Michelle Bard was born and raised in the suburb of Valhalla, New York. Even at an early age, Michelle showed that she was capable of doing amazing artwork. Throughout school she would pass her art classes with straight A’s and would contribute her artistic abilities to Westlake High School’s extracurricular activities, including designing the sets for the school’s musicals and drawing comics for the school’s newspaper. After graduating, Michelle went to Westchester Community College where she earned an associate degree in visual arts. She was hoping that community college would be a steppingstone to getting into art school, but her parents couldn’t afford it and decided that joining the Navy would give her financial stability. Michelle knew that she was always meant to be an artist, not a sailor. So, after two years of service, she was honorably discharged and began looking for an art school, taking advantage of her military experience by using the GI Bill to help pay for her education. While searching she fell in love with Thomas Hairston and the two got married and got a dog. Michelle is now currently living in Brooklyn, New York and is earning her bachelor’s degree in animation at the School of Visual Arts.