19. TrooRa The LGBTQ+ Not an Issue Summer ’23

Freddy Lopez: Makeup Artist, Sales & Education Leader, Winery Co-Founder, and Candlemaker

A MAN WITH MANY

WRITTEN BY KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY PHOTOS COURTESY OF FREDDY LOPEZ, LOPEZ FAMILY VINEYARDS

T hey say the average person changes careers three to seven times in their lifetime. As people get older, priorities change, new interests are taken up, and great opportunities present themselves. But for Freddy Lopez, leaving one career and starting another was never an option. Lopez grew up in Geyserville, California, a small community in the beautiful Alexander Valley, a couple of hours’ drive north of San Francisco. The town owes its name to the geothermal springs that were discovered in the mid-1800s, but it's most recognizable industry these days is wine. Having been raised on a vineyard with his family in the world-famous Sonoma County, Lopez wanted more out of life. He desired to see the world outside of his rural community. “Growing up, I didn’t want to work on a farm, and so I pursued my own vision and dream,” he says. That first glimpse of the outside world presented itself when he studied Fashion Design and Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. While studying and looking for a job, Lopez began practicing makeup on friends. “I was always intrigued by the different ways makeup could influence a look,” he says. “That led me to apply to MAC Cosmetics, where I went from sales artist to managing several locations.” Freddy Lopez

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