Today we’d like to introduce you to Mishell Lopez Gaona.
Hi Mishell, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I can’t say I was always into beauty, but one thing I have always loved is helping people. So once I was old enough, I knew I wanted to somehow be able to keep helping people as a career. Unfortunately, due to my legal status, I had a late start to my journey. After high school, I started college wanting to be a nurse, but since I could not get financial aid and was not considered a resident, my dad had to pay out of state tuition out of his own pocket every semester. So as you can imagine, we could not afford that for long, therefore I ended up dropping out. I helped my dad with his company for a few years. Until thankfully, in 2012, I was able to apply for the new program DACA. This program helped give me a work permit, and with that be able to get a job doing what I love. I worked in retail for about three years, then went on to serve for another three years, which I loved but I knew it was time to really sit back and think on what I wanted to do professionally and for the rest of my life.
After much thinking, I decided I wanted to be in the beauty industry! It’s perfect for who I am and of course it involved what I have always loved, helping people. Strangely, around the same time, I ended up hearing about eyelash extensions, they were becoming very popular and, without thinking about it as a business at the time, I decided to start getting eyelash extensions myself and I absolutely fell in love. I realized how laying on that table made me feel. Whether it was falling asleep, venting to my lash tech, or simply relaxing to some music, I always got up and looked and felt beautiful. So after trying them for a few months, I decided to give it a try because I wanted to give that same feeling to other women. The beginning was, of course, tough. In this business and as an entrepreneur, in order to be successful, you have to put 110% effort in. So when I started, I was charging very little, doing house calls, sacrificing meals, sleep, etc. Doing everything I had to do to get people to give me a try. It has all been more than worth it. I’ve been on this journey for over two years and I am absolutely in love with every single thing that I do. After a few months doing extensions, I realized I didn’t just want to do eyelashes. I wanted and still want to try to reach as many people in as many ways as possible. So now I also offer teeth whitening, lash lifts, BB Glow, eyebrow lamination wax and tint and of course, with time and God’s help, I plan to keep expanding and keep learning more ways I can make people feel more beautiful.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
This journey has definitely been the opposite of smooth. I honestly started my business blindly. So I am still learning as I go, but I think the biggest struggle for me has been to learn how to manage my time better. I am passionate about what I do and a lot of times I find myself overworking or skipping meals or missing sleep because of work. A lot of people don’t realize that as an entrepreneur, you handle every side of your business and that has been the hardest part for me. To leave time for myself and my personal life as well.
As you know, we’re big fans of MALEMI Beauty Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am known for and specialize in applying eyelash extensions. But I am passionate about what I do and I am continuously learning in order to provide a variety of services to my clients. I give my absolute best to my business and my clients every single day. My motto has always been; “I treat my clients the way I expect to be treated when I’m the client,” and that’s what I am most proud of. I am currently home-based but am working on having my own suite in 2021.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I want whoever is reading this to know it’s never too late to start your dream career and that there is no right or wrong way to go about it either. I started my business at 26 years old, not knowing anything about owning a business. I didn’t have a plan, just a dream, but I didn’t give up on it and here I am two years later, growing every day. Being an entrepreneur is the furthest from easy, but it is more than worth it.
Pricing:
- 80 minute Teeth Whitening $100
- Hybrid Full Set $95
- Volume Full Set $110
- Lash Lift $60
- Eyebrow Lamination/Wax $75
Contact Info:
- Website: malemibeauty.as.me
- Instagram: @malemi_beauty
