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Getting ready for work in the morning is a job in itself for Terry Donaldson. She drags out a bag of makeup to apply a thick layer of ivory base, then etches red hearts on her cheeks, paints on blue eye shadow and secures a plastic, red nose over her own.

She picks out one of 18 purple wigs and hauls a pair of bulky, black shoes out of her closet and, with both hands, pushes a shoe onto each foot.

In just about an hour, Donaldson becomes Miss Sparkles Delight, a fun-loving, dim-witted clown.

About 10 years ago, Donaldson quit her jobs — she’s been everything from real estate agent to telemarketer — bought a vividly colored uniform and began her career as a clown.

Now she and her husband of two years, also a clown, average 30 appearances a month at birthday parties, parades, festivals and office gatherings.

She recently competed against other clowns in the Western Region Clown Association contest in Nevada. She won second place for makeup, third place in parade ability and third in skit.

“I was blown away,” she said in her distinct, animated voice.

Our Town: How did your clown career come about?

Terry Donaldson: At Tracy’s Fourth of July Parade in 1997, I had my epiphany. I finally figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up! At the age of 47, Sparkles was born, even though I knew nothing about the traditions of clowning and clown makeup. I only looked sort of clowny and acted like one. I have come a long way.

“Ralph the Clown,” a.k.a. the late Irene Deadrich of Tracy, mentored me and encouraged me to attend clown school. At the two schools I attended in San Francisco and Concord, I realized that I sure could do better than what they were teaching. That gave me the courage to go and do it my way!

Shortly thereafter, I joined The Golden Gate Clown Alley that meets monthly in Redwood City. They host annual happenings, which provide classes in diverse aspects of clowning, taught by nationally recognized entertainers. Through that association, I was introduced to The Clowns of America International and The World Clown Association. Each one publishes a monthly magazine and sponsors an annual convention.

Learning through experience has been my biggest teacher, though. Nothing taught in classes or books or magazines can compare to the immediate feedback of children!

OT: How has Sparkles’ character taken shape over the past decade?

Donaldson: My face has changed drastically, from a very white face, squared eyebrows and a mouth that was too big. Today’s face has an ivory base and softer, more “human” features that are, of course, exaggerated.

My clothing has gone from the one-piece, traditional, PJ-style, unisex outfit with ruffled collar to a full skirt with lots of soft petticoats and scrunchies at my wrists and ankles. My overall look is the same now, but I have more than a dozen choices of fabric patterns. Adding a long-sleeved shirt and matching tights in red, orange, yellow, green, blue or purple can make each costume appear quite different.

My show has slowly evolved as I add more magic to it. There are, however, some “signature elements,” which have been with me from the beginning: I dance to “Singing in the Rain” with broken umbrellas, and I try to jump rope as the children tell me what to do. Problem with that is I do literally what they are telling me, which isn’t quite what they mean!

OT: Who do you most admire?

Donaldson: My mother, Rowena Donaldson, is my costume designer and seamstress. Although she will be 84 in April, she isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. She is an inspiration to all who know her. Her bout with breast cancer in 1997 served as her wake-up call. Realizing this life wasn’t a dress rehearsal, she started doing the things she had only thought about doing. She started taking singing lessons and sings publicly whenever she gets a chance. Lately, her singing has been with Tracy’s community choir and at the senior center. My childhood memory of her is that she was a great support person who wanted to be in the background — invisible. You sure wouldn’t think it is the same person, as she is so poised and polished now!

OT: What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had behind the makeup?

Donaldson: One of the more recent experiences was during my typical show. I asked a child to take my magic wand and tap the coloring book to color the pictures. Usually I try to select one of the most shy of the group to help me. At an assembly at a local elementary school, I chose a young girl who has Down syndrome to help me. Her face lit up dramatically when she made the colors appear! Returning to her seat, she joyfully hugged her teacher and exclaimed for the entire student body to hear, “I did it!”

OT: Were there challenges in life that propelled you to a career as a clown?

Donaldson: The somber, insecure tomboy who sucked her thumb until she was 13 would never have imagined a career making people laugh. I never felt like I fit in. In school, I was the youngest in my class and yet the tallest. I was expected to act my height not my age. Emotionally, I would have been better off to be 5 when kindergarten started. That’s 20/20 hindsight!

When I was a teenager, I wanted to prove to the world that the chubby, tomboy, nerd could live up to the American ideal. At 17, I ran for Miss Los Altos and was voted “Miss Congeniality” by the other contestants. During my sophomore year at Foothill College, I ran for Miss Los Altos again and was voted Miss Congeniality for a second time — and was crowned Miss Los Altos. The Miss California Pageant followed a few months later, and I was a semi-finalist.

I felt like an imposter. I was trying to be someone I wasn’t. I got shingles during my reign and had to drop out of college for a while. I discovered many years and many therapeutic dollars later that trying to be perfect doesn’t work.

Always struggling with my weight because of compulsive eating, I thought that I could manage it with bulimia. Ha! I ended up looking anorexic while destroying my health and my teeth. I was trying to use food and alcohol to put a lid on all the energy I had. I am proud to say that 22 years ago, I gave up both bulimia and alcohol. Many years ago, I shared my history with a newspaper reporter who was surprised that I would allow it to be published. By my telling the truth of my personal struggle with food and alcohol, I open the door for others to have honest dialogue about their challenges.

Never did I imagine that all that energy that I was trying to numb could be harnessed into something good. I am lucky to be alive! God had bigger and better plans for me!

OT: What’s Sparkles’ favorite outfit?

Donaldson: The one I wore last November when I competed at the Western Region Clown Association’s Annual Convention at Laughlin, Nev. I wore an orange long-sleeved shirt, orange tights, orange gloves, a traditional clown collar and big, full skirt in a multicolor butterfly print with matching scrunchies on ankles and wrists. Huge clown shoes, of course. And woven into my curly purple hair, a garland of orange flowers.

What happened to make flowers grow out of my hair Well, when I was showering, I grabbed the shampoo. Only after I used it, I read the label, “Miracle Gro.” Oh! No! That’s how I became a “Blooming Idiot!”

OT: What’s dinner like at your house?

Donaldson: Fun! We both L-O-V-E to eat! In fact, one of the reasons why eight is my favorite number is that eight (ate) is the past tense of the verb, to eat! Who cares how it is spelled Yum!

OT: Do you think you and Denis will masquerade as Sparkles and Ravioli for years to come?

Donaldson: Absolutely! We get so much love from children and their families, it is addictive! We are blessed to be doing what we do. We get to play, laugh, help people celebrate happy events, empower children, ignite imaginations, bring joy to those in hospitals and nursing homes — and more!

In the Spotlight is a weekly profile in Our Town. This week’s interviewer was reporter Danielle MacMurchy. To nominate someone to be In the Spotlight or to comment on this week’s column, call 830-4275.