Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to LaTanya Steele. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

LaTanya , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Although I have been a professional hair stylist for over 20yrs, I have always had a passion to help others and see them win at something they were passionate about. Pretty Confident was born from that. Part of being pretty comes with being happy, and confidence comes when your truly fulfilling God’s purpose. My heart gets happy when I see others truly operating in their gifts. If I can be of any help or assistance to anyone that is stuck or struggling in that area, I step in immediately. I want to help be a solution to someone’s problem. I got my first salon 13yrs ago, and my heart was always open to helping those in the industry or desired to be. Pretty Confident is a community of beauty professionals and my mission is to help each and every one of them reach their business goals. When I started in this industry I was alone, I had to figure out so much by myself. Anyone connected to me will not have that same problem. The goal is not to grow alone but to help others around you grow.

LaTanya , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a woman of many hats. Wife, mother, business owner and operator in the beauty industry. Just to name a few. I have passionately pursued my entrepreneurial dreams straight out of beauty school in 2003. I have successfully opened 2 beauty salons (Divine Beauty) and 2 studio suite locations in Pittsburg Ca. (Pretty Confident), establishing myself as a gifted hairstylist and business owner.

Divine Beauty is my own personal business that I operate as a hairstylist. This was my first baby. And I still treat it as such. I have met so many wonderful clients, I have created relationships with many, cried, laughed and prayed with so many I can’t even count. Divine Beauty is my therapy, my stress reliever. Being a part of someone’s daily look is something as a hairstylist you can often take for granted. Every head I touch I think about how will they feel looking in the mirror when they go home. You never want to be the stylist that doesn’t get good reviews from home lol. 9/10 they won’t come back lol. Divine Beauty will always be a part of me. I have grown into a woman since starting in this industry and I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the experiences I have had as a hairstylist for the last 21yrs.

Pretty Confident is an extension of Divine Beauty. Pretty Confident is a part of me that I felt was needed. I wanted to offer a space for other beauty professionals to be able to experience the positive side of the industry. They are able to operate under their own brand, create relationships and enjoy what they do in their own space. A community like no other. This business is different from other salon suites because I actually work in the field, I know what it takes to be successful and I also know how easy it is to lose it all. Money wasn’t gifted to me, it wasn’t handed down to me. I worked hard to build each business. And my clients never felt it. I want to offer the help that I wish I had.

Beyond my professional endeavors, I am a dedicated mother to four children, embodying the values of family and nurturing them into adulthood and beyond is what keeps me going on a daily basis. My commitment to balancing both my personal and professional roles sets me apart as a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs. Both roles come with ups and downs, milestones will take place throughout your journey and tough decisions will have to be made. Prayer and God has gotten me through. I haven’t always followed Gods path for my life, so somethings were hard lessons and learning experiences along the way.

My unwavering faith and spiritual journey have played a significant role in guiding my accomplishments. As a woman of God, I try to consistently demonstrate kindness, compassion, and generosity to each person I come in contact with. With Gods guidance He has allowed me to create a space for not only beauty professionals to come together but also other entrepreneurs. My goal is to provide a platform for entrepreneurs, and help to uplift and expand the local business landscape.

I pray my impact extends beyond my salon walls. With each new venture I undertake, let me bring dreams to life and support the dreams of others. God, my determination, dedication, and resilience sets me apart! Giving up is not an option. I am a woman who epitomizes the spirit of being a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and faith. It’s not all easy but it’s worth it!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I have always held a level of respect for myself, my business and those I come in contact with. I represent my brand everywhere I go. I look at everyone as a potential client, customer, or someone who can refer someone to me. The way you carry yourself goes a long way. First impressions create lasting results. Make that first impression a great one. I always want someone’s experience with me to be a great one. A lot of my business has been built on word of mouth or someone speaking on my character.

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

When opening my 2nd Pretty Confident location, it came with so many hurdles. From the wrong contractor being hired, having to spend even more money to fix what the original contractor was paid to do and didn’t complete. Not doing all my homework and making sure the space was going to be everything I needed it to be. I totally missed the mark with thinking all commercial buildings were created the same. Historic buildings come with different types of headaches. Opening dates were pushed back but I stayed focused. It was a journey getting professionals to rent suites but I can sit here and say today that out of both of my locations all of my suites/studios are full!! I never gave up. I never lost my faith. I stayed persistent because I knew God had given me the vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.urdivinebeauty.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divinebeautysalon?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100047069576202&mibextid=uzlsIk
• Other: https://linktr.ee/mrsprettyconfident