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

Donna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

At first, it was just a name and a vision.
The very next steps were figuring out what I actually wanted to sell and how to even begin. I started researching lashes, vendors, packaging, and what it would take to turn an idea into a real product. I spent months comparing samples, testing quality, learning about pricing, branding, and what made a product stand out.

Once I settled on lashes as my first product, I had to learn the business side quickly — setting up Layal Beauty LLC legally, opening a business bank account, creating my website, designing my logo and packaging, and learning how to ship orders and handle inventory. Every step was new to me, and a lot of it was trial and error, but I stayed consistent and I think that’s what matters most.

Social media played a huge role in my launch. I started creating content, showing the products, filming myself wearing the lashes, and building trust with my audience. As a makeup artist and model, I was able to test my own products on real clients and on set, which helped me improve quality and understand what customers actually wanted.

What started as a simple idea in my senior year of college has now grown into a real brand where I sell lashes and beauty products, work with clients, collaborate with other brands, and constantly build on my vision. The process taught me discipline, patience, and how to take a dream and turn it into something tangible through consistent action.

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

Hello! :) My name is Donna Layal, I’m a Lebanese makeup artist, curve model, content creator, and the owner of Layal Beauty LLC. I’ve always been drawn to beauty, self-expression, and creativity, and over time those passions naturally evolved into both my career and my business.

I officially founded Layal Beauty in 2019 while I was a senior in college. At the time, I had a strong desire to build something that was truly mine — something I could grow from the ground up. What started as a simple idea turned into months of research, product testing, learning about vendors, branding, pricing, legal setup, and marketing. I launched Layal Beauty with lashes as my first product, testing everything myself both on real clients and on set. Over time, the brand expanded into beauty products, services, and a growing creative platform.

My work today combines multiple disciplines. As a makeup artist, I provide professional beauty services for clients, events, shoots, and creative projects. As a model, I specialize in e-commerce, lifestyle, and beauty campaigns for both small businesses and national brands. As a content creator, I help brands translate their products into relatable, high-performing digital content. And as a business owner, I oversee every part of my brand — from concept development and product selection to marketing, customer experience, and fulfillment.

What sets me apart is that I work both in front of and behind the camera. I understand how makeup, lighting, posing, and storytelling translate visually because I’ve lived both sides of the industry. This allows me to creatively direct shoots, execute strong branding, and help clients showcase their products in a way that feels authentic and high-quality. I don’t just sell beauty — I live it, test it, and build it every day.

Layal Beauty exists to make women feel confident, seen, and represented. The products and content I create are rooted in real experiences — not perfection, but authenticity. I’ve worked with a wide range of brands from small businesses to major companies, and I always bring the same level of professionalism, care, and creativity to every project no matter the size.

What I’m most proud of is building a brand from nothing but an idea — turning my passion into a real business while balancing multiple creative careers at the same time. I’m proud that my work empowers women to feel confident in their own skin, and that I’ve created opportunities for myself in spaces that often lack real representation.

The main thing I want people to know about me and my brand is that everything I do is intentional. Whether it’s a product I’m selling, a face I’m beating, a campaign I’m modeling, or content I’m creating — it’s always rooted in authenticity, hard work, and genuine love for the craft. Layal Beauty isn’t just a business to me, it’s a reflection of my creativity, culture, and commitment to excellence.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When I first started Layal Beauty in 2019, I was a senior in college with a big vision but very limited money. I didn’t have investors or outside funding — everything was self-funded from my own savings. I truly started with the basics. At first, I put in around $600 to cover the essentials like my first lash samples, small inventory, and basic branding. I learned quickly how to stretch every dollar and only spend on what was absolutely necessary.

Once I knew I was serious about turning it into a real business, I invested another $550 to officially form my LLC, which felt like a huge step at the time. From that point on, I knew I wasn’t just experimenting — I was building something for real.

Because I didn’t have extra capital, I learned how to do everything myself. I taught myself how to source vendors, test products, design packaging, build my website, create content, market on social media, and fulfill orders. A lot of it was trial and error, late nights of research, YouTube tutorials, and learning through real experience. I rarely outsourced anything in the beginning because simply, I couldn’t afford to — so I became hands-on with every part of the business.

What makes that funding story meaningful to me is that Layal Beauty truly started from the ground up with personal sacrifice, discipline, and belief. Every dollar I made in the beginning went straight back into the business to help it grow. Starting with just a few hundred dollars taught me how to be resourceful, resilient, and intentional — and it showed me that you don’t need massive capital to start, you need commitment and consistency.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my audience on social media the same way I built my business — by being consistent, authentic, and willing to show up even when things weren’t perfect. I can’t stress this enough, posting or creating even when it doesn’t feel perfect.

In the beginning, I didn’t have a big following or a strategy. I simply started posting what I loved: makeup looks, beauty content, behind-the-scenes moments from shoots, and pieces of my everyday life as a creative and business owner.

At first, growth was slow. I focused more on learning than on numbers — learning how lighting worked, how angles changed results, what times to post, how to talk to my audience, and how to create content that felt real instead of forced. I paid attention to what people actually responded to and slowly adjusted my content based on that. Over time, consistency did what one viral moment never could: it built trust.

As my skills grew as a makeup artist and model, my content naturally became stronger. Showing both sides of my life — what happens in front of the camera and the work that happens behind it — helped my audience feel like they were part of the journey. Collaborating with brands, working on real campaigns, and later becoming a TikTok Shop affiliate all helped expand my reach and credibility even more.

The most important thing that helped me grow was being myself. I didn’t try to copy anyone else’s tone, look, or personality. I leaned into what made me different — my culture, my curves, my business, my creativity — and that’s what connected me to the right audience over time.

For anyone just starting to build a social presence, my biggest advice is:
• Don’t wait to be perfect before you start. Start now and improve as you go.
• Be consistent even when growth feels slow — momentum always comes later.
• Pay attention to what your audience engages with and evolve with it.
• Don’t chase trends so hard that you lose your identity.
• Treat your page like a brand from day one: be intentional, organized, and professional.

Social media growth doesn’t happen overnight — it’s built through patience, repetition, learning, and showing up honestly over and over again. My audience grew because people were able to watch my journey in real time, and that connection is what I value most.

Contact Info:

• Website: Layalbeauty.com & Donnalayal.com
• Instagram: Donnalayal
• Twitter: @crownlayal
• Youtube: Donnalayal
• Other: Modeling portfolio donnalayal.com