Maria Sandoval began her journey in hairstyling at just 16 years old, enrolling in beauty school while still completing high school. Her passion for storytelling led her to New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied film with aspirations of becoming a writer and producer. Ultimately, Maria found the perfect intersection of her two creative passions—hairstyling and filmmaking—by building a distinguished career as a stylist in the television and film industry.

Based in Los Angeles, Maria has contributed her talents to numerous high-profile productions, including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Medium, Star Trek: Picard, and Season 5 of Mad Men, which earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Period Hairstyling. Her most acclaimed work has been as the Hair Department Head and Designer for the Disney+ Star Wars series’ The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka.

Over the course of her career, Maria has garnered five Primetime Emmy nominations, two Makeup Artist and Hairstylist Guild Award nominations, and a guild win for Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. Her artistry and leadership have made her a sought-after stylist among top Hollywood talent, including Marcia Gay Harden, Patricia Arquette, Katie Holmes, Hayden Christensen, and many more.

In addition to her work behind the scenes, Maria is a respected figure in the convention circuit. She regularly appears at Star Wars Celebration events worldwide, where she speaks on industry panels and serves as a judge for cosplay competitions, further cementing her role as a creative “Force” in the world of entertainment hairstyling.