Meet Betsabé Apte Román | Makeup and Hair Artisan

We had the good fortune of connecting with Betsabé Apte Román and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Betsabé, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Hi, my name is Betsabé and I am originally from Veracruz, Mexico. I first came to the US when I was 12 years old. That’s when I learned English by going to school. After that I haven’t stopped traveling between the US and Mexico, and have visited a few other countries around the globe. I love traveling, meeting new people, meeting with old friends, and learning about other cultures. I think part of that led me to meeting my husband Sanat, who is from India. We bonded over food on our first date. We decided to live here over Mexico because, besides San Diego having great weather and being so beautiful, we love the diversity that one can see everywhere! We want our children to grow surrounded by this diversity. Learning about other cultures, languages, and forms of life has impacted my life in every way, I am now more empathetic towards the people that surround me and I want my business to be an example of service, love and peace for everyone who comes and meets me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Before I was a Makeup and Hair Artisan, I had been a professor and researcher for 13 years. To be honest, I thought I would always be in that field until this year (2021) in June when I hit a crosspoint in my life as a new mother. I always wanted to be an artist before I leaned towards an Educational career. Unfortunately, in Mexico, where I grew up, Art was not a well-paid job.

Nonetheless, I took Art classes on the side and even makeup and hair classes while I was doing my PhD in Sociology. Changing my mindset and knowing which path to follow as a new business owner has been one of the hardest things so far. I wanted to do something new, creative and that brought me joy, but I was afraid of letting go of my lifelong career and of failure. I still haven’t told many people about this career change and I feel like I’m living a double life, but no worries, I am slowly transitioning.

In order to shift my career path, I knew I had to be a student again. I did some research online and ended up at Alchemy Beauty Academy, what a life changer this decision has been! I went from knowing nothing about the beauty industry, to actually doing professional makeup and hair, having my own clients and being published in the first 3 months and a half of my career!!

How did I do it? Well, I am a person of faith, and I believe God set a path for me to start in this business where I can share joy through my artistry. Also, I have the most encouraging and supporting husband I could ever ask for; he’s been cheering me up along the way and telling me I can do anything I set my mind to. Lastly, I’ve been developing friendships and work relationships that encourage me, uplift my spirit and inspire me to learn and continue in this business.
What I’ve learned so far is that in order to succeed in any career, whether it is being a professor or a makeup and hair artist, you need to do it with a passionate heart, that way you’ll never feel like you are working a day in your life.
As of my brand, I want to incorporate my family’s multicultural background, Indian, Mexican, American, to offer my beauty services to women and men from different races and backgrounds. I have taken specialization courses in Indian Bridal makeup, sari wrapping and jewelry placement and will continue to educate myself to be better for my clients. BAR Beauty (Betsabe Apte Roman Beauty) does not only stand for my name, but also for three affirmations that I say to myself as a minority business woman and that I want to share with my clients, which are “I am Bodacious, I am Authentic, I am Radiant.” I want my clients to not only look beautiful on the outside, but to also find the beauty that I see within themselves when they sit in my chair.

What I am most excited about right now is that I am finally a “Master Beauty Alchemist”!!! I earned this title by completing all the makeup, hair, and business courses at Alchemy Beauty Academy. I am very proud of what I have achieved so far and I can’t wait to see what the future awaits for my business at BAR Beauty!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego is such a fun and exciting place to visit! Sunsets are a must and the best ones can be found at La Jolla Cove, Encinitas, Torrey Pines and Glider Port in front of UCSD. I love that there are people from all over the world here so that you can try different foods everyday. We can go for Mexican (city tacos in North Park), Indian (Paradise biriyani in Mira Mesa), Italian (Isola in Little Italy), Mediterranean (Calli in downtown), Lebanese (Michoz in Hillcrest), Vietnamese (Pho Cadao in Little Saigon), to Japanese (Minya Ultra in Hillcrest), and any other you can think of.

To hang out and take a drink, North park and South park have small bars all around. We can go shopping at UTC Mall La Jolla, the outlets at the border or Fashion Valley.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shoutout to Alchemy Beauty Academy!!! I am originally a Sociology professor and when the pandemic hit I felt like I had to do something where I could spend more time with my family while having fun and being my own boss. Hollie and Kim have helped me develop the artist within me and in me. I barely knew anything about makeup and hair until I sat in their classroom. I hadn’t been a student for a while, but they made it fun, creative, easy going and super engaging; I wouldn’t trade these last 4 months with them for anything! I highly recommend their courses and I am forever thankful for their patience and artistry.

Website: betsabeapteroman.com

Instagram: b.a.r._beauty

Facebook: betsabeapteromanbeauty

Image Credits
BTS image. Annalisa J.  Donny Michel (instagram is @donnymichel)