal.

Local Movie Special Effects Make Up Artist Yvonne Cox not only can be seen around town but also on Syfy's TV Show "Face Off".

Before television Yvonne had worked in shops doing everything from special effects make up to prop displays and even special effects make up and costume design for short films but never did she think she would be the one center stage in front of the camera.

Face Off Contestant Yvonne Cox says the best way to explain the show is as a reality competition, "Face Off is a competition reality show where 14 special effects make up artists end up competing against each other...it's kind of like project runway and stuff like that and everyone's competing... for an ultimate grand prize, which is one hundred thousand dollars, a new car, traveling, and on top of all of that exposure."

Cox says the weekly challenges can get pretty hectic and sometimes all she could do was hope for the best.

"So the typical challenge we get two days in the lab and then another couple hours in the lab the next day, then we go onto set and we get our last looks...that's where it all comes together, we have four hours to apply our make ups and that's if we have our whole thing completed... and then we are off to the judges. So basically we are in the lab designing these creatures and characters where we are molding, painting, sculpting to bring them into life...so it's chaotic, you're just hoping that you get something out on stage that isn't a disaster."

Cox says it was tough constantly battling against time, when in reality this kind of work is done over months.

"In reality we would never make a make-up this fast, normally you're in works with the production company and the director for months and it can take even a year to get the final design. So in the challenge we only have a a couple days, there's no editing behind these camera's, if you have an edge it's on there."

Cox says having the judges critique her work was very intense but took everything they said as helpful feedback.

"Oh man, it's so intense when you come out on stage and you just see the judges. You never have a one on one with the judges ever, so you want to impress them because they're big icons in the industry. So once when they're getting up close...they're just seeing everything and you want to impress them and it's very nerve-racking...But I actually really liked being on the stage regardless if I was in bottom looks because then I got their feedback and I took that with me and really focused on what they wanted and said."  

Cox didn't win this season of Face Off but made it to the top five, a very impressive achievement.

She says it was a surreal experience making it as far as she did, "basically I made it to top five, so I'm super proud of myself. I just couldn't believe I made it onto the show to begin with so to make it so far is the craziest and best experience I could have asked for."

As for Cox's future she is in the midst of a couple different projects that are currently a secret but plan to launch later this year.

Check out some of Yvonne's work outside of Face Off here.

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