Meet Tara Murphy of Estrella Collective/Panther & the Pearl

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Murphy.

Hi tara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised on Long Island, New York — a place that shaped me with both grit and resilience. By 19, I was in hair school, chasing the dream I always knew I’d make real: becoming a hairstylist.

I spent my twenties hustling in the beauty industry, grinding it out behind the chair. Then at 27, everything shifted — I discovered belly dance and yoga, and just like that, a whole new world opened up. I didn’t just dabble; I went all in and turned both into full-on careers.

At 33, I packed up my life and moved to Bali, then Australia, for two years. I threw my shears out the window (metaphorically) and hustled my way into becoming a sous chef at a Hare Krishna vegetarian café. Traveling was wild, beautiful, and incredibly healing. But after some visa drama, I landed back in New York briefly before heading west — because deep down, I always knew I was meant to be a California girl.

I found my way to Santa Cruz and spent 11 years in Pleasure Point, weaving my talents back together — hair, yoga, dance and being an entrepreneur .That journey led to the creation of Estrella Collective, a hybrid lifestyle salon that blended beauty, movement, and community. We hosted everything from Buti Yoga classes (the rebellious cousin of traditional yoga) to breathwork retreats in Mexico, community events, and elevated beauty services like microblading and lip blushing.

Now, in 2025, after navigating some serious health challenges, I’ve decided to shift gears again — to go inward. I’m in the process of handing off Estrella to new caretakers while I move into a new season of life — literally and figuratively — in the redwoods.

I’m building Haus of Botanica, a hexagon greenhouse salon in my gorgeous yard, under the umbrella of my new creative venture: Panther & The Pearl. This next chapter is less about performing, producing, or pushing. It’s about grounding, consulting, creating, and curating — through salon business coaching and intimate photography experiences. And, honestly, just exploring what it feels like to not be on my feet for ten hours a day.

After all these years, I’m finally letting myself retreat. This is my hot golden girl era. I’m not interested in center stage anymore — my Leo Moon has spent enough time there. I want peace, purpose, and beauty, on my own terms — surrounded by trees, with a cup of coffee in my hand and a cat on my lap.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? Not even close — but it was real, and it shaped me.

The shiny version of my story leaves out the darker, messier parts — but they’re just as important. I had a rocky start in life and ended up in rehab for heroin at 17. A seemingly never-ending chain of personal reinventions followed.

Running a business like Estrella wasn’t always dreamy either. We made it through a global pandemic and the CZU fires, which destroyed so many parts of our community. There were months I wasn’t sure we’d survive — physically, financially, or emotionally. Yet that struggle is also my greatest achievement.

Most recently, in 2024, the hardest and most painful challenges have been internal. Complex health issues, perimenopause, and the unexpected loss of my cat forced me to slow down and rethink everything. Now I’m letting go of a business I built from the ground up, stepping back from being a public figure in my own space.

I don’t need to prove anything anymore. I’ve done the hard things. Now it’s about doing the right things.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Estrella Collective was a living, breathing creative space — a collision of hair, Buti Yoga, healing, movement, and community. We did things differently on purpose. You could get your roots done, drop into a breathwork journey, and leave with something way deeper than a new look. We held space for transformation — inside and out.

What set us apart? Soul. Edge. Realness.

But what I’m most proud of isn’t the services — it’s the people. The community. The way folks felt when they walked in: seen, inspired, cracked open in the best way.

Our motto has always been simple: Where inner and outer beauty collide. And that’s exactly what we created.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Telling the truth — especially when it’s uncomfortable.
Holding contradictions with grace.
Staying rooted in integrity, even when no one’s watching.
Speaking up — for justice, for yourself, for what feels right.
Respecting who you are, not just who you’re expected to be.
Letting connection move you, and letting solitude rebuild you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.pantherandthepeal.com
• Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/pantherandthepearl