We were lucky to catch up with Valencia Luna recently and have shared our conversation below.
Valencia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Luna Unleashed is deeply meaningful to me because it’s rooted in my personal journey of transformation and growth. I know firsthand what it’s like to feel stuck, to lack confidence, and to face challenges that seem insurmountable. Through fitness, discipline, and the power of community, I discovered my strengths, unlocked my potential, and turned my passions into purpose-driven ventures. Now, I’m on a mission to help other women and girls do the same.
Luna Unleashed’s mission is deeply meaningful to me because it comes directly from my own journey of transformation, perseverance, and a passion for uplifting others. I’ve lived the challenges of discovering my strengths and building confidence, and I know firsthand how empowering it is to turn those discoveries into a life filled with purpose and freedom.
This mission isn’t just a business idea—it’s personal. Fitness taught me discipline and consistency, which helped me overcome obstacles and transform my talents into thriving ventures. Whether it was hairstyling, running a beauty salon, or launching an event space, each step in my journey has shown me the power of resilience and community. Luna Unleashed is my way of sharing those lessons with others, inspiring women and girls to embrace their strengths and take bold steps toward their dreams.
What makes Luna Unleashed unique is its holistic approach. I believe personal growth isn’t just about one aspect of life—it’s about bringing together fitness, entrepreneurship, and community to create lasting change. That’s why I focus on helping women and girls build confidence, develop entrepreneurial skills, and find support in a strong, action-oriented community. I want them to experience the same transformation I did and feel empowered to create lives full of meaning and opportunity.
For me, this work is about more than individual success—it’s about creating a movement. I envision a world where every woman and girl uncovers her potential, achieves her goals, and lives a life of confidence and purpose. Luna Unleashed is my way of making that vision a reality, starting here in Sacramento and extending far beyond.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Valencia Luna, and I’m the founder of Luna Unleashed LLC. My journey into this work started in the gym. Back in 2018, I was searching for something to ground me, something that would teach me discipline and consistency. Going to the gym became that habit. Over time, it did more than just transform my body—it transformed my mindset. I began to build confidence, and every time I left the gym, I felt empowered. I didn’t want that feeling to fade, so I decided to pursue something I had always dreamed of: starting my own business.
I started small, selling beauty products like flat irons and eyelash extensions. It felt amazing to put my name on something and sell it to my peers—I felt like a boss. From there, I started practicing hairstyling daily. While I had some basic skills, I knew that if I kept practicing, I could get better. Just like the gym had taught me, I stayed consistent. By 2019, I felt confident enough to walk away from my 9-to-5 job and pursue hairstyling full-time. Working for myself has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made. It gave me the freedom to create the environment I wanted and the ability to put something meaningful into the world.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy. Transitioning to being my own boss meant learning discipline on a whole new level. In the beginning, I struggled to prioritize work. If a friend called to hang out, I’d say yes instead of focusing on my business. After a season of living paycheck to paycheck, I realized no one else was going to hold me accountable. If I wanted to be successful, I had to show up for myself. That lesson has stayed with me ever since.
In 2020, I became a fitness trainer and started Unleashed Fitness because I wanted to help other women experience the same confidence and empowerment I found in the gym. Many women have all the tools they need to succeed but lack the confidence to take that first step. Whether it’s through fitness training or hairstyling, I aim to help my clients feel good about themselves on the outside while pouring positivity and encouragement into their lives. My goal is to help them not just dream big but take actionable steps toward achieving those dreams.
In 2022, I took another leap and opened Unleashed Event Space to create a new stream of income that didn’t require me to be behind a chair all day like in the salon. I was familiar with running a business, so I applied the same principles and skills to this new venture. I believed in my ability to make it successful, and it has been an incredible journey.
In 2023, I started Girls Unleashed, a group where I host weekly classes every Monday at the Mack Road Community Center. This program is for young girls ages 7-17, and it focuses on teaching confidence, life skills, and creating a space where they can connect and grow into the best versions of themselves. Seeing these young girls thrive and build a sense of self-worth has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
What sets me apart is that I don’t stop at helping my clients look good—I help them feel empowered to do more in life. I’ve been blessed with many talents, and I believe it’s my responsibility to use them to inspire others. I’m proud of never settling. Every challenge I’ve faced, I’ve approached with the belief that I have everything I need inside me to win.
My journey wasn’t always smooth. I wasn’t always confident, disciplined, or driven. I was once a girl who was insecure, broken, and unsure if her life was even worth living. But when I decided to fully discover who I was and asked God to guide me, I began to unleash my full potential.
Now, through Luna Unleashed, I help other women and girls do the same and encourage them to unleash all of themselves. I want people to know that it’s possible to transform their lives, no matter where they’re starting from. With the right mindset, discipline, and a supportive community, they can achieve more than they ever imagined. Everyone has a talent or skill to offer. If they don’t know what it is, they just need to take the time to discover it and build their self-confidence first.
As of today, I am a hairstylist, certified fitness trainer, event space owner, and community leader. My work is about helping others build confidence, discover their strengths, and live lives they’re excited to wake up to. That’s the heart of Luna Unleashed, and it’s what drives me every single day.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
A pivotal moment in my business journey came in 2021 when I decided to lease a building to train my fitness clients. At the time, I was excited and confident, believing the clients and revenue would flow in naturally. However, reality hit hard just three months in—I was struggling to cover the lease payments, and the financial pressure started to mount.
I had to think fast. My dream was for the space to be my gym, but as a fitness trainer only one year into my journey, I didn’t yet have the client base or popularity to sustain it. I realized I had two choices: pivot the business or forfeit the lease and risk going into debt.
That’s when I made the difficult decision to transform the space into an event venue. It was a business model that required less overhead and had the potential to generate more profit quickly. While it wasn’t the gym I had envisioned, I recognized it as an opportunity to make the most of my resources and keep moving forward. I continued training the few clients I had at another local gym while focusing on growing the new business.
Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Pivoting wasn’t easy—it meant letting go of the original vision I had for the space—but it taught me the importance of adaptability in business. That event space became Unleashed Event Space, which has grown into a thriving and successful venture. This experience reinforced a valuable lesson: sometimes you have to let go of what you want in the moment to make room for something even greater in the future.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Doing hair started as a side hustle for me, but with time and dedication, it evolved into my full-time career. When I first began, it would take me up to six hours to complete one client’s hair. I was determined to improve, so I practiced daily, focused on perfecting my craft, and learned new techniques to work more efficiently. Slowly but surely, my skills improved, and so did my speed.
Over time, my clientele grew as I became faster and more skilled. What once took me six hours now takes less than 2.5 hours. This transformation didn’t happen overnight, but each day of practice brought progress. By increasing my efficiency, I was able to serve more clients in a single day, which naturally led to higher income.
A key milestone for me was reaching the point where I could confidently service four clients in one day, earning in a single day what I used to make in an entire week. That achievement was a turning point—it proved to me that my dedication and persistence were paying off.
What started as a side hustle grew into a thriving full-time business because I stayed consistent, focused on improving my skills, and found ways to maximize both my time and income. It’s a journey I’m incredibly proud of because it reminds me of the power of hard work and a commitment to growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lunaunleashed.com
- Instagram: @lunaunleashedbeauty @unleashed.fitness_ @unleashed.eventspace @girlsunleashed916
