We recently had the chance to connect with Michelle Zabatta and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Michelle, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
to redefine what it means to be apart of a “community” of hard working hairstylists who can build with grace and without stepping on others to get ahead. I am being called to be a team player more than leader right now and that is scary for someone who has only known dominance, yet I find pride and joy in change and expansion and I wish for every stylist to feel this way!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Michelle Zabatta, better known as : MichelleZabattaTheStylist on social media, but my colleagues and friends call me MZ.
I am a decade, long hairstylist who has rebuilt her business within three years, solely focusing on extensions, color corrections, red and coppers, lived in coloring and luxury expidited coloring. I am proud to say that I am a safe space for my clients to absolutely come to with any need they have. I always have a solution for my clients problems.
I have my own education company, and I do travel to educate. I am on tour right now. I and I will be on tour with Disbeaute, which I am a Creator, and where I house all of my lifestream information. I like to genuinely share what has worked for me with every single beauty professional that I come into contact…. and recently it’s been with the barbering industry and how they want to introduce what I have to offer and it’s been such a blessing!!!
I’m proud to say that I am a brand ambassador and partnered with Rusk Professional, as well as other private industries and wellness brands… and I thrive on being a content creator as well as a hairstylist. It is a dual passion for me.
I am award-winning, I have been featured on numerous articles, such as this magazine previously, MyFavStylists Magazine, BehindTheChair, ModernSalon and AmericanSalon.
What I think is extremely beautiful is;
You either like me or you don’t because of my no nonsense approach to business as I see fit in the beauty world to sustain not only a world of health ailment, but the medical debt that came with it. To overcome a massive amount of weight loss while rebuilding a powerful and respectful clientele up in the Palos Verdes and Estates, I plan on convicting every single person I meet to the most peaceful and bountiful moments that life has to offer within the beauty realm.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
This is a hearty conversation. There are three amazing people that I am just so grateful and I am so blessed to have had see me for me.
There were two amazing men in my life and one amazing woman who to this day, I still have in my corner and pushes me to the most excellent version of myself.
For 13 years I had my grandfather, Frank Dimeglio, tell me every single day how special I was and how important I am and how God loves me and will push me further into this life. He passed when I was just a teenager, but I felt that power in me at that age.
when I graduated beauty school, I had my Godfather Anthony Zabatta, physically take his hands and hold my head, to tell me that God needs me in this world and in this beauty field, and don’t give up no matter what because Zabatta’s don’t give up.
My dearest Nonna, Lina Zabatta, who calls me La Madonna, which means mother Mary in Italian, and finds no fault in me because she has known and seen firsthand my comeback and my get up from every fall and has seen the power within me that I didn’t see for nearly 30 years.
All three of these people have seen more and me that I could ever see myself, but yet has pushed me to convict my discernment and my place in this world and in this field.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of not “fitting in’
It’s not the financial freedom, it’s not death, it’s not even being liked or not…
The fear of not being able to be seen and understood, and to fit in with the rest of society, hardened me so much.
Being hard means that I don’t have any room to melt and soften and I think that that’s what gives people grace the most.
I choose to not live in fear, because I can’t be held back. My energy and my heart and my love is not to be held back from fear and it’s something I’m honestly working on and I’m proud to admit my faults, I’m proud to admit I don’t know at all, and I’m proud to say that I would love to learn in a different way.
What we don’t change, we choose, and I don’t choose that life anymore.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
God.
Nothing in my life is because of me… my views, my work ethic, my moral compass, my ability to produce, my ability to carry on through brands, my ability to become a safe space for my clients, my moments of clarity, my resilience…. even my time from morning until night that’s all my God.
I rely on his word and to release the understanding of whatever may come wholeheartedly.
I don’t want that pressure or stress to rely on anyone but Him.
hebrews 6;10
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Refining, core values that will sustain me through any type of obstacle that life can throw at me.
Whether it’s my client’s not liking the outcome of their hair, which is very rare, to communicating positively and efficiently with my favorite brands and teams… what I am learning now will not pay off in 7 to 10 years…. It pays off in 7 to 10 minutes…
See the more that you work hard on where you want to be and how to get there, you won’t need years… It’s almost instantly that you feel the positivity and growth of such work ethics.
Your reward is as instant as the gratitude you express from within.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellezabattathestylist?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mzthestylist_?_r=1&_t=ZT-916ITCKJcT8
