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Hurdle with Emily Abbate

Everything is Figure-outable: Alexandria Gilleo On Doing Glam For Your Favorite Athletes, The Importance Of A Morning Routine & Answering Your Burning Makeup Questions

Hurdle with Emily Abbate

iHeartPodcasts

Health & Fitness

4.9 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2026

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, Emily sits down with Alexandria Gilleo, a celebrity makeup artist and wellness entrepreneur who has worked with icons like Sue Bird, Ali Krieger, and Breanna Stewart. Alex shares the story of her sudden health crisis—a diagnosis of endometriosis that nearly led to emergency surgery on leading up to a what was supposed to be an epic trip to the Paris Olympics.

The conversation explores how Alex navigates the high-pressures of her work with balance living in th Hudson Valley. She details her #hurdlemoment following the loss of her father, which served as the catalyst for her deep dive into holistic wellness. 

IN THIS EPISODE

  • The "Sue Bird Method" of varying glam levels.

  • Alex's non-negotiable morning and night rituals, featuring red light therapy and classical music.

  • The power of manifestation and "execution boards."

  • Why skin prep is the most important part of a long-lasting look.

  • The evolving synergy between beauty and women's sports.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

  • "I really try to sit down with them and look at their face and see what is going to help with making them feel the most beautiful, confident person on the field, off the field, on the court, whatever it is."

  • "I feel like this generation of athletes understands that beauty can be utilized as a tool. Makeup is not necessarily a mask ... it’s more about amplifying the look and showing the world every side of who they are."

  • "In order to get what it is that you want, you have to act like you already have it. You have to own it and be so confident with it."

  • "Everything is figure-outable. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how dark, how lonely, how sad, how heartbreaking something can feel, it's always going to get better."

SOCIAL
@alexgill
@emilyabbate
@iheartwomenssports

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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is an IHeart podcast.

0:02.5

Guaranteed human.

0:04.0

I really try to sit down with them and look at their face and see what is going to help with making them feel the most beautiful, confident person on the field, off the field, on the court, whatever it is.

0:34.4

Hey, everyone, Emily Abadi here.

0:38.5

You're listening to another episode of Hurtle, a podcast featuring the mindset secrets and true stories of the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, empowering you

0:43.9

to live a healthier, happier, more motivated life, and of course, conquer your own hurdles.

0:49.9

Today, I am sitting down with Alexandra Gillio. She is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked

0:56.2

with some of your favorite athletes, including names like Sue Bird, Ali Krieger, and

1:02.3

Brianna Stewart. In this convo, Alex gets real about her journey through a high-stress career

1:08.1

and the major help hurdle that forced her to pivot, a diagnosis of

1:12.8

stage four endometriosis that merely led to emergency surgery right before she was set to

1:19.1

travel to the Paris Olympics. We dive into how she manages her life as a high performing

1:24.4

entrepreneur, including her non-negotiable morning ritual involving red light

1:28.7

therapy, hydration, and classical music. She also shares the lessons she's learned about the

1:35.0

power of intentional solitude, the importance of acting like you already have it through manifestation,

1:41.1

and why she now prioritizes her nervous system and family first boundaries over

1:46.4

the constant hustle. Plus, of course, I put it out into the universe, offer to answer all of your

1:53.7

skincare and makeup and beauty questions, and we have got the rundown for you. Make sure you are

2:00.7

following along with Hurtle over on social.

2:03.1

It's over at Hurtle Podcast.

2:04.6

You can also check out IHartwoman Sports over at IHartwoman Sports and me over at Emily Abadi.

2:10.8

Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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