We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laura Sevillano a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

If I had to describe my parents in one word it would be amazing! They inspire me because they made the brave decision to move to a new country and make a life for themselves and their children. They put in a lot of hard work and made a lot of sacrifices in order for me to have the best life possible. They led by example and instilled morals, faith, work ethic, and taking risks in life. However, they held me accountable for my choices and mistakes.
Even after all these years, they continue to amaze me in every way. They both are small business owners and their business are their pride. As small business owners they demonstrate incredible resilience and show remarkable strength of character by never giving up despite the hard work and obstacles they face. I wouldn’t be the person I am today bevause of them, I get to do what I love for a living.

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

I have been in the beauty industry as a licensed esthetician, tattoo artist, and educator for 8 years. My passion for walking alongside women has led me to where I am today as the proud owner of Brave Beauty Studio in Richlands, NC.

I was born in Mexico, and raised in California. I started working at the age of 15 in the food industry and worked 3 jobs while getting through college. I loved children and worked as a preschool teacher for 6 years. It was during those years that I met the love of my life, and he just so happened to be in the military.

Lashing and training fearless women will forever be my true love, but I would not have found it without experiencing the ups and downs of military life.

When we moved to twentynine palms CA we faced our first deployment, and due to the job market there I knew I was ready to make a big change in my career. While my husband was deployed, I enrolled in my first makeup and lash extension courses in LA, and immediately knew I had found my purpose.

As a military spouse I often see so much of myself in my clients which is why working within the military community has been one of the biggest blessings and incredible experiences. Connecting with some of the bravest women in our community, and being able to play a supportive role in their lives as they get through the hardships (and wins) that come with this lifestyle has been beyond inspiring.

I love encouraging and making others feel beautiful, so this is not just a hobby for me. I am passionate about every service I offer and love getting to form strong relationships with every client and student that enters my studio. I love this industry and I’m super excited to continue to grow and invest in not only this art, but also the students I train!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

When I decided to start my business, I knew I had to find a way to fund it on my own. I knew that taking out loans or using credit cards was a possibility, so I decided to look into those options. I applied for a few personal loans and was able to get approved for some of them. I also used a couple of credit cards to cover the remaining expenses. It was a lot of work to make sure all the payments were taken care of each month, but I was determined to make it happen. Now that I’m paying off all of my debts, I’m really starting to see the fruits of my labor and I’m proud of all that I’ve been able to accomplish. I’m very fortunate to have been able to find the resources to start my business and I’m thankful for all the hard work that got me to where I am today.

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

I was determined to make my small business a success. My husband is in the military and has deployed or left to train many times throughout our marriage. With five kids to care for and a business to run, I knew it would be a challenge. I had to put some of my goals on hold and focus on taking care of my family.

But I was determined to succeed, so I got to work. I made sure my kids had everything they needed and I worked hard to manage their schedules. I was also able to find time to dedicate to my business.

At first, progress was slow. I had to take a detour of sorts, but I never gave up. I researched, networked, and made sure I was staying up-to-date on industry news. I took classes and asked for advice from more experienced business owners.

My resilience paid off. I was eventually able to launch my business and I was thrilled to see the success it had. I was also proud of my kids for being so supportive and understanding during the process.

My journey taught me that with hard work, dedication, and resilience, anything is possible. It also showed me the importance of having a strong support system. I’m grateful for the journey I took and the lessons I learned.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bravebeautystudio.com
• Instagram: @Bravebeautystudio
• Facebook: @bravebeautylashes
• Other: Shop: https://bravebeautystudio.com/shop

Image Credits
@lilyandraephotography @emily.millardphotography