We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrea McCollough. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrea below.

Andrea, appreciate you joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope that my legacy will be that I empowered women from all walks of life. I realize that as a Black and Hispanic woman, I’ve accomplished more than most in either of those sectors, so it’s important for me to make sure that I pave a road for them to smoothly ride. The esthetics industry has not only given me a lift I could have ever imagined, but also a love for giving to others; a feeling that no one or thing can ever fulfill for me. I want women to have that same feeling. That’s how I hope people remember me- just a caring, giving person.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

When I was in high school, I was definitely the kid asking her mom for the new Neutrogena cleansers; I wasn’t really into makeup. I had my first facial at fifteen, and I just loved the whole experience from the greeting to the feeling I had when the facial was finished; I loved being pampered that day, plus my skin looked great.

As Junior year approached, I knew that I wanted to help people, but wasn’t sure about nursing. Actually, I wasn’t fond of the thought of a 4-year college. At 15 after my facial, I had decided I wanted to go into esthetics. At 16, I got in a lot of trouble with some friends, like court case trouble. Having to do community service with local organizations, I just knew I needed to keep my head on straight, finish high school, and get enrolled in esthetics school ASAP and that’s exactly what I did.

Here we are now, 13 years as a licensed esthetician, and a little over 2 years of being self-employed- thank you 2020. Seriously, if 2020 hadn’t happened, I’m not quite sure where I’d be right now. Obviously, as an industry, we had to shut down, and having space from the previous employer I had been working for for eight years gave me time to thing. Coming back into the toxic environment June of 2020 made me realize I could do better for not only myself, but for others.

I gave my notice from managing that medispa, and in September of 2020, I was officially on my own. I now specialize in permanent makeup, and as I like to say, “gracefully aging” skincare treatments. Having an extensive background with laser cosmetic treatments, I do miss it! Those treatments are something I’d like to expand back into these next few years.

When I started my business, I remember just thinking, I want people to know my name and be a brand- so like most, I used my name as my business, and Andrea Monique Aesthetics was born. It’s worked out well though, as we use AM Aesthetics, and our slogan is “Wake Up in the AM at Your Best.” We want everyone to feel and look their best right when they wake up, that’s why offering gracefully aging treatments and at-home skincare, along with permanent makeup with a natural approach is our thing!

I’m most proud of being strong enough and knowing when to leave a toxic environment. Mental health is key these days, and the fact it took a pandemic for people to actually start talking about it more is astonishing, but here we are. Not only did I want to have a slogan that I believe in, but also creating a company culture that I believe in. I have an employee and contractor who work with me, and they are some of the most caring and awesome women you’ll ever meet. They stand behind matters that I also stand behind, and there’s about a 20 year age difference between them, so that’s pretty neat.

AM Aesthetics volunteers frequently with a local organization, the Women’s Bean Project. The WBP makes and packages gourmet foods sold throughout grocery and retail stores across the nation. In doing so, they employ chronically unemployed women. These women may be in halfway house situations to fresh out of rehab. I go in and provide mini-facial days for the women who are in the program. If it’s one thing I know, it’s in order to succeed in this world, you have to take care of yourself. Pampering these women is a joy, and I only hope it inspires them to keep going in their journey.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I first went to school for esthetics back in 2008, Instagram was unheard of, and Facebook was barely becoming a thing. The marketing class focused on word of mouth marketing, which is still #1 today, but also newspaper ads, local magazine, Quality Connections, and groups like BNI. Even email marketing was just barely starting to become popular.

Now with apps like, Instagram and TikTok, you can give your potential and ideal client a taste of who you are, a sneak peak into your business, and show them what separates you from the girl next door that also has the same business as you.

My biggest advice when marketing your business on social media, is to truly be yourself. Working with someone for years, who’s beliefs and views I didn’t stand behind, I also had to treat a lot of clients who truth be told, I didn’t care for. I can’t tell you how many times I spoke with a client over the phone about their procedure, and the day I’d call them back for their in-person treatment, their whole demeanor changed: “Oh, you’re Andrea? The one I spoke with?”

The people I treat at AM Aesthetics are super cool and end up becoming more than just clients- we’re friends, we look forward to seeing each other and catching up. Social media allows me to show people exactly who I am- they’re either with it or they’re not, and that’s okay.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I decided to go out on my own, it actually wasn’t well accepted from a lot of those around me. I think some friends at the time, who fun fact, aren’t my friends anymore, were possibly envious, or just worried about themselves because they weren’t going to get discounted laser treatments anymore. Even my parents- I know now it was just out of fear for me- the current climate we were in, but I had to do a lot of convincing that the decision I was making was best for me.

Hell, every day I have to be resilient! Having a business, let alone an esthetics business, is hard! If you have to cut your budget, what’s the first thing you cut, nails, massages, your facials? Every day is a challenge, but it’s a challenge I’m up for.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amaestheticspmu.com
• Instagram: @andreamonique_aesthetics
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/amaestheticsco

Image Credits
Unik Photos, LLC (green dress photo)