Meet Alicia Mae Chavez | Eyelash Technician of Minked Babe

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia Mae Chavez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia Mae, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process as to starting Minked Babe is drive. Drive for something
greater. Passion is what drove me out of a place that made me feel ordinary.

Before starting this brand, I was working as an assistant manager at Forever 21. I felt stagnant, I felt like my purpose as a 21 year old was greater than an assistant manager. I was overlooked and discriminated against. Therefore, I had to make a change. I had to prove my own worth to myself. I had to be placed in an uncomfortable position in order to challenge myself. With comfortability, lies oppression.

I took the risk and left my assistant manager job. Not knowing how to start a business or the outcome of my business, I had to overcome fear to touch blessings. On the other side of fear, light radiates. Your own mentality is your worst enemy that prevents you from reaching your highest potential. In order to overcome that, you have to shape your mindset and just do it. No excuses. Sounds pretty cliche but it is the truth. Growth will never be a straight line to success – there are many obstacles and milestones you have to overcome. When you believe you’re at the “top” that is when you lose. Growth is an on-going hustle throughout life. Having passion, faith and motion in your dreams is what grasps your dreams.

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?
Minked Babe is a Filipina owned eyelash extension business. I have been in the eyelash extension industry for eleven months. Minked Babe is a business that makes you feel even more beautiful than yesterday. As a business owner, it is my duty to make sure that my clients feel heard and leave satisfied. This business allows you to express yourself without any judgement. A business that stands for being true to yourself no matter what the next person’s opinion is. No individual should apologize for living how they truly desire in their own skin. Minked Babe also does not condone any form of discrimmination. As a business owner, my goal is to create and promote unity in a world where division is accepted.

Chasing my dream for beauty is what got me to where I am today. I have always had a passion for beauty. It started off with my love for make up, then nails and now lash extensions. At heart, I will always be a lash technician. I fell in love with it. Beauty has always been something I have been good at ever since I was young. It peaked my interest. It allows me to express myself and others in a creative and impactful way. Currently, I am not where I want to be business-wise but the motion that I put into this business is what will get me to be where I desire business-wise. It has not been easy. It may seem that owning a beauty business is so “glamorous” and it can be but it also has been draining and disappointing. But, life comes with those factors. Balance is necessary in order to learn lessons. Growth would not be present without trials and tribulations. Pain is what pushes you to do better. By overcoming these challenges, I accepted them for what they are and I learned from them. When you are placed in a position of doubt, all you can do is push through it. Point is you have one life to live and if you have a dream, fight for it. Nothing worth it will ever be easy. As a business woman, I want to spread awareness that you can set your mind to anything you desire, no matter who has an opinion of otherwise.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take them to places that involve nature. San Diego has beautiful beaches. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach is a nice area to soak in the sun and connect with nature. I would also take them to Torrey Pines Hiking Trail, it is a great trail to enjoy nature. As for places to eat, I definitely would take them to Convoy. Convoy is an area that has a wide variety of asian businesses that serve amazing food and desserts.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my business to multiple individuals in my life. First and foremost, a huge and #1 dedication goes to my parents. Mitus and Barry. My parents have always had a vision of me becoming a Nurse but when I brought to their attention that I wanted to start my own lash extension business, they supported me 110%. With no questions asked, they understood that beauty has always been an interest and passion of mine. I am not only doing this business for myself, I am doing it for my parents. My parents have worked hard to where they are today and as their first born in their 20’s, I want to provide for them now. They have inspired my dreams so highly that I am hungry for success. I want to provide the life they never had growing up but happily worked hard for to provide for my siblings and I. Their hard work and dedication is what inspires me to do the same. My sisters Amaya and Ameilia have always supported me from the beginning of Minked Babe. I also would like to shoutout my best friend, Citlalli. She has always had a successful vision for Minked Babe when I could not see it myself. Without God and these individuals in my life, I would not have the courage that I have today. So, this shoutout is a huge thank you to all of these people in my life. I love you and I’ll forever cherish the love and support you give Minked Babe and I.

This is a shoutout to small business owners who contributed to Minked Babe. A huge shoutout to Kamielle, owner of A Miracle Beauty. Instagram:

@a.miraclebeauty She is the lash tech that does my lashes. Also, Kamielle is my lash mentor who taught me how to do lash extensions. Shoutout to Summer, owner of CherryBombNailss. Instagram: @cherrybombnailss A talented nail tech who did my logo nails for Minked Babe. Lastly, shoutout to Hayden, the photographer that made these photos perfectly to what I envisioned. Instagram: @hd.arw A huge thank you from Minked Babe to these businesses for their input.

Website: https://minkedbabe.as.me/

Instagram: MinkedBabe

Other: TikTok: MinkedBabe

Image Credits
Hayden Duran