We were lucky to catch up with Denasia Bacote recently and have shared our conversation below.
Denasia, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?
Honestly I would start sooner! Just get out there and leap for the stars. Overthinking things sets you back, everyone has to start somewhere. I would’ve started 10 years sooner when I had the idea at 16. I also would’ve started fundraising and promoting myself sooner. You really just have to get your name out there by any means necessary.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Nasia Mae, im the owner of Embodied By Barbie Luxury Spa in Portland, Oregon. I knew from a very young age that the beauty industry was for me! I watched my grandma and mother every day at their vanity’s applying the most beautiful makeup I had ever seen, They were so elegant at their vanity’s taking their time and making sure every stroke was picture perfect. I would be sitting at their feet grabbing every thing I could and following their every move.
Makeup and self care started to play a major role in my life when I was diagnosed with PCOS as a young girl. It changed my world! PCOS is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome it affects 1 and 10 Women. And symptoms can vary. I unfortunately got the infertility struggles and hirutism which is excess body hair growth. For a young girl this was a confidence killer. And the bullying didn’t stop until I was adult age and able to actually take care of the hair growth semi permanently with Laser. I used makeup to cover the scars that I developed as a child and really fell in love with the art of makeup. Makeup was my armor and safe space.
Embodied by Barbie was created for everyone. A safe space where you can feel a complete sense of relief, peace and understanding. I love that I’ve created an educational environment that my clients can take the gems that I teach them and apply them in their own day to day lives. Showing your bare skin to be analyzed can be a very emotional and stressing time. So I want to make everyone’s experience relaxing, healing and more like catching up with an old friend who tells you to wear SPF!
Specializing in corrective skincare truly is what makes my heart happy. Maintaining clear skin is always great but helping someone transform problematic skin into flawless skin is extremely rewarding. Some of my fav services to perform are Chemicals Peels and Microneedling. These two services done 2 weeks apart are chefs kiss! Semi permanent makeup is my jam these days. With a less is more trend going around Eyebrow Lamination &. Tints and Lash Lifts are all the rave for the clean girl aesthetic!
I am grateful for every client who has trusted me with their skin. The skin being your largest organ it is not something I take lightly and I’m honored to be chosen as their Esthetician. I hope that every client that encounters my spa is overly satisfied and refers a friend! I’ve always known that I am here to make others feel seen and comfortable in their own skin.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Funding is one of the main things I wish I knew more about! It takes money to make money is a tale as old as time but it’s true. Covid hit in 2020 and I was able to save quite a bit of the unemployment checks that I received to invest in my Esthetician school. I saved about 6,000 and started school that August. Little did I know that I would need to make a lot more money to get my business going. I’ve earned IDA loans and taken out personal loans to enhance my business thus far. I am still looking for funding opportunities to take my business to the next level. .
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
After I graduated from Esthetician school I became pregnant with my 3rd child. It was one of the hardest things I’ve done trying to manage a family of 4 while growing another member and trying to run a brand new business as the only employee. Pregnancy is very rough on my body and I had to take about a year off while still maintaining the rent for my spa and occasionally taking clients. I truly didn’t think I’d get a chance to work in the spa after my 3rd child and contemplating giving up many times. I felt like I was wasting money and I was but it was worth it to be where I am now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://embodied-by-barbie.square.site/
- Instagram: EmbodiedByBarbie
- Facebook: Embodied by Barbie
