Paris Monet on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Paris Monet shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Paris, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Hello, thank you so much for having me. Personally, I believe many people are silently struggling with self-identity and self-love. In a world that constantly tells us who to be, how to look, and what success should feel like, it’s easy to lose sight of who we truly are. So many are walking around with smiles while battling deep feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and doubt. We are constantly trying to measure up to unrealistic standards, especially in the beauty space, and in doing so, we forget that we are already enough.

This silent struggle is what fuels my passion as a makeup artist and the heart behind my brand, The Pink Playhouse. My work goes beyond applying makeup. When I service clients, I help people rediscover their beauty from the inside. I want every person who sits in my chair or uses one of my products to feel seen, affirmed, and empowered.

My brand is rooted in beauty and wellness because I understand that true transformation starts within. Whether it’s a bold lip, a soft glam, or a moment of pampering, it’s about creating a safe space where self-expression is celebrated and self-love is restored. I’m not just a makeup artist, I serve, I uplift, and I remind people of their worth. That’s my mission and my ministry.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Paris Monet, founder of The Pink Playhouse, a beauty and wellness brand rooted in creativity, confidence, and community. I’m a professional makeup artist, entrepreneur, and advocate for self-love and healing. What makes my brand unique is that makeup is not just about looking good, it’s about feeling good from within.

I created The Pink Playhouse as a safe space for women to reconnect with themselves, embrace their inner child, and feel seen and celebrated. Through makeup services, empowering products, and community-driven events, I aim to help women tap into their power and worth. Whether they’re in my chair or simply using a product from The Pink Playhouse Cosmetics, my clients are empowered to love themselves more.

My journey hasn’t always been easy. I come from humble beginnings and started working at 14 years old, driven by a passion to create something bigger than myself. Over the years, I’ve turned my pain into purpose and my creativity into a calling. Right now, I’m expanding my product line, building partnerships, and using my voice to inspire others to write their own story, regardless of their past.

The Pink Playhouse isn’t just a brand, we’re a movement. And I’m just getting started.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that my environment defined me. I had a limited mindset shaped by what I saw around me, what I didn’t have, what I thought I couldn’t be, and the idea that success was for “other people.” I didn’t realize at the time that I was quietly accepting limitations that weren’t mine to carry.

But over the years, I’ve unlearned this poor mentality. I’ve realized that we are the authors of our own stories. Our background, our upbringing, and our circumstances don’t get the final say unless we let them. What we come from may shape us, but it does not define us.

I was inspired by people around me who were breaking generational cycles, building businesses, and walking in their purpose. It lit a fire in me. I started to realize: I’m bigger than my environment. I’m bigger than my circumstances. I am meant for more! And from that moment on, I realized I cannot rewrite history, but I made a choice to take the pen create my own future.

Now, that’s the message I push to everyone around me, especially young women who look like me. Don’t let your past hold the pen. You get to decide how the story goes. It’s not about where you come from, but it is about where you’re going.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Unfortunately, The fear of being seen has held me back the most. I’m naturally shy, and for a long time, I was intimidated by the idea of fully showing up as myself. I’ve experienced moments where people didn’t like me, not because I did anything wrong, but simply because of my light, my energy, my presence. That made me want to shrink in every space that I was in. I was afraid that being my full, authentic self would make others uncomfortable or cause me to be misunderstood.

But over time, I realized that my energy is exactly what draws the right people in. The same qualities I used to be insecure about are now what people love most about me—my aura, my passion, my ability to make others feel seen and uplifted. I’ve learned that there’s power in standing tall in who you are, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Now, I embrace being seen. I embrace being myself fully and unapologetically, I step outside of my comfort zone not just for myself, but so others can feel permission to do the same. My presence is purposeful, and I no longer hide from it, I own it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Ironically, the public version of me is quite the opposite of who I am privately. My brand demands that I be vibrant, adventurous, outgoing, and “outside” multiple times a week, especially on weekends. And I do love showing up in those spaces, making connections, and pouring into others. While that version of me is real, but it’s just one layer.

In reality, I’m naturally shy and reserved. I cherish my solitude. I love being at home, curled up in silence with a good book or just sitting in stillness to recharge. Quiet space is where I reconnect with myself and where I feel most grounded.

So yes, the public version of me is real, but it’s not all of me. I’ve learned that both sides can coexist. The bold, extroverted version helps me carry my mission and my brand forward, while the soft, private version keeps me whole. It’s the balance between those two worlds that makes me who I truly am.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell the story of a woman who truly made an impact, starting in the streets of Atlanta! I hope they tell the story of a woman who gave her all to make others feel seen, heard, loved, and empowered. I want them to say that Paris Monet wasn’t just a makeup artist, she changed lives. She used her voice to speak for those who felt invisible, and she used her light to guide others out of dark places.

When people talk about me, I want them to remember how I made them feel. That I showed up for my community. That I stood for something bigger than myself. That I poured my heart into The Pink Playhouse not just to be successful, but so I could turn that success into resources, love, and support for others.

I pray they tell the story of a woman who dreamed of building halfway houses for youth transitioning from detention centers, healing spaces for women, and opportunities for people who had been overlooked. I want my story to be one of transformation of how I took my own pain and used it to create purpose, not just for myself, but for generations to come.

That’s the story I hope lives on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thepinkplayhouse.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beat.by.paris
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paris-monet-5774b7370/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParisMonet01
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePinkPlayhouseParisMonet

Image Credits
Shadeaux Studios
Ashanti Laramore
Devolution