We were lucky to catch up with Tabitha Larke recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tabitha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

Looking back, I honestly believe I started exactly when I was supposed to…even if, at the time, it didn’t feel like ideal timing. When I officially launched The Glam Suite Beauty Co. in 2016, I was a single mother, recently terminated from a job at MAC Cosmetics after being pushed into a management role I didn’t truly want. I had bills, a baby, and a choice: either fold or bet on myself. I chose the latter … and that leap of faith changed my life.

Had I started sooner, I don’t think I would’ve had the grit or vision that came from being backed into a corner. That pressure built a different version of me, one who wasn’t just doing makeup for fun, but building something for her future, her son , and her legacy.

Starting later would’ve meant missing opportunities and delaying the impact I’ve been blessed to make. Everything… the tears, the burnout, the late nights, the trial and error taught me lessons I couldn’t have learned from a textbook. I grew with my business, and that journey can’t be rushed.

So no, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every detour and delay led me here, and here… is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Tabitha, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Tabitha Larke, and I’m the proud founder of The Glam Suite Beauty Co., a luxury beauty studio based in Augusta, Georgia. I’m a professional makeup artist with over a decade of experience…but my work is more than makeup. It’s about creating moments of transformation, confidence, and empowerment for women from all walks of life.

How I Got Started

My journey into the beauty industry wasn’t part of a long-term plan, it was birthed out of necessity, faith, and fire. After being pushed into a management role I truly didn’t want at MAC Cosmetics and ultimately being let go, I had two choices: shrink or bet on myself. I was a mother juggling the pressures of single parenthood and bills with no clear roadmap, but I had a gift. So, I turned my home into my first studio, leaned into my purpose, and began building a brand that would soon become a safe haven for beauty, confidence, and community.

What We Offer

The Glam Suite offers professional makeup services for all occasions, including:
    •    Bridal & wedding parties
    •    Special events
    •    Editorial & photoshoots
    •    Makeup tutorials (both in-person and virtual)
    •    Coming soon: I’m launching a signature cosmetics line: The Amara Laine Collection, starting with lip glosses and liners — a tribute to my late mother.

We also create educational content and courses for aspiring makeup artists, and I am working on an app that will house tutorials, client reviews, and booking access in one beautifully curated space.

What Sets Me Apart

I don’t just “do makeup”, I curate confidence. I’m deeply intentional about every brushstroke, every product recommendation, and every conversation that happens in my studio. My clients don’t just leave looking good … they leave feeling seen.

I’ve built a business rooted in faith, excellence, and authenticity, and I serve women who deserve luxury, care, and the reminder that they’re worth it. I believe makeup is more than glam, it’s part of your story, and I honor that with every client I touch.

What I’m Most Proud Of

What I’m most proud of is the community I’ve cultivated and the lives I’ve impacted; from brides on their big day to young women stepping into their confidence. I’m proud of the mother I’ve been while building a business from the ground up. I’m proud of the obstacles I’ve turned into stepping stones. And I’m proud that The Glam Suite has become a destination for beauty, sisterhood, and transformation.

What I Want You to Know

Whether you’re a bride, a boss babe, or someone just looking to feel like you again — I’ve created a space for you. I want every person who interacts with my brand to know that this is more than a business, it’s a calling. It’s beauty with soul.

And I’m just getting started.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Three things: consistency, connection, and quality.

From the beginning, I’ve shown up even when I didn’t have all the answers,  or the perfect setup. I stayed consistent with how I treated clients, how I presented my work, and how I honored the experience. Whether I was doing makeup in my living room or inside my luxury studio, my goal has always been the same: make every woman feel like that girl.

I also believe my ability to truly connect with people has built lasting loyalty. I don’t treat clients like transactions. I learn their stories, their insecurities, their milestones and I show up for them, not just with a brush, but with care. Word of mouth and client referrals have been some of my biggest growth tools because people remember how you made them feel.

Lastly, I never compromise on quality. From products to professionalism, I bring excellence into every detail and I think that’s helped position The Glam Suite Beauty Co. as a trusted, elevated beauty destination. Whether it’s your wedding day, brand shoot, or just a day you need to feel beautiful again, I make sure my name is one you can count on.

My reputation wasn’t built overnight it was built every time I chose to keep going, show up with intention, and treat every client like a VIP.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I’m going to be honest… this part of the journey is still very much in motion for me. I’ve started, stopped, rebranded, paused, and restarted my social media efforts more times than I can count. Life has life’d. Burnout has hit. And sometimes, being the face and the operator of your business makes content creation feel overwhelming.

But every time I’ve come back to it, I’ve come back more intentional.

What’s helped me build (and rebuild) my audience has been:
•    Being myself: People connect to authenticity more than perfection. I don’t try to fit into a box, I show up as Tabitha, the woman behind The Glam Suite.
•    Highlighting results: I share my work consistently — whether it’s behind the scenes, before/afters, or finished glam. I make sure people see the transformation.
•    Telling stories: My captions often share the why behind the work, not just the makeup itself. When people understand your passion, they connect deeper.
•    Engaging: I reply to DMs, shout out my clients, and build real relationships online.

My advice for anyone starting out? Start messy. Stop waiting for everything to be perfect. Post that video, share that photo, talk to your audience like you’re talking to your homegirl. You don’t need a ring light, a million followers, or a viral moment to begin building trust. Just start where you are and keep showing up.

Also take breaks if you need them. But come back. Because your consistency is what turns followers into clients and clients into community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theglamsuite.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sotabitha_mua/
• Facebook: facebook.com/theglamsuitebeautyco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sotabitha
• Other: LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/sotabitha_mua