Me and My Emmy: Melanie Mills

Primetime Emmy Tally: One

How She Got the Gold: As department head makeup artist on ABC's Dancing with the Stars in 2008. She won with her team: Zena Shteysel, key makeup artist; Patti Ramsey Bortoli and Nadege Schoenfeld, additional makeup artists.

Now for the Noms: Four additional noms for Dancing with the Stars, plus outstanding makeup nods for Nickelodeon's Victorious, in 2012, and iCarly, in 2011. She received yet another in 2010 as part of the makeup team on The 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

Bella Italia: "I was in Italy, studying to be a translator, but quickly realized that was not my path. A friend took me to a makeup school in Milan. I didn't go to school there, but when I returned to the States I got a referral from my hairdresser — and within a week I found myself interning on a film."

Quick Step: " The energy of a live show is like no other — it's truly my favorite. Ballroom makeup is all about drama. You have to grab the judges' attention and amplify the feeling of the dance.

I mixed characteristics of ballroom, stage and high fashion with intense color and all that gleams and glitters. And the celebrities and professional dancers embraced the daring looks — and loved playing the characters we created."

Emmy Memory: "I felt amazed, completely scared, thrilled and humbled. And I clearly remember shouting, 'Viva glitter! Viva glamour!'"

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This article originally appeared in emmy magazine, Issue No. 3, 2013