A 4.0 in Beauty, Branding, and Probably Overthinking

As a little girl, I treated my mum’s makeup bag like a treasure chest that needed pillaging. I’d sneak in—tiny burglar, big ambition—and go straight for the lipstick. I had this unshakable belief that smearing bright red across my face would magically turn me into someone from a fairytale. Spoiler: I didn’t get the fairytale, just a very concerned mother. But while my technique was lacking, the passion was undeniable. Fast forward a few decades (and several beauty courses later), and now I run MRGRT Aesthetics, where I get to help people feel beautiful, confident, and ready to take on the world—no enchanted lipstick required.

Looking back, I’ve always been drawn to beauty, even when I had no idea what I was doing. My early experiments with eyeliner were less “flawless cat eye” and more “abstract expressionism”—but somewhere between Picasso-ing my face and realizing I couldn’t contour my way to self-actualization, I fell in love with the process of transformation. Turns out, the beauty industry wasn’t exactly the glossy Instagram reel I’d imagined. It’s equal parts glamour and grit, late nights, and a constant stream of “wait, should this look like that?” moments.

Luckily, I didn’t have to wing it forever (pun intended). After graduating from Seneca Polytechnic with a Business Marketing Diploma—High Honors and a GPA that still makes my Type A heart sing (4.0, not to brag but… I am bragging)—I finally found my groove. It wasn’t just about making things look good; it was about making them meaningful. I learned that the right kind of transformation happens when passion meets skill. And no, I didn’t try to contour my cat’s face to test that theory. (Okay, maybe I did, but the lesson still stands.)

As much as I love the beauty industry, I’ve also always had an insatiable obsession with stories. I devour books the way some people binge-watch Netflix. Fantasy, romantasy, literary fiction, biography—if it has characters, I’m there. And when I’m not lost in a novel, I’m usually caught up in the world of marketing, where storytelling is just as crucial. I mean, let’s be honest: a good marketing campaign is basically a novel in miniature. You’ve got to hook them with the opening line, keep them engaged through the middle, and leave them wanting more by the end.

Running my own business—MRGRT Aesthetics—has been one long lesson in wearing every possible hat. Creative director, web designer, marketer, lash artist, therapist (you’d be amazed at how much life advice gets exchanged between glue applications). Each day brings a new challenge, whether it’s figuring out how to balance social media trends with client preferences or convincing my website not to crash right before someone books an appointment. And honestly? I love every chaotic minute of it. It’s like sitting down with a new book each day—every client brings a new story, and I get to play a small role in it. There’s a certain magic in connecting with people, whether it’s over lashes or life’s absurdities.

Sure, running a beauty business has its glamorous moments, but it’s also a lot of hustle. There are late nights spent tweaking marketing strategies and early mornings managing backend operations while sipping lukewarm coffee. But I’ve learned that creativity plus strategy equals the ultimate business glow-up. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

So here I am, blending my love for beauty with my passion for marketing, and ready to take on whatever comes next. After nearly three years of running my own business, I feel like I’m just getting started. I’m growing MRGRT Aesthetics, refining my skills, and keeping one eye on the future. Whether that future involves a new business venture or a cozy corner of a marketing firm for big brands, I’m excited to turn the page and start the next chapter.