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

Wekina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The simply story of how I got the idea for my business may be no different from others alike. I decided after years of working for a company that I felt no longer valued me and what I was bringing to the table to help them advance that I would go it my own. I had kind of an epiphany moment like ‘why am I investing my talents and ideas into a company that isn’t allowing me the opportunity to grow to my fullest potential’. Once I got over the initial fear of how I would go about starting the journey and let go to trust God it was uphill from there. The business name itself is in honor of my grandmothers (my guardian angels) Ruby-my paternal great grandmother
Beatrice- my paternal grandmother and Essie-my maternal grandmother it was renamed after them to have a more personal touch because I feel they are not only with me in spirit but I I’ve found that I embody’ elements within myself of them so I feel it only right to pay homage by honoring and carrying on their legacy.

Wekina, 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?

Hi I’m Wekina I’m a mom of four-two beautiful girls and two handsome boys. By trade I am a licensed Massage Therapist and Nail Technician. In my heart I am an empathic spiritual person with a passion to heal those around me.

Growing up I always wanted to help others and gain wisdom from those older than me in some way or another whether as a companion to my mother on her many cases as a caregiver to the elderly, or at the beauty salon with one of my favorite aunts who was a well known beautician in the area, or simply just the little sister and cousin who always wanted to hang with the big kids-and yes they let me.

All these moments are highlights I now reflect back to that helped shape me into who I am today.

I’ve been a LMT for 13 years providing customized massage therapy for clients and patients that suffer from chronic pain, injuries, and those who just want to manage their pain and or are committed to a wellness journey of feeling better. My sessions are customized to offer all modalities from Swedish therapeutic deep tissue combined with other various tools and modalities to reach the full potential of getting relief. This unique skill I have developed is undoubtedly what sets me a part from others in my field in addition to always educating and pouring love and light into those I encounter.

I became a therapist by second career choice. I had graduated high school and was enrolled at UCF in my second semester majoring in Early Childhood Education. It was during the observation in classrooms that we were required to do that I learned teaching would not be for me. Additionally my mother had already planted a seed in my head for my “backup plan” to be a therapist after a simple task of rubbing lotion on her back and found that I had a good touch. To this day I’m thankful that the program at UCF was designed in such a way that I knew early on what would’ve been in store for me had I continued my major and I’m forever grateful for my parents instilling in me the importance of having a backup plan and to always reach for your dreams.

My dream was always to have my own business. I can actually remember doing a few of those goal assessment prompts where it asks: where do you want to be in ten years and business owner was what I answered. Ironically my 10 year anniversary as a LMT I decided to leave the job I was working and take a leap of faith to focus on my dream.
13 years into my dream I decided to go further by deciding to transition from just spa services to beauty services as well. In 2022 I began taking classes for hair and brow services and completed training to become a nail tech. I am always driven to give more and tap into all the gifts God has already given me innately. I’m forever growing learning studying and perfecting my skills so that I can be better than I was in my previous attempts and to always be passionate to help others feel good and look good inside and out. My motto is: ‘Relax Rejuvenate Reward yourself; because you deserve it!’ I am an advocate for self care and taking time for you mentally physically and spiritually because it’s so important for wellbeing. We all deserve to be selfish and make time for us.

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

I remember when I graduated from Massage school. I was so eager anxious and excited to take my exam and start working. I had studied my butt off and the day of the exam I was so overwhelmed that I got stumped on more than a few of the questions. That reluctance caused me to fail. I was so crushed that I cried. I called my teacher and she assured me she would do everything she could to help me restrategize my study tools to pass on the next go around. Credit goes to her: Shamaya Cha- one of the most beautiful spirits, brilliant minded, and world renowned therapist/teacher you could ever meet. With her help and the help of one of my very dear friends at the time who paid for me to retake the test I was able to pass on my second attempt. I took it again right before Christmas and THAT was the best’ Christmas gift I received that year! Small advice don’t ever doubt yourself or overthink something when under pressure because your first mind will never lead you wrong. When something is meant for you it will be for you but sometimes you have to be patient and apply yourself with what’s inside of you and trust the process.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I feel like I’m forever pivoting in ALL aspects of my life. I think as humans we need to pivot in life because change is inevitable and necessary for growth without it we’d all just stay the same. Speaking for myself though I consider myself to be somewhat of a perfectionist. Anything in my life that I’ve been passionate about, especially in my business and career, I always look for ways to make it better. Critiquing, studying, researching, practicing, and finding a village of likeminded individuals and mentors I can learn from to make my ideas and art that much better. Thus another reason why my business is pivoting in the direction it is now. As a mother I constantly pivot because each of my children require different parts of me and anyone that’s a parent knows that every child has their own set of traits and personality. They each encourage me to better and teach me things about them and myself I don’t know so I’m hindsight we are growing together.
Im forever learning and growing as a parent a business owner as an individual. My hope is that I can always remember to reflect on how I can become better. While I may be a perfectionist I only stride to be a better version of myself than I was yesterday. I aspire to inspire others. I pray to be a light to not only myself but to others around me as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: rubessspaandbeautybar.com
• Instagram: ru_b_essspaandbeautybar