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

Hi VANESSA, how do you think about risk?

I had wanted to start a business ever since I was in High School. However, I had taken Advanced Placement courses, and my counselor urged my mother to encourage me to apply to college. I didn’t want to, but it was safe. There was only one college that was still accepting applications, which was San Diego State University. I knew I wanted to help people, so I decided to focus on becoming a Registered Nurse. I had been diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus at 15 years old and then was diagnosed with kidney failure a few years later, so it felt right to me. Who else would understand if it wasn’t someone who had their own experience with illness? Fast forward, I lost my kidneys and had a transplant in 2011. That transplant changed the course of my life. I was blessed. I did not have to be on dialysis because my younger cousin volunteered to be my donor. I had the mentality that life is short, so I would enjoy every bit of it. I no longer had the desire to work in a hospital. I did not want to revisit my traumatic experience. I also did not want to put myself in an environment where I could get sick again. I changed my major to Interdisciplinary Studies in 3 departments— Communication, Psychology, and Spanish and graduated from San Diego State University.

One day, I was walking around La Jolla and entered an art store. The man in the store was selling paintings for more than $10,000. I asked him, “How do you get someone to buy a painting for that much money?” After he explained, I asked, “How do you start a business? How do you know what to do?” He told me to figure out what type of business I wanted to start, work for a business that does just that, and learn as much as possible. I started to intern and then got hired at a branding firm in San Diego— I learned about branding, retail strategy, public relations, social media management, etc. I continued to work for companies that I could learn from. Most of them didn’t pay much, but the experience and knowledge were worth more to me. While my friends were living independently, I lived at home, slowly buying the materials I would need for my business— a camera, a laptop, lighting, etc. It was a sacrifice.

I started working in Marketing, which I believed to be my missing piece, in 2020. I was at the job for a few months before COVID-19 hit. I did indeed catch COVID, and my body took a hard hit. Although the doctors stopped surgeries during that time, I had an emergency surgery to get my transplanted kidney extracted. I ended up losing my transplanted kidney.

Not only had I lost my job, but I also lost my health and had to start dialysis. A month after I started dialysis, I ended a 4-year relationship. My skin had developed cystic acne and dark spots, I was losing so much weight, I was in and out of the hospital, I kept getting COVID, I caught pneumonia, and I could not eat. I was severely depressed and no longer wanted to live. I took so many losses in months that I did not understand what the point of living was. I felt that if death came to me, I would be perfectly okay with it. I remember telling my mother that I didn’t want to be here anymore, and she held me so tight I kept on a little longer because I did not want to hurt her. I was then admitted to the hospital for an extended period of time. I was told that my left lung was filled with fluid and that my heart was failing. I felt as if death was staring me in the face. It wasn’t until it became real that I realized that I was actually not ready to die. I started to reflect on my life and thought there was still so much I hadn’t done yet. I haven’t even had the chance to start my business!

I started to pray and with tears in my eyes, I had a conversation with God that night. It went something like this, “God, I know I have not fulfilled my purpose. If you can please let me live, I promise you that I will obey when my purpose is revealed to me.”

I was released from the hospital, and I immediately started working on a small business combining some of the things that I enjoyed—fashion and travel. I recognized that I was depressed and knew I needed help, and I put myself into therapy with Dr. Nancy De Andrade, Ph.D., www.nancyandrade.com, a holistic transformational coach with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and extensive training in alternative modalities of healing. Simultaneously, I started a small online clothing store called Chasing Summer Collection, www.chasingsummercollection.com. I did this to pull myself out of depression. I knew I did not have much money, but I had the knowledge, so I used what I had while learning along the way.

A year into dialysis, I was added to the transplant list. The doctors did not know how long I’d be listed because I had a unique case. I received my kidney transplant three months later.
I had received a third chance at life. I knew that this was unique. I had hit rock bottom, and by the grace of God, my doctors, and my will to still be here I pulled through. I realized that if I could get through that, I could get through anything. I was done playing it safe. I did what I felt was right for my life and kept my eyes open to opportunities.

I was doing a pop-up shop when one of my customers, Bella Chanel, a massage therapist, asked me if I would like to add my clothing to her spa, Namaste Massage by Bella www.nmbybella.com, in La Jolla. It was her way of paying it forward. I agreed.

It was through Bella Chanel that I discovered Plasma Pen Fibroblast Treatments, a non-invasive skin tightening treatment that helps to get rid of wrinkles, dark spots, acne scarring, stretch marks, and so much more. Although I was getting healthier by the day, and my skin had been slowly improving, I had become very interested in the treatment. I now knew what it felt like to be struggling with skin issues and how much it could affect a person’s self-esteem and confidence because I had gone through it.  Due to my life experience and my lifelong desire to help others, I did not hesitate. I told Bella I was interested in learning more about the treatment. She then allowed me to use a room at her spa. I was no longer playing it safe. I knew that life is too short, and you don’t want to be on your deathbed wishing you would have followed through with whatever sparked your interest. Shortly after, I was certified and ready to start helping others to feel beautiful and confident.

I started La Jolla’s Beauty Room, www.lajollasbeautyroom.com, a business catering to repairing damaged or aged skin. After each client’s reaction and results, I fell increasingly in love with how I made people feel about their skin. I discovered a new path that used my life experience to do what I always wanted to do— and that was to help others while simultaneously keeping my own cup full.

I will be adding more skin-related services to La Jolla’s Beauty Room, continuing my education, and providing unique ways to help people with their skin concerns so that I can bring about the best results and healing for every client’s particular case. Plasma Pen Fibroblast Treatments are only the beginning. If you, or anyone you know, are interested in repairing your skin, please visit La Jolla’s Beauty Room, where we aim to help you to achieve your skin goals with understanding and compassion for your individual case and concerns.

How do I think about risk? I’ve gone through all of the stages— being fearful and doing what’s safe, taking my time, and thinking that everything has to be perfect in order to get started, and I have also taken the plunge and jumped right into it, learning as I go. What I have learned over time is that playing it safe slows down the process, there is no such thing as everything being perfect because as an entrepreneur you will always be learning. However, the biggest lesson I have learned from all of this, is that you do not want to be on your deathbed wishing you would have just taken the risk.

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?

Plasma Pen Fibroblast is a revolutionary, non-invasive, anti-aging alternative treatment to traditional surgery. It is one of the only cosmetic procedures in the beauty industry that stimulates the fibroblast cells to instantly shrink, tighten and eliminate loose and excess skin. It is renowned for its remarkable Non-Invasive and Non-Surgical skin tightening treatments such as effective smoothening of lines and wrinkles, scars, pigmentation and skin tags, eye lifts, full face, body,  jowl lifts, repair to excessive tissue that causes sagging skin, stretch marks,  and much more.
We have a list of services so you can find what works best for you.  These treatments are low risk and hold a minimal recovery time of 6-14 days allowing the client to return to work the very next day. These treatments can be performed in as little as 90 minutes, are drastically cheaper than surgical procedures, and offer similar results. Results continue to improve for 8 weeks.

To answer your question, I am currently not focused on what everyone else is doing to know what sets me apart. I am a new business and my focus is on helping my clients. I believe in continuous education, staying on top of innovative technology, and providing safe treatments to help them achieve their skin goals.

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?
If you have a friend visiting San Diego and you wanted to show them a great time, I would definitely start off by introducing them to a few of several delicious brunch spots in the city— Hash House A Go Go, Great Maple, or Cafe Gratitude in Little Italy to name a few. You can also explore La Jolla for its gorgeous beach, dining, art, shops, and spas. You can stop by Blue Ocean for lunch, the restaurant has amazing sushi and a beautiful view. Going out to the bars in Pacific Beach for a casual drink is fun too. Bringing a blanket and creating a picnic at Sunset Cliffs while watching the sunset is also a beautiful experience. There are so many fun activities that can be done in San Diego– bonfire at the beach, yacht or sailing on the ocean, surfing, kayaking, helicopter ride to view the city. Chicano Park is San Diego’s oldest Mexican-American neighborhood featuring unique small businesses and is interesting to explore. Old Town and Balboa park if you are interested in exploring historic landmarks. You could also go to one of the many lounges or nightclubs downtown. There is just so much to do in San Diego, it is definitely worth visiting.

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?

Having a supportive and encouraging environment has played a major role in my success. I have a huge support system. My mother, Gloria Oropeza, for being there for me every step of the way. My uncle, Jose Oropeza, for believing in and encouraging me. My cousin, Carlos Elizondo, for reminding me that entrepreneurship can change my life and for providing business guidance. Bella Chanel, for encouraging me and giving me an opportunity to work in a room at her spa. Nancy DeAndrade, my mental health coach, for allowing me to recognize and discover my potential by integrating spirituality and psychology and helping me redefine success. My boyfriend and friends, for not allowing me to give up during difficult times, reminding me that I am doing a great job at times of doubt, and pushing me to be my best self. My clients for trusting and supporting me. Most importantly, God, for answering my prayers, giving me wisdom through life lessons, and allowing me to help others through a business that fulfills me.

Website: www.lajollasbeautyroom.com

Instagram: lajollasbeautyroom

Image Credits
Image Credits: Ronnell Williams Before and After Photos: Myself/submitted by Clients. Also Connie Kamilla for modeling in the photos

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