Mother and daughter balloon artists Sharyn Donn and Jenifer Lo are usually on the same team, especially when it comes to their shared passion for the gym, but when the cameras start rolling for Three’s explosive new show Blow Up, they’ll be vying against each for the title of reality TV champion.
Sharyn’s interest in balloon art was piqued when Jenifer, now 20, was little. “She was just three when I first saw a balloon artist twist a six-petal flower and I was in awe,” chuckles Sharyn, 50. “I wanted it so bad!”
And 15 years after taking up the quirky hobby, her whole family have been sucked in. With daughters Jenifer and Alicia, 18, plus husband Mike, 56, in on the act, Twisted Faces is a thriving family business, offering balloon sculpting and face painting at parties and events all over the country.
Sharyn’s other daughter Alicia and husband Mike are also in the ballooning business.
It’s a far cry from Sharyn’s childhood, when she and her siblings helped out in their parents’ fish and chip shop in Musselburgh, Dunedin, and learned the value of hard work.
“We all worked in the shop,” explains Sharyn. “Serving, cleaning and cooking because it was important that we contributed to the family.”
Later trained as an architect, Sharyn now lives on Auckland’s North Shore and is an interior commercial designer, as well as a part-time professional balloon sculptor. “I never imagined myself as a balloon artist or a face painter, but I love it. It’s such fun because we meet so many people and share in their celebrations.”
Without a doubt, Sharyn’s spookiest twisting experience was some years ago in Dunedin, when she was home visiting her mother.
“In the early days, I took my balloons with me everywhere, just in case,” recalls Sharyn. “We were out having dinner as a family, the restaurant was full and a neighbouring table of adults was having dinner with only one young boy. His mum insisted I offer the boy a balloon.
“He accepted, and I suggested he might like a bear because I’d not made the classic bear on a heart for ages and I wanted to practise. Only when the father came to thank me, I learned it was a wake, and the young boy’s grandmother had loved and collected bears all her life!”
With stories like this, how could Jenifer not want to follow in her mother’s footsteps? Although she’s the baby of Blow Up, Jenifer isn’t the least experienced. She was lured into the family business aged eight when her mum promised Jenifer a balloon belt – that’s where a sculptor keeps their balloons – when she could tie a balloon by herself. “Eventually I did it, then I slowly learned various sculptures, which led to helping Mum at events.
“Pretty soon, I was getting my own jobs working for big companies like Microsoft, PWC, Auckland City Council, SkyCity, Westfield and Auckland Zoo, as well as birthday parties,” Jenifer says proudly. “I’m not quite 21 and it’s my 13th year as a professional balloon artist.
“I’m also studying physio-therapy and even though that’s full-time, I have several part-time jobs, including working for Twisted Faces, where I’m also the marketing manager because Mum’s not so good at social media. On top of that, I am receptionist and duty manager at my gym, where I also teach group fitness classes. I have a lot going on!”
Growing up sculpting mermaids, unicorns, ray guns and giant spiders at parties and corporate gigs might sound unconventional to some, but for Jenifer it’s totally normal.
“Mum started because she wanted to entertain us kids,” she shares. “I started because it looked interesting, Dad started because I needed an Uber driver and back-up at my gigs, and Alicia started because of FOMO!
“I’ve also performed under difficult circumstances. My wrists can get sore and once I even found out an hour before an event that my grandma had passed away, but it’s nice to be around happiness when you’re having a hard time.”
As to how the loving mother and daughter will cope vying against each other in the high-pressure world of a televised competition, Jenifer’s just excited to be taking part.
“I see it more as a competition against myself, rather than against the others. I’m also grateful to be doing the show with Mum because no matter the outcome, we’ll look back on this in 20 years and be like, ‘OMG, we did that!'”
Adds Sharyn, “As a mother, it will be amazing to watch her perform and succeed, and if Jenifer does beat me, I couldn’t be prouder.”
Blow Up screens 7.30pm Mondays & Tuesdays on Three.
