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

Betsey, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

I had a very hard life restart at the beginning of 2015 when I was 38. Over a few months, my Basset Hound, Emma, passed away suddenly, I permanently injured my hand while working at a medical spa and was fired and told by my doctors that I would never be able to work as an esthetician again. I was also diagnosed with PTSD.

I felt hopeless and made a deal with myself, that I would try as hard as possible to get something going with my life before my next birthday, or I could just be done. My suicide was planned for the day before my 39th birthday. That didn’t happen and there was someone who played an integral role in helping me launch my business through a large act of kindness.

I’d booked makeup for a very last-minute wedding. The party was getting ready at a local salon and they had gotten the “OK” for me to provide services there. I rolled up to the salon, which was in a not-so-nice area, and worried about going in, thinking it would be sketchy or weird. To my utter surprise, the salon was immaculate and the work being done was impeccable.

I completed a party of 8, including the groom’s mother in her 80s. The salon owner approached me afterward and said, “Hi, my name is Gloria and I like you. Why is someone of your talent level not a salon owner? We should go for coffee.” I took her up on the offer and it was one of the best decisions of my life.

Gloria told me I impressed her with my professionalism, kit, and the MOG application as it is a rare talent that can make a mature woman look refreshed, but not overdone. I explained my situation to her. She handed me a set of keys to her salon, set up a work area for me in the back with a beautiful beauty bar, and didn’t charge me a drop of rent for over 2 years. I could not believe that someone actually saw me, valued me, and was willing to help with nothing in it for them. I was overjoyed and determined not to squander the gift.

I only had a few clients each month when I started and could not afford to pay rent. Gloria also introduced me to everyone who came in and helped funnel clients to me. She heard me talking about skincare to clients and sending them elsewhere to buy it so she offered to open a vendor account and purchase products for me to be able to do chemical peels and retail sales.

Her husband questioned her judgment about giving a random person keys to her salon. She told him our souls knew each other and she was certain of her choice. I go to regular dinners at their house, have employed their daughter, and hired her hubby to help me lay a floor in my own salon.

I’ve been in business for 7 years and the company will gross over $325,000 this year. Luminous Beauty currently has a staff of 20 and we are planning to expand into other markets. It has felt so good to be able to help other struggling creatives, elevate the industry, and treat Gloria to skin treatments when she has time.

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

Luminous Beauty was founded by Betsey McKenzie. Betsey originally went to college to be a pilot at 16, owned a picture framing shop at 22, and finally followed her heart into beauty school in 2007 at the age of 28. She completed her Esthetics/Cosmetology degree and then got a Bachelor’s in the Psychology of Beauty in 2010. Eventually completing her C.I.D.E.S.C.O. international esthetics certificate allowing her to work as an Esthetician anywhere in the world.

Betsey is Queer and does not fit in with the typical beauty professional. She was bullied, harassed, and blocked from promotion in several different beauty companies. She was determined to create a company that would welcome all, foster cooperation, elevate the industry, and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Luminous Beauty provides in-house and on-site bespoke beauty experiences. The company was founded in 2015 as a safe space for creatives to work while providing inclusive services for everyone seeking beauty. Choosing Luminous Beauty for your event means you are booking beauty experts without pretentiousness.

You can find both traditional and non-traditional beauty offerings and know that we will give you what you are looking for and not just copy and paste the same look for everyone. We specialize in wedding beauty services but have many other beauty service offerings. Makeup lessons, medical-grade skincare, facials, waxing, chemical peels, microneedling, transformational/gender-affirming makeup and hairstyling.

We believe that a beauty service is more than the final result; it is about how our clients feel during their experience. Luminous Beauty’s point of distinction is our advanced knowledge of skin and hair, dedication to our craft, as well as our inclusive environment. Our team and kits are always prepared to work with all ages, skin tones, hair textures, and genders. We love what we do and helping our clients look and feel their most beautiful.

We travel on-site to our clients within the greater Twin Cities and have a home base inside the historic Semple Mansion in Minneapolis where we provide trial runs or single-person services. Our clients tell us time and time again that we are a joy to have on their wedding mornings, contributing to the fun atmosphere of the event while providing amazing services.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I started listening to the podcast The Art of Charm after being in business for a couple of years. AJ and Johnny are the founders of the podcast and they host various authors and experts in personal development. They cover a wide range of topics from personal relationships, to mental and physical health and business strategies.

I purchased many books from authors showcased on the podcast that were incredibly helpful in running my business and streamlining my life. Including At Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof, Tiny Habits by B J Fogg, PHd, and Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, PHd. When I received a Pre-Black-Friday special offer for their year-long coaching program X-Factor Accelerator, I was all in.

The program involves a series of video lessons, weekly coaching calls, challenges, in-person workshops, as well as an entire community. The community involved is real, inspiring, and supportive. It is a safe space to vocalize and breakthrough personal/professional roadblocks and blindspots. I use it every single day in various aspects of my life.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Watching someone’s face light up when they first look in the mirror, is the best feeling in the world. I was taught to believe that interest in the beauty industry was a vapid waste of time and energy. That people with high intelligence should focus on more substantive pursuits. So, bringing people joy through mastery of my craft is incredibly rewarding.

It is also satisfying to know that others truly value what I do as an art and are happy to provide excellent compensation for the services I provide. I used to be grateful for being able to eak out a living doing something that I loved so much. The company I started seven years ago is currently pulling in a mid 6 figures. No eaking in sight, we are in full thrive mode and still growing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.be-luminous.net
• Instagram: @luminousbeautyofficil

Image Credits
Amber Liesse Hey Babe Photography @heybabephotosMN For the photo of me working at a wedding