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

Hi Denise, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
There has been many times where I doubt myself. I think about giving up from time to time. Being part of the beauty industry, I am fully aware that beauty services are luxury. It’s not a need. Some months will be slower than others. What keeps me going is my passion for waxing. My passion pushes me to get out of my comfort zone and not give up. I always remind myself on why I started this in the first place.

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?
I have been very blessed to know a lot of people. The moment I started school, I started posting that I was offering services for tips. I had a lot of supportive friends and family who til this day continue to be clients. I feel like it wasn’t that difficult for me to start up my business. I have always loved taking a risk. I don’t like thinking “what if..”. I rather take the risk. Peace of advice, TAKE THE RISK, you will be surprised with the outcome. My mentor Melissa Fresnedo once told me “If you have fear, do it with fear”. Fear is the number one reason why people don’t take risks. Don’t repent later in life. Fake the risk.

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’m born and raised in Long Beach. San Diego has been my second home since 2020. I would take my friend through out all of Southern California then take them down to Tijuana Mexico for some delicious tacos. You will never go wrong with tacos.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have encountered a lot of amazing clients and professionals who I have learned from. There are two people who really molded me into being who I am professional wise. The first is Lisa Waters, my esthetician teacher at Paul Mitchell. Lisa has been the most passionate person I have met in the industry. She made school enjoyable. The second is my business mentor Melissa Fresnedo. During the pandemic, I decided to take a virtual business course with Melissa. Melissa guided me into making small changes in my business with a successful response. I am very thankful for them both.

Instagram: @themarrabeauty

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.