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

Hi Lauren, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford.
All my life I have lived thinking this way, and this quote has guided my life without even having read it before, and that’s why I love it!

This is one of my favorite quotes, and it guides the way I live my life. I was born in a humble family in Cuba and grew up witnessing the difficulties and challenges people face there. From a young age, I realized I couldn’t live in a dictatorship and longed to live in a free country. Since I was nine years old, I hoped that by the time I reached my twenties, Cuba would be free. However, as the years passed, I realized that this was not going to happen. I openly opposed human rights violations and disliked the way the government managed my country. This way of thinking led to my unfair imprisonment in Cuba in 2021 because I expressed my thoughts against the lack of freedom and quality of life for cubans, which were direct results of repression and our leaders’ lack of efficacy. Fortunately, I managed to escape, and the United States gave me my freedom back.

Since childhood, I have always known I wanted to create and build something of importance. In this world, the best way to make positive changes is by achieving success in business and career. This allows you to meet and interact with different people and influence your community positively by being a hardworking person with good values. I love to create and make other women feel empowered and beautiful, and I also love to be an example for younger generations.

At 13 years old, being free and being a business owner of my own brand was just a dream, but I never gave up. Everything I lived through led me to where I am today, including the hard and bad experiences. They made me the strong woman I am today and helped me understand the value of discipline, hard work, and educating myself.

Ten years later, I made it to the land of freedom, the USA. I knew I was going to own my freedom in every way. I saved enough money to prepare my makeup kit and equipment and got my first client after one month of promoting myself through social media. To this day, that first client has become my friend and has helped me grow my business, along with all the clients I had afterward. I am blessed and thankful for every learning experience and every person who trusted my skills and hired me as their makeup artist.

In three years, I have always kept a full-time job aside from my hustle as a makeup artist, from being a certified medical assistant, waitress, bartender, and restaurant hostess, to starting my career as a full-time marketing director and social media manager. Even though I don’t have a marketing degree, I believe you are the only limit between you and your success. I dedicate hours every day to studying, learning, and improving all of my valuable skills. Three months ago, I also added a new service to my business: photography and videography. So far, I’ve been recognized by my community for my work. My clients find me every day and recommend my work to others.

Coming from nothing, dropping out of med school after four years because I realized the Cuban government would take away my freedom even more if I graduated, and being able to build and add value to my work environment and my community wouldn’t have been possible without the desire to succeed and grow. That’s why I believe that anything God puts in your mind, every dream and every idea, is already telling you that’s your purpose in life. Pursue your dreams; you are here today because you have a goal to meet. If you can think of something and put in the work and effort, you can achieve anything you set yourself up to.

The limit of your world is your own mind; you can create your reality.

Yes, maybe we cannot teleport—it’s a funny thing to say—but 121 years ago, the thought of flying in the skies was a crazy idea for humankind. Today, taking a plane and flying around the world is easy and possible for almost anyone. So if you want to achieve something in life, wake up every day, pray, and be thankful for what you have; look at yourself in the mirror before leaving the house and tell yourself, “You got this. You can make it, and the limit isn’t the sky!”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been passionate about makeup for over 9 years, starting my journey in my home country at 18 years old, and then started everything from scratch in 2022 after coming to The United Stats of America. The growth continues as I learn and explore new ways to elevate my business. Alongside being a professional Makeup Artist, I freelance as a photographer/videographer and work full-time as a marketing and social media manager for a leading plastic surgeon in Houston.

Self-taught, I’ve embraced the art of seeing beauty in everything and am proud to empower others by enhancing their natural beauty. I ensure my services maintain the highest quality standards, tailoring them meticulously to suit each client’s unique essence and beauty, applying this philosophy to all my endeavors.

Being an entrepreneur while holding a full-time job is challenging and demands significant personal sacrifice. Yet, it’s immensely rewarding to meet inspiring people, grow every day, and continually learn and refine my skills. One substantial challenge is the impact on your personal life; you might need to sacrifice time with loved ones, and not everyone will understand your commitment. However, don’t despair—you’ll find the right people who believe in your vision and support you wholeheartedly.

I’ve learned the immense value of time and how crucial it is to manage it wisely. As a young woman, there’s societal pressure to indulge in going out, partying, and traveling. While maintaining a work-life balance is important, setting clear priorities is essential to achieving your goals.

My biggest aspiration in life is to create a meaningful career that not only fulfills me but also sets an example for the younger generation and, one day, my own kids—when I reach that beautiful milestone of motherhood, haha!

I deeply hope that people can see through my journey that our past blunders and hiccups don’t have to dictate who we are today or where we’re heading tomorrow. I truly believe in taking those bumps along the road as powerful lessons, shaking them off, and continuously working towards becoming the very best version of ourselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m still getting to know Houston, but I’m all about sharing the best of what I’ve discovered so far! First stop: sushi heaven at Soma Sushi. It’s a must-try! After indulging in some tasty rolls, we can take a leisurely stroll around Memorial Park. Whether you’re into jogging or just soaking up the vibes, it’s a perfect spot to catch a gorgeous sunset and truly appreciate the beauty of our town.

As night falls, the fun continues with some drinks at Clarkwood or Best Regards. Both are fabulous spots to relax and laugh with friends, guaranteed good times!

Oh, and I can’t leave out the River Oaks District – my go-to hangout! It’s bustling with cool restaurants, trendy stores, and great places to unwind with a drink. There’s always something happening there, and it’s one of my favorite ways to spend time in Houston.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am deeply grateful to Dr. Jeffrey Lind, for his trust and the incredible opportunity to enhance my skills over the past year at The Lind Institute of Plastic Surgery.
I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my hardworking friends who support my business and inspire my growth.
Special thanks to Carolina Carranza from Lina Essence for her continuous support, Idalia, the founder of Artelier Studio, who welcomed me into her makeup team and became a mentor and team leader, and Hanin, the founder of Legacy Insurance Advisor, whom I admire greatly. Your influence and encouragement have been incredibly valuable on my journey.
Thank you!
I also want to thank the amazing Voyage Houston team for giving me the opportunity to share my story with all of you !

Website: glambylaurenardite

Instagram: lauren.ardite | glambylaurenardite | laurenarditephotography

Linkedin: Lauren Ardite

Facebook: Lauren Ardite

Youtube: https://Lauren.ardite

Other: TikTok: lauren.ardite

Image Credits
Lauren Ardite

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