We were lucky to catch up with Cristina Watson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cristina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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 my personal legacy is that I truly care about how others look and feel, I have 3 businesses and they all include making people feel better about themselves in some way. They’ll talk about how you changed lives, how you made people feel seen, valued, and confident during some of their difficult time.

I hope my legacy with Bella Bling is one that blends innovation, beauty, and healing in a way that challenges the traditional recovery experience. I want people to realize the impact is deeper than just aesthetics; it’s about confidence, and the emotional well-being of people in a vulnerable moment. I want people to understand the importance of Neuro aesthetics.
I also hope to make an example for other entrepreneurs, showing that passion, persistence and personal experience can be transformed into something meaningful that can improves lives for generations to come.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Cristina Watson, a master stylist, entrepreneur, and the founder of Bella Bling. With over 34 years in the beauty industry, I’ve dedicated my life to helping people look and feel their best. My journey led me to an unexpected place—medical casting—but with the same mission in mind: to bring confidence, beauty, and joy to those going through difficult times.

Bella Bling was born from my personal experience with neuroaesthetics. After undergoing double deviated septum surgery, I returned to work with a plain medical cast on my nose. I immediately noticed how people tried not to stare, making me feel self-conscious. So, I did what I do best—I made it fun & beautiful. I went into the break room applied makeup, adjusted my bandages, and added some rhinestone strips to my cast. The transformation wasn’t just physical; it changed how people interacted with me, how I felt about myself, and ultimately, how I healed. That moment sparked the idea for Bella Bling—why shouldn’t everyone have the chance to feel confident and empowered during recovery?

At Bella Bling, we design and manufacture high-quality, stylish medical casting with embedded embellishments that transform traditional medical casts into something fashionable and fun. Our product line started with rhinoplasty casts, and we are now expanding into larger casts, braces, and AFOs (ankle-foot orthoses). We believe medical recovery shouldn’t mean losing your sense of self. Our products allow patients to feel more like themselves while navigating their healing journey.

Traditional medical casting is boring, clinical, and often makes people feel even more self-conscious during an already vulnerable time. Whether it’s a rhinoplasty cast, a wrist brace, or a leg cast, these medical devices can impact self-esteem, emotional well-being, and even how people interact with the world. Bella Bling changes that by turning medical casting into something people can feel good about. When patients feel beautiful, confident, and in control, their entire healing experience improves.

While medical casting has evolved with more color choices, nothing compares to what Bella Bling offers. We go beyond function—we bring joy, self-expression, and confidence into recovery. We are pioneering a movement where healing nurtures not just the body but also the soul. We are true believers in the neuro aesthetics effects and the difference it makes people feel.

I am incredibly proud of my persistence and unwavering focus. Starting Bella Bling pushed me outside of my comfort zone in ways I never expected. I’ve learned so much—from, patents, engineering, plastics, medical casting, product development to marketing, etc. —and every challenge has stressed me out but made me stronger, lol Stepping into the unknown hasn’t been easy, but it will be worth it.

Bella Bling isn’t just about making casts pretty; it’s about making you feel wonderful during a challenging time. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, dealing with an injury, or simply navigating life with a medical device, you deserve to feel special, cared for, and empowered. Our brand is here to remind you that healing doesn’t have to be a bad experience—it can be beautiful.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Building Bella Bling has been a 14-year journey, one that I’ve worked on part-time while prioritizing my family. As a mother of twin daughters with demanding travel sports and social schedules, I made the choice to put them first while still pushing forward with my dream. I also work as salon owner and have bootstrapped Bella Bling, LLC through all the patent and manufacturing bills. On top of that, I’ve faced personal challenges—living with a learning disability and being diagnosed with adult A.D.D. has made reading and concentration difficult.

I stepped into industries I knew nothing about, which meant making mistakes, taking detours, and constantly learning through trial and error. From engineering and medical compliance to patents, legal terminology, and navigating the gatekeepers of the medical field, I had to find the right people to guide me. It wasn’t easy, but I trusted my intuition. When something felt right, I held onto it and kept moving forward. That persistence—despite every challenge—is what has kept me on this path toward making Bella Bling a reality.

Have you ever had to pivot?

There was a defining moment in my entrepreneurial journey when I realized Bella Bling needed to pivot. After working on the business (part time) for over 14 years, I was accepted into the EforAll business accelerator and also selected to participate in The Blox, an entrepreneurial reality TV show. Being surrounded by ambitious founders, mentors, and business experts completely shifted my perspective.

When I returned home from The Blox, I had a fresh outlook on my business. Then speaking with my cohort mentors, we collectively recognized an opportunity beyond rhinoplasty casting. While the original concept was exciting, it wasnt moving. We decided to expand into larger medical casts, carpal tunnel braces, and AFOs would allow us to impact more people in the medical and orthopedic fields.

This shift also led me to make a strategic legal move—I started working with a business attorney to develop a licensing agreement.

Pivoting was not just a business decision; it was a transformative moment that reinforced my adaptability, resilience, and commitment to redefining the healing experience for patients everywhere.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bellablingllc.com
• Instagram: Instagram URL: https://www.instagram.com/bellablingllc?igsh=NGRsM3RnNW93ajhy
• Facebook: Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/bellablingllc?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: Linked In URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-watson-85633231/
• Other: Tik Tok Handle: bellablingllc

Image Credits

Heather Donald photography
Diana Levine Photography