We recently connected with Marriah Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marriah, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

At MIAA Beauty Institute, our mission is to provide quality education and training in beauty creatives, helping them build rewarding careers in the industry. This mission is deeply personal to me because my own beauty school experience was far from favorable. School was very expensive, and the education I received was subpar at best—I had to practically teach myself. The schools I attended focused primarily on getting students to pass the board exams, but there’s so much more required to truly make it in the industry.

At MIAA, we pride ourselves on being affordable, but more importantly, we are honored to offer space, opportunity, and support to our students well after they have graduated. These are the things I wished I had during my journey. We all don’t have to struggle. If I can assist others, then I will. That’s what makes our mission meaningful to me.

Marriah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have a deep-rooted passion for the beauty industry, which has guided my career for over a decade. I initially ventured into this field because I believed in the transformative power of beauty and the confidence it can instill in individuals. I struggled with low self esteem and turned to cosmetics to help. The best part is that instead of me revamping myself on the outside, I actually got in touch with my inner beauty. The lipstick just brought it out more.

I founded Marriah Jones Beauty, where we specialize in offering bold and beautiful lipsticks that empower beauties to feel confident and command any room they walk into. The exact feeling I had when I put on my first red lipstick. I want that feeling for everyone.

In addition to the cosmetics line, I also established the MIAA Beauty Institute, an educational institution dedicated to providing cosmetology and related trainings. My school also offers a full-service salon where we provide affordable salon space for beauty professionals and free space for our graduates, fostering a supportive and thriving community.

What sets us apart is our commitment to education and community involvement. We believe that beauty students deserve better education and opportunities, which inspired me to establish MIAA Beauty Institute. We are not only dedicated to delivering high-quality beauty products but also to nurturing the next generation of beauty professionals.

I am most proud of the impact we’ve had on our community, particularly through our educational programs. Watching our students grow and succeed in their careers is incredibly rewarding. Potential clients and followers should know that our brand is deeply rooted in the values of education, empowerment, and community support. We strive to provide exceptional products and services while also making a positive difference in the beauty industry.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Yes! I leased commercial space to open my business. I used ALL of my personal savings. Every last penny. I thought that once the community learned about what I had to offer, they would come running to support me. For the first few months, they did. About 8 months into the lease, the traffic slowed down. By the 10 month it came to a stop. I was so afraid. Not afraid that I couldn’t pay, but afraid that people no longer believed in me or what I was doing. I believe this reason can tank a business just as fast as low/no sales. My spirit took a hit. I was ready to bow out. A few months later I was accepted into a grant program that provided a few thousand dollars which was enough to cover rent, and we lived to see another month.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

Just recently I attended a free business class that was being taught by the founders of Broccoli City Festival. The topic of the class was Corporate Sponsorships. It was a goal of mine to secure a corporate sponsor to participate in a fashion show I am curating for my cosmetics brand and school. As the founders were talking, they brought up feedback from their previous festivals and how their audience requested a beauty and personal care presence at the event. The founders, two men, said they did not believe that makeup centered businesses made sense for the festival because women do not care about makeup when they are outside in the heat. My immediate thought was “Absolutely Not True!” So at the end of the class, I approached one of the founders and thanked him for his insight. I also requested to provide some of my best selling lipsticks to his VIP guests at the festival. He happily agreed and gave me his email address to get it set up.

I took another route. Instead of emailing him about lipsticks, I called up a few of my friends and asked them if they would be interested in participating in another idea. I decided to pitch a beauty experience instead. Since the festival audience demanded a beauty presence, I wanted to give them that. I took it a step further and added in makeup touch up stations and an assortment of feminine hygiene and personal care products in the bathrooms, courtesy of my other business friends. I wanted to do this part to prove that women absolutely care about their makeup no matter the temperature. But more importantly, I could provide a better experience if I brought some people along with me, thus creating opportunities for others.

I typed up, what was probably the best email I’ve ever written, and sent it to the founder. The same day, he forwarded my email to his chief of staff. The following day they set up a meeting. I signed a contract with them one month later. With the festival being only two months away, I did not think that they would go for it. I was really hoping they would at least consider a conversation for next year. A sponsorship that would have costed a large brand tens of thousands of dollars, cost me nothing (outside of materials). I am receiving exposure to national media outlets, music industry professionals, 50,000 plus fans, and major brand recognition. Plus, my face and brand will be on the Jumbotron in a stadium! I still can’t believe it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marriahjonesbeauty.com
• Instagram: Marriahjonesbeauty
• Facebook: Marriahjonesbeauty
• Youtube: Marriahjonesbeauty

Image Credits

Lachelle Myles
Will Jenkins
Sam Johnson