Meet Gloria Martinez | Lash & Brow Artist

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

Hi Gloria, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I initiated the thought process of starting my own business it was because I wanted to use my creativity to make others happy and also myself. I have worked in social services and sales most of my adulthood which was very difficult emotionally. I excelled in all of my positions but I always felt that I wanted more from myself and from life. I often thought to myself and wondered if I was ever going to be able to get a job where I could use my creativity. I graduated from CSULB in 2016 with the traditional idea that I would work in my field but in 2017 I was intrigued with the eyelash extension industry. I was captivated by the ability to put thin little hairs together to create such a beautiful enhanced eye look. I believe eyelash extensions enhance a woman’s beauty and allows them to look good, feel good and therefore do good. Lashing was not easy at the beginning, I was shocked by the amount of talent and patience it required. I soon became very knowledgeable and talented in my craft. I am now in 2022 and I have my very own lash extension and brow business that I named ‘ Gloist’. It has been an incredible journey and I am happy that I took the risk on my talents and I am where I am now. It has fulfilled my life tremendously and I have also helped other women start their lash career. I am blessed to use my creativity everyday to help other women feel beautiful and empowered.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. My family originated as an immigrant family from El Salvador, Central America. My parents goal for my three sisters and I was to be educated and to be successful in life. My journey through middle school and high school was very difficult, as you are going against all odds to make it to college hence be ” successful”. I was a full time sales representative and full time student as I completed my Bachelors Degree attending California State University of Long Beach. I am proud to say I graduated in 2016 with a BA in family life education and a minor in child development. I then realized that the journey to a well paying job in my career would be difficult to achieve. I have always been determined to get what I want in life. I always find a way to reach for what my heart sets itself to and at that point of my life I wanted to be fulfilled in all ways of my life, including my career of choice. I started lashing in 2017 and I finished my license in esthetics in 2018, but I decided to launch myself full time in 2021. My decision to go full time in my lash and brow career has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I feel like my journey is what sets me apart from the rest. I have chosen this career because I am great at it and because professionally and academically I am prepared for it. My experience in school, customer experience and sales and overall in life has prepared me to where I am today and I am barely at my starting point. I am excited for my future with Gloist.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To be very honest and I humbly say this, I deserve all the credit for my success. My desire to be greater, my patience, my work ethic has gotten me to be where I am today. I have encouraged myself even in the hardest times and I have believed in myself from the beginning of my journey. I have demonstrated myself the highest form of love even when it was difficult to do so.

Website: www.gloist.com

Instagram: gloist_