Meet Lissette
Lissette has always had a passion for beauty and skin care. As a child, she would fondly watch her mother layer different serums and moisturizers as a shared nightly ritual. This foundation propelled Lissette to become an esthetician in the Bronx.
“Grameen America has given me a fresh start. As a Latina, I’ve felt invisible in many different ways, but with Grameen America, I feel seen.”
Lissette got her start working in various salons and spas to hone her craft and build professional connections. Because of her work ethic and natural skill, Lissette was promoted to lead esthetician at one spa after only six months. She was immensely proud of the progress she had made and felt the recognition was reflective of the time and attention she paid to each client.
“When I received my certification, I worked in a few different spas where I was able to really connect with clients. That has always been my favorite part of the job. To be able to help people is incredibly fulfilling. You can just see the difference you’ve made, not just in their skin, but in their confidence too.”
Lissette discovered that she was vastly underpaid, even compared to junior estheticians she directly managed. A difficult decision to make, Lissette chose to leave the spa to open her own business.
“When I found out there was such a discrepancy between my wages and those of my coworkers, I felt like the spa had taken advantage of me. I knew that I deserved more, so I decided to break out on my own. Now I have BellaShique, which has allowed me to take my career into my own hands.”
To turn her own at-home spa, BellaShique, into a reality, Lissette needed sufficient loan capital to purchase an array of supplies to maintain the high-quality services she became known for among her loyal clients. It was then that she learned about Grameen America and the support she could receive as a small business owner.
“All things are possible, but no one is going to hand you anything if you don’t take that first step. Joining Grameen America was my first step, and I’m so grateful to have found an organization who cares about women like me.”
In 2014, with her first Grameen America loan of $1,300, Lissette was able to replicate a spa-like experience in her home with a table, products, and tools. The financial support allowed Lissette to pursue her dream, and so naturally, she spread the word to others in her community.
“Joining Grameen America has been such an incredible, empowering experience for me that I wanted to share the opportunity with everyone. I’m now in a center with my sister, my mom, my three nieces, and my daughter, Priscilla.”
“Because we have all our sisters, nieces, and mothers in the same branch, we’re all that much more committed to each other’s success,” said Priscilla. “Having everyone on the same page has been huge for my growth as an entrepreneur. We feel incredibly responsible to one another, and I’m so much more confident in knowing they’ve got my back.”
Priscilla shares Lissette’s passion for beauty. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Priscilla is in the process of starting her own eyelash extension business. Priscilla is using loan capital from Grameen America to pay for classes and workshops that will allow her to offer her clients different styles of eyelash extensions.
“As a single mom, I want to show my teenage son that I’m independent and strong,” said Priscilla. “I think it’s important for him to see that I can be there as a parent and run my own business. I’ve always had to work hard to give him the life he deserves, and Grameen America has helped me do just that.”
In October 2022, Lissette’s hard work and determination led to her biggest achievement yet — the opening of BellaShique’s first retail location.