Meet First American entrepreneur and abuse survivor turning gold straws into a global movement for conscious luxury that gives back with every sip.

RESILIENCE

has shaped every chapter of my story

From growing up in a high-control religious cult to building six-figure salons, launching startups, and creating a sustainable luxury brand featured at iconic destinations—I’ve learned how to turn adversity into artistry, and reinvention into resilience.

From Cult to CEO: A Journey of Resilience

I was born into a restrictive religious environment in Mi-Wuk Village, CA—where obedience outranked individuality and questioning meant punishment. By 12, I was forced to “disfellowship” my closest friends; public shaming and “deliverances” followed. I fought for a scholarship to finish high school, worked as a hostess and nanny to support myself, and ultimately escaped both the church and an abusive relationship that nearly cost me my life.

At 20, I opened my first salon—proof that resilience isn’t just surviving; it’s building beauty from nothing.

Resilience carried me out of control and into freedom. It rebuilt my life after abuse, divorce, COVID shutdowns, and business model pivots—and it continues to ground my work at the intersection of sustainability, beauty, and purpose.

The Entrepreneur:

Reinvention, Over and Over Again

Salon Success

⟡ First salon at 20 → six-figure business. Moved to San Diego, tripled income, earned a global nomination for precision haircutting (Behind the Chair).

Educator & Mentor

⟡ Trained assistants, taught advanced technique + social media strategy, and helped stylists step into profitable business ownership.

Startup Founder

⟡ Built VenuEdu (global advanced education for stylists) and Common Parlour (business resources + advocacy). Learned to pitch, win, and navigate change—fast.

Founder, Ecolux Goods

⟡ Created the 22k Gold Sipper after one soggy paper-straw cocktail too many. Now featured at The Wynn, MGM Grand, Red Rocks Casino, and Anthropologie Marketplace.