From Bullied to Business Owner

Growing up in Utah, I faced my fair share of challenges in learning to feel confident and love myself. There were days when I truly hated who I was. For as long as I can remember, I was a target for bullies. After my parents divorced when I was young, classmates—and even their moms—spread gossip about my family and I as early as first grade.  

When I was about 8, my family moved to Alpine, and I hoped for a fresh start away from the girls I went to school with. Little did I know, I was stepping into an even more intimidating social world. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to fit in. I often found myself asking, “What is wrong with me that no one wants to be my friend?”  

In elementary school, I discovered cheerleading and stuck with it through junior high. For a while, it felt like I had a community—a place where I could thrive and improve every day. While I made some amazing friends, I also unknowingly created enemies. Rumors started circulating about girls plotting to drop me during stunts in practice, hoping to hurt me. Cheerleading, something I loved, quickly became something I feared.  

I began dreading practices and school, sick with anxiety over what was being said about me, and not knowing if I was going to get injured. Even worse, my entire friend group sided with the bullies. I felt isolated, constantly enduring whispers and judgmental looks. Eventually, I decided to quit cheerleading to protect both my safety and mental well-being.  

Shortly after, I transferred schools and started high school. Determined to move forward, I threw myself into academics with the goal of graduating early. I doubled up on coursework, finishing my junior year instead of completing senior year. Along the way, I met people who became lifelong friends, while others taught me hard but valuable lessons. I developed resilience and learned how to rebuild myself when others tried to tear me down.  

By the time I graduated, I knew I wanted a career that would allow me to help others overcome the same struggles I’d faced my whole life—confidence.  

Pursuing a career in aesthetics wasn’t easy. In a school filled with hundreds of girls, drama was inevitable. But I learned to stand tall in a space that once terrified me. I met incredible, supportive, and powerful women who shared my dreams and ambitions. Being surrounded by women who lifted each other up helped heal old wounds and restore my faith in female friendships. While there were moments of tears and conflict, I also formed connections with women who forever changed my perspective on sisterhood.  

When I started my business, the reality of true friendship became clear. Some friends celebrated my success and cheered me on, while others showed their true colors by cutting me down. Running a business also threw me into the world of social media—a realm of its own. I’ve faced criticism from other estheticians, with some saying I don’t belong in this industry or that I’ll never succeed by being myself.  

Though those comments can sting, they also remind me of why I do what I do. My goal is to help others feel the exact opposite of how I’ve been made to feel. My passion is giving people the confidence boost I often wished I had myself.  

If I could go back and talk to my younger self, I’d tell her she is beautiful. I’d remind her she’s stunning with or without makeup and doesn’t need it to feel worthy. I’d reassure her that she’d find true friends who have her back and make her feel cherished. I’d tell her that every ounce of pain caused by bullies would ignite a fire within her to create a safe space for others like her. And that fire would be worth it all.  

If you’re someone dealing with bullying, know that you’re not alone and that it does get better. Use the pain to fuel your fire. Prove them wrong. Remember, anyone who gossips or bullies is battling their own misery. Strength comes from overcoming trials, and every hard experience shapes you into a better person.  

Be thankful for the challenges—they’re turning you into someone unstoppable.  

Xoxo,  

The Pink Estie