Meet Breanna Miller | Businesswoman and Salon Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Breanna Miller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Breanna, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I believe relationships are the number one factor behind the success of my brand. Sharing genuine connections with people develops those relationships. The largest role in any successful business is the relationships we cultivate with others and with ourselves.

I’ve learned that in order to level up and do what has not been done before, your mindset must match your goals.

I was raised in poverty, which presents its own challenges. In order to transform my mindset to reach success I had to build relationships that expose me to new ways of thinking. I invested in a wellness coach, took inventory of who I was surrounding myself with, and made necessary changes to walk the path of my choosing.

I am grateful for all of the connections I’ve made to such wonderful human beings, and excited for the ones to come.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
*We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. I’ve not stopped pursuing my dreams and daring to dream bigger each time I achieve my goals. Recently I was selected to compete at Sotheby’s in Manhattan, NY where I had to create living art. This was a peak moment in my career and an experience I will not ever forget. I have also rebranded and expanded my bridal business throughout California in most major destination wedding locations. Destination Beauty Experts, (previously Breanna Rae Bridal), goes above and beyond to service the entire wedding party. Our packages include a trial run for the bride, in addition to day of services which include: installation of clip in extensions, full glam makeup, constant correspondence, and access to inspo boards for hair and makeup ideas. It also includes basic clean up and styling of the groom and we can accommodate the entire groom’s party. This expansion included building teams of incredible artists and stylists in each area to be able to service more than one wedding in a day. I am incredibly excited to service all of the postponed covid weddings and beyond.

*How did you get to where you are today business-wise?
At the age of 17 I started Cosmetology school, and have worked in almost every arena in the Cosmetology field. I’ve been a Cosmetology Instructor, platform artist, was Assistant Manager at McClellan Airforce Base Salon, managed and built teams to expand other salons, am a part of Fashion Week San Diego’s makeup team, and am currently the Salon Owner of Breanna Rae Beauty Bar in Del Mar, CA. After wearing many hats in this industry, I found my passion was in doing wedding hair and makeup. I had a vision for years of having teams of amazing artists, all doing what we love for someone’s big day.

While freelancing for another bridal company, who was executing what I had envisioned with a slightly different approach, I politely asked the owner for mentorship on how to run parts of the business. I then hired Canter Creative Group to help with my rebranding. After rebranding I started traveling to each location to build my teams while simultaneously networking with high end venues and vendors.

*Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?
The journey to where I currently am in my career has been full of ups and downs. I started Cosmetology school at the end of 2001 and became licensed in early 2003. I had wonderful mentors who guided me in my teens and twenties, shared their knowledge, and helped develop me into the stylist I am today. Due to major life events from 2009-2011, extreme challenges arose causing my full time career to shift to severely part time. This caused me to doubt my skill set and ability to rebuild my business once I was finally able to return full time in 2011. I felt I wasn’t current on trends and techniques, and that my speed and timing on services had slowed way down. So in 2011 I attempted another career path. and graduated top of my class in 2012. Unfortunately, I was not passionate about the new job. At the beginning of 2015 I relocated back home to southern California. and was ready to start pursuing my Cosmetology career again. At that time, I was desperate for connections within my industry, so I decided to go back to school for Master Makeup Artistry.

Going back for Master Makeup Artistry was one of the best decisions I could have made for myself. I made wonderful friends, learned some amazing new skills, and reclaimed my passion for my artistry in this industry. Shortly after, I started managing a salon I helped expand into multiple locations throughout San Diego and other cities. Upon parting ways in 2019, I decided to start my own salon. I used all of my savings and created Breanna Rae Beauty Bar in January 2020. Two months later the pandemic hit and all salons were forced to close. This was an incredibly stressful time, but I was grateful I was not charged rent for my salon space each time California shut our industry down. This gave me the ability to have a business to come back to, the flexibility to homeschool my children during this time, and bring my long time vision for my bridal business to life. Since then, my career has given me the ability to travel all over the country. I’ve found the only ways to overcome the challenges faced, and any I will continue to face, is through perseverance, being creative when there doesn’t seem to be a solution, finding inspiration through art and nature, and nurturing the connections I have with others.

* What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Life has a way of teaching us through our experiences, and sometimes through other peoples. What one might perceive as failure is ultimately lessons to guide us towards better decision making in the future. If you lose your passion for the things that set your soul on fire, reach out to people who are on fire for what they do. Reconnect to nature to reignite your creativity. Genuine connection is the life source of my brand. It lets my clients know I care, it brings me closer to the people in my personal and professional networks, and it continues to push and inspire me to set and achieve new goals in an industry that’s constantly evolving. My brand is built upon a fierce love and passion for this industry, and our ability to play a role in bringing beauty to the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
San Diego has some of the best spots to enjoy food, fun, and sun. Check out Sidecar Donuts in Del Mar for unique one of a kind donuts. If you’re a fan of Mediterranean food, Marketplace Grill is THE BEST and freshest food. For some authentic Mexican food, Old Town Mexican Cafe is a must. The last one I have to recommend is OB Noodle House. Their signature peanut butter whiskey is amazing.

Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Encinitas have some of my favorite beaches. These neighboring towns have so much to explore in every nook and cranny, and have less crowds. There are also tons of hiking trails throughout San Diego County with excellent views. Potatoe Chip Rock, Devil’s Punchbowl, Cowels Mountain, and Torrey Pines State Beach are all great place to explore. If you’re going for or a scenic drive, you can watch the best sunsets at Mt. Soledad. The 360* view of all of San Diego is breathtaking. I recommend following @hiddensandiego on IG to find more exciting places to explore.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to Allison Andrews-Canter, owner of Canter Creative Group, Cleaner Coops, and the Founder of Fashion Week San Diego! Allison is an absolute powerhouse. She runs businesses, raises babies, and invests time in the people she cares for, while making it look effortless. Her Knowledge, drive and friendship has guided me in many ways. Allision saw my vision I had for rebranding my bridal business, and has helped me run with it. She has encouraged and mentored me throughout the entire process, and has played a huge role in my growth as a businesswoman. I’m forever grateful for her.

Website: www.destinationbeautyexperts.com and www.breannaraebeautybar.com

Instagram: @destinationbeautyexperts and @breannaraebeautybar

Linkedin: Destination Beauty Experts and Breanna Rae Beauty Bar

Facebook: Destination Beauty Experts and Breanna Rae Beauty Bar

Image Credits
656 Photography Courtney McManaway Photography Allie Marion Photo Parallel 33 Photography Nikki Neumann Erin Evangeline Photography