Meet Valentina Ferreira | Licensed Esthetician and Owner of Happy Hour Beauty Bar

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

Hi Valentina, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
By the end of my career I want to have opened various med spa locations all over Miami. Maybe even the country. I want to have perfected a top tier, luxurious service that is sought after by everyone looking to improve their skin. I want to have created a space where people come to relax and indulge in their self care, and a place for future estheticians to find resources and education to excel in their new career. The possibilities are endless, but truly, at the end of my career, I hope that I am happy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being a licensed aesthetician comes with a lot of responsibility. People are coming to you and trusting you to take care of them, take care of their skin, and make them feel good. And that’s actually one of my favorite things about being in this industry. My goal with every facial is to make someone feel more confident in their skin. I’ve worked really hard to provide an excellent service where all my clients can fully relax and feel sure that I am doing what’s best for their skin. This industry is all about connecting with your clients and making them trust you.

Becoming an aesthetician was a very hard decision because it meant that I had to completely turn my back on what I thought was the correct path for me. I had done the whole college thing, got a degree in public relations, and got a job in the industry right out of school. I thought this was what I was going to be doing for the rest of my life. But I ended up being so unhappy and I knew that’s not what I wanted for myself. It took a lot to trust my decision in pursuing a completely different career, basically starting over, having to go back to school, and start from zero. But I knew this was what I wanted to do deep down in my heart and with that alone I knew I was going to be successful because I was gonna wake up every single day excited to work as an aesthetician and to grow my business and to make people feel good every single day.

This experience has really taught me that your happiness is the most important thing, as cliché as that sounds lol. If you’re not happy with where you are at, whether it be your career, your relationship, or even the city you’re living in, you can change that. You are in control. All you have to do is take the first step. That first step is the hardest part, I promise. Other people might try and convince you that they know what’s best for you, but they don’t. You do. Trust in yourself. You really can accomplish anything you set your mind to!

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?
Ooouuu this is hard lol. I would definitely start off by taking them to my favorite breakfast spot which is Crema on Miracle Mile. They have the most delicious coffee, Matcha, breakfast sandwiches, you name it. I’m there almost every weekend. Then we would go for a boat ride to Elliot Key and spend the day soaking up the Miami sun. After that we would pop into Bayshore Club for some drinks and appetizers. This has become my go-to spot in Coconut Grove.. You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, and the views are chefs kiss. Another staple Grove spot is Barracudas. It’s practically a Miami landmark at this point, and is just the perfect spot to meet up with friends and chat over a pitcher of your favorite beer. For dinner, we’re doing either sushi or Italian. My favorites. For sushi we’re definitely going to Matsuri. I think all of Miami agrees on this being some of the best sushi in the city. For Italian, my new favorite spot is Luca Osteria. All of their dishes are to die for, so you better come hungry!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The person that deserves the most recognition in my story is definitely my husband. Without him I wouldn’t have had the guts to pursue becoming an aesthetician or starting my own business. I’ve always been a very reserved person when it comes to taking risks and he is definitely the complete opposite. He’s given me all the confidence and believed in me before I even believed in myself. He is also an extremely successful businessman and is constantly giving me amazing advice and pushing me to achieve way more than I thought I ever could. So I genuinely don’t think I would be where I am today without him and I am so grateful for him being by side through it all.

Website: https://happyhourbeautybarmiami.square.site/?fbclid=PAAaaRx5Uw1NgGZ9V3E1bYkioKtuG8ZrSFKXAiYgQ1P7Y2QA7Zv3bg2GSdq8Y

Instagram: @happyhourbeautybar

Image Credits
HNDL.D Creative Agency