Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittney Johnson.
Hi Brittney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was raised on the Eastside of Tampa. I don’t have a story to tell about how hard we had it growing up and how my mom struggled to care for my brother and me, etc. My mom always made sure we had everything we needed, including most of what we wanted. I’d say I had a pretty dope childhood!
After graduating Class of 06’ from Middleton High School in East Tampa, I then went on to school to become a daycare teacher. After receiving a scholarship to attend college, I soon realized children were not my passion. At this time I was 18, months later I became pregnant with my first child! Gave birth at 19 in 2007 and started working retail and fast-food jobs to take care of my daughter.
In 2009, I gave birth to my second child! Life just started to get real! I moved into my first apartment just months after giving birth while still working retail. In 2010, I gave birth to my third child! Retail was no longer paying the bills, I had to switch industries. I enrolled in UMA Tampa Clinical Medical Assistant program in January 2011 and graduated September 2011. A week later, I enrolled in HCC Ybor CNA program and became a CNA February 2012! I figured now I had enough education and certifications to take care of my three daughters. I worked in medical offices and assisted living facilities until I gave birth to my fourth child in 2013.
In 2013, I got into customer service. I worked multiple call center jobs until 2016. In September of 2015, I have birth to my fifth child! May 2016 is where my life really took a turn, I became homeless and had to live in a homeless shelter with my five children. During my time in the shelter, I was pregnant with my sixth child. Unfortunately labor started prematurely and my baby was born August 2016 in the shelter. After being transported to the nearest hospital, my son did not make it.
That moment in my life birthed a completely different Brittney! My mindset did a complete 180 degree turn! October 2016, I quit my job at Humana to become an entrepreneur. I started selling human hair bundles. After a while I stopped being interested in that and used my CNA certificate and started a home care business for seniors in 2018!
August 2019, I started to show interest in becoming a lash technician, so I took an Eyelash certification course October 2019. After looking for suites to rent so that I can start taking clients, I was turned down by many because I was not licensed. Little did I know you don’t just have to be certified to do lashes in the state of FL, if you want to rent or lease a space to do lashes, you must be licensed!
So December 2019, I enrolled in beauty school as a Full Specialist. Then the pandemic hit! Classes stopped all together then eventually went virtual. August 2020 school opened back up, at that time I didn’t feel like I was getting the proper education I needed. I withdrew from one beauty school and enrolled in an even better one, Dolly Monroe Beauty Academy! Classes started November 2020 and I was a licensed esthetician February 2021.
After graduating, I set out to become a solo esthetician. I’ve taken plenty of continuing education classes since then. For example, microblading, dermaplaning, micro-needling, body waxing, yoni steaming and body contouring. All of which I hold certifications in today and services I offer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The first year of becoming a business owner definitely comes with challenges. It’s important to create a solid foundation for your business in order to have longevity. I started the entrepreneurial journey with faith the size of a mustard seed and I have made a number of mistakes along the way.
By investing in my business; taking classes, reading books and working with my business mentor, Candace Holyfield-Parker I turned each mistake into a lesson and stepping stone. The road hasn’t always been easy, but with any new technique you get better with time, continuous studying and experience. I am always willing to be a student and eager to be taught advanced esthetics.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
You Glo Gurl is a full-service spa. We offer rejuvenating facial, advanced facial treatments like; Microneedling, chemical peels and dermaplaning. In addition, we also offer body waxing, non-invasive body contouring, vsteaming, teeth whitening and eyelash extensions. Our mission is to provide emotional, physical and spiritual therapeutic benefits while enhancing your natural beauty. From the decor, to the ambiance to the heated fluffy bed you lay on during your service.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t like to call it luck, I call it being blessed! I’m blessed to have an amazing support system. There’s no way I could’ve gone through the education and training I’ve had without it.
Contact Info:
- Email: yggskinandbeaute@gmail.com
- Website: https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=25221480
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/you.glo.gurl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youglogurl/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/brittneyjohnson75
Image Credits
Alisha Gantt
