Meet Bijan Mejia of Her Inner Beauty in Mid Wilshire

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bijan Mejia.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Makeup was more so a hobby for me because doing hair was my first love. After graduating Paul Mitchell the school Pasadena in 2014, I grew accustomed to wearing makeup and people really took a liking to how I did mine, and they started to request my services here and there. I always worked a 9-5 job but deep down inside I dreamed of being an entrepreneur. One day at work while sitting in the exit booth of Budget Rental Car, May of 2017, I brainstormed ideas on how to creatively practice makeup for a large bridal party that I had booked for the upcoming month. I came up with a brilliant idea to recognize woman whom I found to be beautiful from within, by providing beauty services free of charge & asking them a series of questions promoting their inner beauty. That idea then formed into a website with transparent journal entries, blog post of inspiring phenomenal women, and a business where I provide beauty services and uplifted women.

My idea opened many doors for me to use my gifts to serve a diverse group of women, such as domestic abuse survivors at the Jenesse Center alongside Tatiana Rodgers, Founder of Miss Rodgers’ Hood, and teen moms at St. Anne’s. I became the Coordinator of hair/makeup for CEO Chinyere Christy’s House of Yere annual charity fashion show, became Head of Hair/Makeup on the set of a short film entitled “Jack’s” produced by Paquita Hughes (written and ran by an all-woman crew), I’m featured on Zula and Junebug Weddings wedding-inspiration blogs, and I’ve embarked on a public speaking journey to youth girls and mothers about the importance of possessing qualities that exude inner beauty. Today, I now have a network of small business owners and Non-Profits that I collaborate with to inspire the youth, women, and to give back to our communities.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Deciding to attend cosmetology school to become licensed was my ultimate game plan to achieve independence. I was 23 years old, with no car, and solely dependent on my mother. I figured since I’ve been doing hair from a child, I’d go to Paul Mitchell School of Pasadena, complete the required hours, take the test, obtain my license, and work in a salon. Sorely mistaken, I ended up owing a huge balance that I felt I could not pay. My confidence in my plan was shot, so I got a temp job working in a warehouse to pay off the debt. Working in a warehouse was an interesting experience, I walked to work and stood up for 8 hours or more, distributing merchandise to be packaged on an assembly line.

I did this for a month or so before I quit and began styling hair out of my house. Eventually I grew discouraged because friends that I’d once given free hair services to didn’t want to pay, and some people didn’t want to pay my prices because I wasn’t in a salon. The lack of support made me lose confidence in my gift and in my ability to be independent. My patience with people grew thin and having to endure these obstacles made me not want to do hair. In the same timeframe, people were requesting me to do their makeup, so I took a certification course to be able to do business. There was a huge opportunity for me to be on Kim Kimble’s television show, but I couldn’t participate because I didn’t have a cosmetology license. I think my biggest challenge was understanding that the value of my work wasn’t determined by money and that the ability to be financially independent was more than receiving money but prioritizing, managing, and investing in myself.

Changing my mindset seemed impossible, so in 2016 I got a job at Budget Rental Car. Working there I had many ups and downs and on the side I would still take makeup clients. One day while in the exit booth, God gave me an idea that led me to quit my job in 2017 and establish HER INNER BEAUTY. I started booking makeup for all types of occasions, but in October of 2018 I grew distressed, plagued by childhood trauma and the murder of my Father Clinton C. Mejia in 2003. I took a break from doing makeup to seek therapy and find the healing I desperately needed. I went to a Self Vow Womens retreat facilitated by Michelle R. Hanna, it was there that I was able to share my heart with strangers who valued my story. Not knowing that in my time of brokenness and vulnerability I would be invited to speak at my first Girl Empowerment event Petals & Lilys curated by Nickeya Hannah Founder of Perfectly Packaged You.

I was given a platform to share with youth girls the importance of Inner Beauty and what that looks like. I find it so ironic that God would give me that task because I struggle with the majority of the qualities that would make one beautiful aside from appearance (in my opinion). But looking back, I arrived to the speaking event as my best self in Christ, when just a few months back I was in the most darkest place in Bijan. My journey has not been easy, although it can look pretty, I find that if you remain authentic & honest with God, He will always turn your situation around and use you for His glory!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Her Inner Beauty – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Her Inner Beauty is an all encompassing business set to nurture and encourage women of all ages to embrace their inner self by promoting truth, modesty, class, & sophistication; the makings of a Godly Woman! I create motivational and inspiring content via my website and social media platforms, provide beauty services for almost any occasion, host/facilitate workshops for youth girls, and teach fundamental makeup classes. It’s hard to say what I specialize in because I believe anything I put my heart into, I do it with a spirit of excellence. I’m definitely known for setting a peaceful, loving and fun atmosphere! My reputation, as told to me by others, serves as the bases of what sets me apart. Jesus being the center of my company is what I am most proud of, His word guides and strengthens me to use my voice and gifts to be a Godly influence for this generation.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have big plans in the works for HER INNER BEAUTY, 2020 is the year of perfect vision and that is my aim to perfect the vision of my business! My non-profit Sustain Our World will be launched and implemented within the mission of HER INNER BEAUTY, and there a quite a few projects happening I can’t disclose as of yet. If you stay with me along the journey you will see new components added to my website and repertoire!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.HerInnerBeauty.com
• Phone: 323-791-8793
• Email: info@herinnerbeauty.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bijanmejia/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/beautybybijan/

Image Credit:
Philicia Scott Photography, Eliza Jane Photography

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