On November 5th, Madrid hosted an event that transcended convention. It was not a runway, a party, or a show. It was a truly emotional ritual. María Ávalos, internationally renowned makeup artist and hairstylist, celebrated eleven years of her career with A Dream. 11, a heartfelt tribute to beauty as an act of gratitude to her team, the brides who entrusted her with their most important days, the inspirations that shaped her journey, and a philosophy that sees beauty not as makeup, but as a way to listen, connect, and help women rediscover themselves.
Every detail, from the scenography to the music, from the garments to the accessories, was curated to create a fully immersive sensory experience. At the historic Casa Gallardo, the event became a story of lived moments, authentic gestures, and shared gratitude, far beyond fashion or marketing.
Eleven Years of Intuition and Movement
The number 11 symbolizes intuition, movement, and new opportunities, a reminder to look beyond, follow instinct, and create genuine connections. For María, this was no ordinary anniversary: eleven years of growth, discovery, and evolution.
"It was not a finish line, but a moment to give thanks for everything I have lived, with the promise to continue with even more authenticity," she reflected.
The choice of venue amplified this vision. Leclab, within the iconic Casa Gallardo, provided a timeless, soulful, and elegant backdrop, transformed into a multisensory experience where visual storytelling, emotional scenography, and collective ritual merged into an intimate, unforgettable narrative.
Beauty That Reveals
María Ávalos is not just a makeup artist. She is an artist who turns makeup into a tool for listening and self-discovery. Trained by luxury brands such as Chanel, Dior, and Guerlain, she found her signature working with real women on irreplaceable days.
"For me, makeup is not about covering. It is about creating space. It is entering a woman’s intimate world on a vulnerable day. There, makeup becomes listening," María explains.
With precision, care, and subtlety, she does not aim to transform, but to reveal each woman’s authentic beauty and make it shine.
Three Chapters of Emotion and Authenticity
The evening unfolded as a story in three chapters, each reflecting a stage of a woman’s emotional journey before the mirror. This was not a commercial runway. It was a narrative of gestures, fabrics, music, and authentic presence.
Miss Violina opened the event with a live violin performance, creating an intimate, moving atmosphere. Outfits by Silvia Fernández, Valensole, María Baraza, and Félix Ramiro conveyed emotion and elegance, while jewelry by Launike and Acus and shoes by Javier Gonzalo completed the visual story with refined detail.
The eight models: Amparo Lázaro, Ana Villar, Claudia Gago, Diego Velasco, Enrique Sánchez, Mª Encina Fernández, Noemí Nogar, and Sara Vela embodied diversity, authenticity, and lived beauty, reminding everyone that true beauty cannot be measured, only felt.
The Backstage: The Heart of the Event
María’s true stage is backstage. There, with Team Ávalos: Cecilia Páez-Pumar, Gisela Becchio, Inmaculada Parra, Justina Dubarry, Miriam Trelis Garay, and Mónica Puerta every detail is handled like a ritual. Elena Nevado, beauty assistant, and Marta Gómez Herguido, styling, transformed the backstage into a silent choreography of care, harmony, and attention.
Video: ESIF Fotografía
A Fully Sensory Experience
Every element of A Dream. 11 was designed to awaken all five senses. Taste with wines by Bodegas Javier Sanz and the signature cake by Other Cakes Studio. Smell through floral arrangements by 18 Pétalos. Touch with embroidered handkerchiefs by Cara Rose Design, a tribute to María’s grandfather. Sight with meticulous mise-en-scène. Soundwith a DJ set by La Monda, closing the night with rhythm and joy.
A particularly moving moment was the tribute by Álvaro Díezma, Spain’s national ham-carving champion. For María, it was more than gastronomy. It was an act of memory and gratitude, a symbolic caress for a comfort that had accompanied her for years.
Gratitude as a Guiding Thread
After the event, María paused to reflect. Not to promote herself, but to give thanks. To her team, her brides, the little girl who dreamed of becoming an artist, and all the women who teach her to see the world with fresh eyes.
"Alone, I am nothing. This story is collective, made of many other stories woven into mine," she shared.
Behind every detail, gesture, and moment was a network of passionate collaborators. The event was coordinated by Susana Tornero (@susanatornero / @ynosfuimosdeboda) with content and social media by Feel the Wed, and all visuals captured by ESIF Fotografía. Together with stylists, designers, and creatives, they transformed María’s dreaminto a shared experience, proving that true success is born from collaboration.
"Alone, I am nothing. My story is made of other stories woven into mine," María reiterates, with gratitude and awareness.
Main Credits
Event Creator: María Ávalos
Coordination: Susana Tornero
Location: Leclab
Photography & Video: ESIF Fotografía
Social Media: Feel the Wed
Team Ávalos: Cecilia Páez-Pumar, Gisela Becchio, Inmaculada Parra, Justina Dubarry, Miriam Trelis Garay, Mónica Puerta
Assistant: Elena Nevado
Styling: Marta Gómez Herguido
Designers & Outfits: Silvia Fernández, Valensole Atelier, María Baraza, Félix Ramiro
Jewelry: Launike, Acus
Shoes: Javier Gonzalo
Models: Amparo Lázaro, Ana Villar, Claudia Gago, Diego Velasco, Enrique Sánchez, Mª Encina Fernández, Noemí Nogar, Sara Vela
Music & DJ: Miss Violina, Los de la Monda
Sweets: Other Cakes Studio
Flowers & Gifts: 18 Pétalos
Handkerchiefs: CARA ROSE Design
Cosmetics: Delfy Cosmetics
A Dream. 11 was more than an anniversary. It was an experience that transformed beauty into gratitude, emotions into ritual, and every gesture into a shared memory. María Ávalos showed that true beauty arises from care, listening, and collaboration, and that every story, face, and detail contributes to something unique.
In the hands of a passionate team, surrounded by authentic gazes and attentive gestures, the event celebrated not just eleven years of a career, but the power of a shared dream, the magic of beauty that unites, and gratitude made tangible.
As the lights dimmed at Casa Gallardo, the memory of that day lingered, a day that, beyond words or images, told a simple and powerful truth: the greatest beauty is the one that knows how to say thank you.
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