As a pre-teen, she did some modeling and acting. In her first TV commercial, she talked to the makeup artist about doing makeup for TV and film. That was the beginning of her desire to be a makeup artist. She felt more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. 

Immediately after graduating high school, she enrolled in the esthetician program at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California. She finished the program in the spring of 1982, received her license a few months later, and started working in a salon immediately. While vacationing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Donna entered a skincare salon in Vancouver to check it out. The next thing she knew, she was offered a job, which she took. 

Donna worked in Vancouver, Canada, for a couple of years in that salon performing esthetician duties and working as a freelance makeup artist in fashion. Additionally, she worked for the local TV station, BCTV, doing makeup for their commercial production department. Following this experience, Donna decided to move back to California, which she called home.

When back in southern California, Donna continued to hustle, finding work as a freelance makeup artist. Then one day, her mother found a post in the Huntington Beach Independent Newspaper about needing crew people to work at the Garden Grove Shakespeare Festival. She never thought of working in theatre but decided to apply anyways. It turned out they needed a wig designer. Of course, Donna wasn't qualified for that position; however, the theatre director told her to check with them after the company had found a wig designer, which she did. A few weeks later, the newly hired wig designer contacted her with an offer to work on the show with him. Unfortunately, she had to decline because her boss, at the time, wouldn't let her off a ½ an hour early from her shift, working behind the makeup counter at a department store. She was disappointed; however, the wig designer told her he would keep her name and call if another job came up.

Well, a year later, Donna Levy was contacted by the wig designer. This time she was able to do the show. The show was Annie, performed by the now closed-down Long Beach Civic Opera. The year was 1985. After working on that show, she fell in love with theatre. Donna continued to work in other beauty avenues and low-budget film/video productions. She did work on a few more musicals and operas before she decided to go to college to get her teaching credential to teach English and Theatre to high schoolers. Donna chose to go to San Francisco State University.

While in college, Donna realized the teaching English path wasn't for her, so she changed her major to theatre design. She earned her bachelor's degree in theatre and graduated with Cum Laude honors. After graduation, Donna moved back to Southern California. She then contacted the wig designer to let him know she was again available for work. Well, the rest, as they say, is history. Donna Levy has been working non-stop since graduating from college doing makeup application, hair styling, wig styling and wig making for theatre. She also been teaching makeup application, wig and hair styling, in a community college and private school as well as one-on-one.