The Inspiring Journey of a Beauty Entrepreneur: Leah Lasley - S3E18

Prepare to be swept away by the vibrant vision of Leah Lasley, a beauty and fashion entrepreneur, whose passion for her craft is as infectious as her lipstick line is diverse. Leah's road to entrepreneurship wasn't laid with red carpets but rather paved with persistence, self-funding, and a sprinkle of her mother's wisdom. Listen in as she unravels her journey of launching a beauty business, navigating through hurdles, and the relentless pursuit of her dreams.

Leah's story is not just about creating a palette of luscious lip colors, it's an embodiment of her mantra - embrace imperfections and dare to dream. She shares her future plans of launching a swimwear line, and her savvy advice on finding high-fashion items without breaking the bank. Exuding an air of fearlessness, Leah's tale is a testament to the power of resilience and determination, urging us all to redefine our idea of beauty.

We wrap up our time with Leah as she reveals her budget-friendly beauty tips and an amusing anecdote about a glamorous evening gown that didn’t cost a fortune. Her zest doesn’t stop at lipsticks, she’s all set to share her beauty insights through her upcoming YouTube show. This episode is a trove of inspiration and practical advice for anyone interested in the beauty and fashion industry or those braving the entrepreneurial path. Tune in and let Leah's journey inspire your own.

If you would like to connect with Leah

For more fun guest check out Coach Mikki and Friends YouTube channel

We look forward to seeing you succeed! - www.KeepOnSharing.com - Code - KOS

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:14

Hey, I'm Coach Mickey and I'm so glad that you've joined us. And for those of you that joined us on a regular basis, I'm so glad that you do. And for those of you that are joining us for the first time, come on in and make yourself comfortable, and we are so glad that you've had an opportunity to connect with us on all our social media. And for those of you that Reach out to all of our guests, thank you so much for doing that. We so appreciate the fact that you guys reach out to all of our All of our guests that we have on, and I am really excited to have on this next guest. She is so much fun. She is going to offer something to spice up your life a little bit, a little bit beautiful from the inside now.

Speaker 1: 0:59

So let me tell you a little bit about her. She, as a little girl, she was already determined to succeed. Her mom raised her to chase after her dreams, whatever they may be, and she has always Encouraged and supported her in whatever she wanted to do. That dream turned into beauty and fashion. While other girls were playing dress up and pretending modeling, she was sketching designs for clothes and was already thinking about how to market them. She knew she wanted to mark, to mark her career in the beauty and fashion industry, and but more than just being a designer, she wanted to be involved in the business aspect as well. Now her company is called my luscious love lips, which I think is so much fun, and it's available right now and we're gonna talk about that a little bit, and I am so excited to have you on. Thank you, leah Leslie. How are you?

Speaker 2: 1:49

Thank you so much, I'm good. Thank you for having me on. I'm excited.

Speaker 1: 1:54

Yeah, me too. I am so excited to have you on, because it takes a lot of courage To take something that you have as a dream and then really make it a reality, and I know you've been working on this for a while and you're just about ready to launch. Is that correct?

Speaker 2: 2:09

Yes, I am. I've been working on my business, which is beauty slash fashion Well, more beauty. Right now, I'm trying to build an empire in my beauty career, and so I've been working on that for about six months to a year and it's gonna be launching. I'm next week a brand new relaunch for my website. New colors are coming out, so I'm really excited to share that with People and make them more beautiful than they already are.

Speaker 1: 2:40

Oh, I love it. Yeah, I had an opportunity to look at some of your social media and what you have and I mean stunning, absolutely stunning. That's the only words I can actually put on you. But I want to ask you so, so tell us a little bit about that. So, really, since you were a little girl, you really were into the fashion and beauty industry. So what really drove you towards that, like what sparked that interest?

Speaker 2: 3:03

Okay, well, what sparked my interest is I always loved makeup and I have to be honest, I got I've always gotten compliments as a little girl of oh your skin is so pretty, what do you do, what do you use? And I'm like, oh, I just use water, I just use water. But I was younger then, so now I still, now that I'm older, I do moisturize my skin a lot more and I I just love makeup. My dad was always a business owner, so I think I got that from him, but I just want a different route as far as the business aspect Of wanting to be in the beauty business.

Speaker 1: 3:41

Well, that's a really good way to connect the two of them because, really, anything that's your passion and you can make into a business and you know, but being able to see that and understand it, I mean, you have to be very well-rounded, especially when you're launching something you know, such as this, because the there's a lot of competition out there. However, looks like you kind of have an edge or a different path that you're taking in regards to, like, your, your lipsticks and stuff. So tell us a little bit about that and how, how you came up with those ideas.

Speaker 2: 4:11

Well, with my lipstick I wanted to make sure that it fits all skin tones, because some people may be a little bit more pale, some people are a little bit more darker and with my colors, my colors are from like natural to fun colors. I have like a money green, I have a gray, I have a purple, but then I also have reds, I have maroons, I have naturals, I have browns, so I like I wanted to mix that up for anybody when it's. Either they're going out and want something just pretty, or maybe they're gonna use it for like Halloween, for a costume that it'll match. Or you have people nowadays that wear wigs like fun, like different colors of wigs, and that's how I wanted some of my lipsticks to be. So I feel like I'm different in that aspect, where I don't feel a lot of brands do have the colors that I have. So that's what I'm excited about, which makes me a lot different than, I would say, a lot of people that have Lipstick colors.

Speaker 1: 5:21

I think that's really brilliant, actually, because I was just talking to a gal that I know she does, she has a company and she does offer some, you know, different skin care and a little bit of makeup, but she said, for just a brief, for just like a limited edition, they were offering greens and purples and different colors such as what you just expressed, and she said she sold out she's so you know. So, girlfriend, I think you're on the way back. I feel like you said, you know, instead of having this as a limited edition, you're going to offer this as something that's part of your whole line, which is great.

Speaker 2: 5:56

And in your rate.

Speaker 1: 5:57

I mean everybody's out there, you know, just kind of showing who they are as an independent, and I mean gosh, I mean look at now, I mean everybody's got different color hair, you know, and they're doing their makeup differently. So, yes, I mean your timing is perfect to come in, you know, with these different options to to for lipstick. So I got to ask so, which ones are your favorite colors? What are the ones that you liked? Or is it the mood that you're in?

Speaker 2: 6:21

Sometimes it's the mood that I'm in, but I love my gray. That color looks like amazing on darker toned skin. And then I also like the metallic gold. That one, it, just it. It's beautiful. That's the one of my favorites is the metallic gold.

Speaker 1: 6:41

I bet that is stunning, especially going out at night, you know, or doing something that is just like kind of upscale Shoot. You know what? I'd even wear it every single day if I was in a pair of jeans and boots, just because I want to yes, yes.

Speaker 1: 6:55

That's how I feel. That is great. That is great. So now, when? So this line is about ready to launch, and so what are your plans, like, what are you thinking about doing? Because I know you're really excited about getting this going and you've been working on this for so long, so what have you got in the works?

Speaker 2: 7:13

What I got in the works is my website relaunching next week my show Loving Leah which is how to look great for $100 or less, because a lot of people are on a budget nowadays that's going to be airing as well next week, and also I have a publicist that I am going to be working with that's going to take my business to the next level. I live in Florida right now, so she's going to like saturate Florida for me, but she said she wants me to get out there nationally as well. She wants my makeup to actually be put in stores, so that's one thing that her and I are working on. That I'm very excited about.

Speaker 1: 7:57

That is awesome. Good for you. I mean, I love the fact that you have you're not just looking at just your local environment, your local market, but you're dreaming bigger and you see that, and that was one of the reasons why I wanted to have you as a guest, because when I was going through and I get people that want to be guests on my podcast, I get emails all the time but what drove me to you was you had said I want to go. I want to go nationally, I want to go bigger, I want to be able to take this and make changes and make it like your footprint into the beauty industry, and the fact that you had the drive to do it is wonderful and that just that just says a lot about you. So let me ask you this what are some of the obstacles? You know for those, for our circle of friends that are listening, that, because you know we're all about inspiring other people what would you say were some of the obstacles that you've overcome while you've been on this journey?

Speaker 2: 8:53

I would say that with my business I funded everything. I didn't get any loans, no one helped me and I'm going to be honest, Mickey. There were a few times where I was like I'm giving up, I have to keep doing this. I don't wanna keep paying for this. I wanna be successful, but I'm spending, spending, spending. And then there were other days where I'm like, wait a minute, I need to get this done because I wanna be a huge beauty brand and I want my makeup to be everywhere. I wanna build an empire from lipsticks to eyeshadow, palettes, to skincare. I wanna like do it all. I'm like, no, I gotta keep pushing, Let me do this. If there's nobody else that's gonna do it, I'll do it for myself. So there are some obstacles like that when you are.

Speaker 2: 9:46

I just like to tell people keep pushing, pushing, pushing. If you're funding everything yourself and it takes a couple of years, don't get upset. Just keep going. Don't let anybody tell you you can't do it. For everybody that says that and they don't believe in your dream once they see you really out there and doing something and making money and you push, push, push, then those are the same people that are gonna come around and be like oh my goodness, I was wrong, Can I do this, Can you help me with this? And you're like oh okay, Now you believe in me. So I just like to tell people keep pushing, Even if you have to fund it yourself. Just keep going and never give up.

Speaker 1: 10:29

I love it. Good for you. I mean, that really is the key. I mean, when you have something you truly believe in and you know it's going, I think it happens in every fiber of your being. You go I know this is gonna work, I know this is gonna work, and not allowing those little outside voices or, like the naysayers, say, oh, you know, there's too many makeup things, there's too many podcasts, there's too many this, there's too many that. It's like, yeah, but you know what there's not. You, you are unique. You have a vision. You have what you're going to bring to your business that is going to share other people in the way that they're gonna connect with you. And that's the difference. And good for you for not allowing to let those people you know get into your dream because it's so quickly to tell you what's not gonna work. You have to surround yourself with the people that tell you why it's gonna work and push it just one more time. How amazing, that is so awesome. Thank you so much for sharing that.

Speaker 1: 11:27

Thank you, I love that You're welcome and I know you've got some great things and you are just like right around the corner from greatness. I mean, you really are, because if you've got a publicist and you're already looking to go nationally and you already see this vision, then that's what's going to bring you to the next step. So, with that being said, so, when you started designing now I know you said makeup and then you were also sketching designs are you contemplating maybe doing something that is more in the fashion industry later?

Speaker 2: 11:57

on. Yes, I'm actually looking to start a swimwear line. That is in the works. We're gonna start focusing on that next year, but I have some designs in mind already that I'm working on, and I actually want to be a part of Miami swim week next year Nice, that's nice.

Speaker 1: 12:22

Well, my gosh, you're in the right area. I mean you've got Fort Lauderdale and I don't know if people I was going to college down there we went down to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. I don't know if that's still a hot spot anymore, but still. You have got South Beach. You've got Miami.

Speaker 1: 12:40

I mean you've got a great area to be able to launch that swim air in California, you know, I mean I'm out here in California, I mean every, every business along the coast has got at least one swimwear store, so yeah, I mean you just kind of hit around the edge of the United States.

Speaker 2: 12:57

I mean I'm so glad I'm out there because it's like I'm excited about that because not only am I looking to open a store, but I also can sell my swimwear online, so that can like go anywhere, anybody can purchase it. But then in Miami Miami Florida is like warm mostly year round, so I'll still I'll stay busy year round, so that's that works perfect for me, oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 13:29

And so you're in the perfect area because you have the port right there where a lot of the cruise ships come in. So a lot of people navigate down the coast, you know, navigate down to Florida. They'll pick up the cruise ship to go down to the Bahamas or down to the Virgin Islands, you know, and even some of the other Southern routes. So, yeah, but yeah, well, I was just thinking too. You said I'm going to do it online, absolutely, so that way when someone's in like Michigan during the summer, they can be wearing yours.

Speaker 2: 13:55

Yes, yeah, yes, that's what I'm making sure.

Speaker 1: 14:03

I want to touch a little bit about you said having something or wearing your fashion for under $100, because, as we know, we're all on a budget and I am like you. I love to wear something nice. However, I'm always looking for what's the best way to wear this and still get an amazing deal with it. Now, not opposed to spending on something that I know I'm going to wear over and over or have that's a you know, a special occasion, like I've got a pair of shoes that I know I spent way too much money on. However, I love them and every time I wear them I feel like a million bucks. So tell me about that. Tell me what you're, how to do that. Give us a little tip, little insight on that, Okay.

Speaker 2: 14:43

So for my shows are going to be airing pretty soon. Like I said, it's called loving Leah how to look amazing for $100 or less. So what I do is I'll like pick like target or fashion Nova or to me, timo I can never like pronounce that, but Timo, just places like that and what I do is I get outfits that are from head to toe whether it's a dress, you know boots, heels, whatever and then what I do is I do a photo shoot in those and then I talk about what's going, what I have on from head to toe, what each piece is called and what each piece costs, and then I put it all together at the end, letting people know where they can get it look in the description below for the cost, the price where they can purchase it and and that's what I do how to teach people how to look great for $100 or less. Right now I am doing women, because of course I'm a woman, but I eventually want to get into men's and kids and then have like men model the clothes for me and also have like little kids model the clothes for me. But right now I am starting with women clothing for right now, and that's that's what I talk about and how to look amazing for $100 or less.

Speaker 2: 16:07

You can still Get a cheap outfit but still look great. You don't have to like wear something that's a thousand dollars just to show off. You can get something from fashion Nova Like a New Year's Eve dress. Looks just as fancy as a thousand dollar dress, but you get it. You'll purchase it for like $59.99 with nice shiny heels. So I try the. You know I try to give that good advice for people to still, like I said, you can still look beautiful, handsome, what cute, whatever, and still for like a hundred dollars or less and save money.

Speaker 1: 16:46

Yeah, you're absolutely right, and I think it's how you wear it. You know, if you, whatever you wear, if you wear it with confidence and you feel beautiful in it and you feel like you look really good, that really is more valuable than the actual garment. So I and well, not like that. Now throw in your lipstick, you know, and and some of your other makeup and have the whole package and there you go. I mean you could bring this whole thing together. You know, as you're, as you're doing this, and it's just gonna give people an idea of how to look stunning. But you know, you're absolutely right and I got to tell you a funny story. So my, my best friend, she was invited to the Academy Awards and she said, you know, hey, you know my date can't come. You want to come with me? I'm like, yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 17:26

Well, at that time I was in a panic because I was thinking where am I going to find a dress? And and how can? I can't afford to spend a couple thousands I mean people spend thousands on dresses and shoes and I thought, oh my gosh, well, I got a tight. So I went to Windsor, found this dress and it was on sale and it was. It was black, it was an evening gown, it was, it was. It was to me. I felt beautiful in it, and the same thing as the shoes, I think, by the time I got done. I think I spent less than 250 bucks on the whole outfit by the time I was down Wow.

Speaker 1: 18:00

And you know, because, like I said, I got it on sale, just happened to be my size. I was like this is great, so I put that on. I, you know, I had my hair done, did my makeup and I Felt Stunning. I felt amazing, and I'll tell you what. I walked into that event as if I had spent Thousands on this dress and I felt, you know, I felt so good and I'll tell you a secret, we were doing an after-party and, forgive me, I, I'm not starstruck, so a lot of times I don't know people's names, anyway. So someone had walked past. Well, I Recognized another dress that I had seen when I was shopping and she was wearing something she was wearing, I know, from that store, and I was like, okay, this is good, this is good.

Speaker 1: 18:45

I Honestly I think, like you said, you don't have to spend a lot of money to look fabulous, to look amazing, and and you have got the full package here with you know, helping people to feel amazing without you know, in an inexpensive way, but also then combining, you know, you're your lipsticks and your other makeup. So are you gonna be doing that too? Are you gonna be doing some makeup tutorials and things about your makeup? Yes, I am.

Speaker 2: 19:19

Yes, yes, I am. I'm actually going to Start putting on the makeup, doing to quick little tutorials on my channel like oh hi, today this is my lipstick called this and you can purchase it here and this is how it looks on. So I'm gonna make sure that people see it like on. Yeah, that's what I'm gonna start doing. That because I just feel like when people see like it actually being put on, they can Determine like oh my god, I love this color. Oh my god, I wonder how we'll look on this. You know, you know they, they get that feel of how A makeup makeup looks on. So I will be doing those pretty similar with on my channel. That's great, that is great.

Speaker 1: 20:02

Oh and I was gonna.

Speaker 2: 20:02

I wanted I wanted not to interrupt Mickey, I just wanted to go back to the fashion real quick and how the styling. So it's funny that you say that, because somebody on Facebook Was mentioning in one of the groups that she was like I just love it. She was like Taylor Swift has like all of those millions, but yet she dresses like she just shops at Target. She doesn't try to be all extravagant and and In thousands of dollars she's she's happy with just wearing like a cute little black skirt and like Jersey or something. And I was thinking like that is crazy.

Speaker 2: 20:41

I looked at it like that's true, like she's got millions, but yet whenever I see her dressing, she will have on a nice, I mean, a simple pair of pants, jeans with Nuts, shoes like converse or something like wow, that's a good way to be. So I was like whenever I make my millions, I'll make sure I stay like that. No, so it was just, I just wanted to go back to the fashion. And it doesn't matter like how much money a person has. Some people still dress simple and on a budget. So yeah, and that.

Speaker 1: 21:18

But see, that goes back to just being you. You know, just being what makes you feel good, and having your own style or having your own way of seeing how you want to, what makes you feel happy. You know, I know there's times where I'll put on certain things and I have my favorites, and every time I wear, I'm like this makes me feel happy, this makes me feel like I can take on the world. If I have to walk on stage or something, I'm and I mean I have my own, my own look that's different than everybody else, but that's who I am, and that is one of the things I do love about fashion and makeup and everything that you're presenting.

Speaker 1: 21:54

You are giving everybody an opportunity to fill what, the how, what makes them feel good about who they are, through their, their style or their beauty, and and you're teaching them how to do it on a budget which is like 99 9% of the world anyway. Yeah, so yeah, which is which is great? Wow, you have got some amazing things coming up. So let me and I'm gonna put you on the spot here, so let, if I could make wave a magic wand and say where do you see yourself a year from now. What would be your? What would be your goal?

Speaker 2: 22:30

My goal would have would be to be a millionaire. I'm gonna be honest. My goal would be to have a million or more subscribers on YouTube, hundreds of thousands of followers on all platforms and just Also. I love helping people, so I also would like to do, like charity, more charity, work, different things like that. And in a year, I want, I want my beauty brand to be skin care More lipsticks, different eye shadow palettes, different things like that. So I just want to Build up. I just want, within a year, I would love to just have an empire and everything that I'm doing with my business.

Speaker 1: 23:20

I Wow, well, good for you. I mean, that is some goal. But you know what, though? I know you're going to reach it because you're driven, you've got insight. You know exactly what you want. You know you're on this journey that's going to launch you forward. You've got a product, you know. I would say that is really interesting, you know, because you're going to hit a lot of people with a lot of different things. So, yeah, you know, there's no doubt in my mind that you're not going to make that Leah. I mean, you definitely will give that. I know you're going to come back, I'm going to have you back and you're going to say, ok, this is where I am.

Speaker 2: 23:57

This is what I mean.

Speaker 1: 23:58

Yes, I would love that. I would love to, and I need to have you on my YouTube channel too, because I would love to do is have you come on and say how do you look amazing for the holidays on a budget or less? So would you be willing to do that?

Speaker 2: 24:13

Yes, I would. I would love to do that.

Speaker 1: 24:16

Yes, that would be so much fun. So much fun because we know, as we know, you know, they're just right around the corner, and it's that everybody starts to think what am I going to do? You know, and that's I think, you've got the most, the perfect opportunity here to be able to launch all this. So what are the dates that you are going to be ready to hit the ground running? I know your websites on the way, because I've looked on it, looked at it and, as everybody knows, all of your links are going to be embedded in this podcast. So, whether it's today, tomorrow or a year from now, you'll be able to reach out to Leah. So have you got a time frame on some of this?

Speaker 2: 24:51

Yes, I do. Unfortunately my webmaster ended up being really sick, so I'm contacting her on Monday and we're looking at next week, by Friday, for my website to be relaunched. And then also I have a we actually me and my videographer kind of compiling like a little. I want to say promo to promo my new shows airing. So that's going to be promoing next week as well, and then my first show will be airing next Sunday, but in between we have a little promo that I'm going to be advertising next week so people will remember to tune in next Sunday. So that's what's going on with that.

Speaker 2: 25:46

And then I also want to let everybody know the links in my hobby account, which is H O O B E we're we we doing that page as well. Right now it's only one picture and my links are on there, but once my photos and videos come back next week we're actually going to make the page like a whole professional, nice looking page. So if you click the link, they can go there and see pictures and videos and then click you know all my social media links. So right now there is only one picture, but that's going to be changed as of next week. So I'm excited for all that that's happening.

Speaker 1: 26:27

That'll be. That'll be really nice. Once it's done always feels good. Once you have all those social media platforms dialed in and you're done with it, will your links also be in there for them to be able to order your makeup and lipstick?

Speaker 2: 26:41

Yes, yeah, okay, yes yeah.

Speaker 1: 26:43

So that's, that'll be great. So we're looking at, probably by by the first week of November is when you'll be ready to go and launch, and I am.

Speaker 1: 26:52

Yes, and because this podcast is going to be a permanent link on my Coach, mickey and friends website. So let's just clarify this. So we're this podcast is worth talking about November of 2023. So if anybody's listening to this afterwards which they will they know you're going Good, because I've got people that have called me from three years ago and they're like you know I saw it better go. I know because people are constantly. I'm all over the world, I'm global, so I never know when someone's going to come on.

Speaker 2: 27:24

Yes, that's good.

Speaker 1: 27:26

Yeah, so hopefully this will get you people from all over the world to start looking at not only your YouTube, but also going to to find your, your amazing lipsticks and your makeup and your fashion. Well, I have had so much fun with you, leah. You are a breath of fresh air. I love what you're all about. You are going to do amazing. I just know you have. You've got this. You have got this, and I cannot wait to hear where you go in the next couple months. So is it? You got a couple of?

Speaker 2: 27:58

you got about another minute, thank you.

Speaker 1: 27:59

Is there anything else you want to add real quick before we wrap it up?

Speaker 2: 28:02

Um, yep, just a reminder everybody. My website will be relaunched. Check it out. I want to just say next Friday, my first YouTube show of my beauty blog will be airing next Sunday, and then in between, look for my promo video just to kind of advertise and let people know when my first show is coming. So just stay tuned for next week when everything comes in, and I hope everybody enjoys it.

Speaker 1: 28:31

I'm sure they will, and I'm going to put all the links. They'll be all embedded in the podcast anyway, so they'll be able to just go ahead and link and go straight through. Leah, thank you so much for being with us today. I'm excited to have you on my YouTube channel. I'm excited to see where you go and I cannot wait to see your first, your first show. So thank you so much.

Speaker 2: 28:50

Thank you so much. Well, thank you for having me. I look forward to being on your YouTube show as well.

Speaker 1: 28:57

All right, you guys, thank you so much for being with us. I know this was something you guys are going to be interested in, so, again, the links will all be down in the description of the podcast. And for those of you remember, beauty is from the inside out. And always be fearless, be flawed, be you, because, as we know, the most courageous thing we can do is be ourselves. I love you, guys and I will look forward to seeing you next week. Bye, thank you, bye.