Check Out Isabella Aguilar Moyano ’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabella Aguilar Moyano

Hi Isabella , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi! I’m Isabella, but you can call me Isa. I’m a pet mom to two amazing kitties, November and Osito. I’m an animal lover and a foodie who loves everything coffee and sweets. I also enjoy taking pictures of absolutely everything, especially when we’re outside enjoying nature.

How did I get here? That’s a bit of a loaded question, but to make a long story short: I was born in Cali, Colombia, and grew up with my wonderful mom and siblings. I’m the older sister to two of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met. My parents weren’t together while I was growing up, but my dad was always present and was the best dad I could have asked for.

I’ve always been very artsy—I love to draw, paint, and sculpt. My mom always fueled that side of me, and for that, I’m very grateful. I was living a very common life back home, going to school and coming home, doing homework, and helping at home. We moved cities a few times, so I became pretty good at handling change. But it wasn’t until I was 15 that life took a 180° turn. In 2017, my family and I moved to Raleigh, NC, which received us with open arms. I finished high school in 2019 in Athens Drive Magnet HS.

Since I was little, I was convinced I would end up in the medical field. However, being in high school for only two years with almost no history of extracurriculars, it wasn’t realistic to get a full-ride scholarship for med school. I decided to take a gap year to figure out what else I wanted to do and to save up for school. Then COVID hit, and we all know how that went.

While I was home, I started spending a lot of time playing with my hair and makeup. The beauty industry has always been something I’ve been passionate about, staying true to that artsy side of me, but I always thought of it as just a hobby—until one day it just clicked. People do this for a living! I had been saving up for school since I graduated, so I started researching different programs. I ended up enrolling in Wake Tech for Cosmetology in fall 2021. I went to school at night from 5 pm to 10 pm until I finally graduated in July 2023 and got my state license.

I joined the Poppy Salon Company right after graduating, where I am now happy to welcome you to my chair! I never thought of this as more than just a hobby, but now I can provide a safe space for people, encourage them, help them feel their best, boost their confidence, and enhance their beauty. I wake up excited to do this every day!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oof, smooth, no. It wasn’t smooth at all, but it was very rewarding. I dealt not only with the struggles that we all face in life, like health issues, juggling school and work, or random car breakdowns that forced me to use all my savings for school and start over.

Being an immigrant added extra layers of difficulty. It wasn’t just about learning a new language and culture; it also meant facing many closed doors and jumping through numerous hoops. For example, I couldn’t work for a few years, and even after five years here, my tuition was still counted as out-of-state, which was three times the in-state cost. I couldn’t apply for any school benefits like financial aid, so everything had to come out of my pocket.

The biggest challenge of all has been being away from my family. We grew up very family-oriented, and spending years without hugging my grandma and aunts has become harder as the years go by.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a licensed cosmetologist in North Carolina, specializing as a hairstylist and makeup artist.

I love everything about this industry and the endless opportunities it offers to stretch my skills and creativity. As I continue to grow in my career, I’m exploring various specialties to find what I can truly call my own. So far, I love it all:

Color Services: Natural color, lived-in looks, fantasy shades, and blonding.
Haircuts: Transformative haircuts, curly cuts, and curly care.
Treatments: Moisture treatments, Brazilian blowouts, volume treatments, and tailored at-home care routines.
Makeup: Wedding makeup, especial events, photo shoots and editorial MU.

I’m always learning and trying to gain as much experience as I can. Maybe I’ll find a specific area to focus on, or maybe I’ll keep loving and doing everything. Either way, I’m excited about where this journey is taking me!

I strive to give you a safe space, where you can feel comfortable and relax, disconnect, or even be vulnerable if you need to be. But my goal will always be to make you feel powerful and confident walking out of my chair!

Everything we do has a reason to be. Being able to tailor my knowledge to you is the best feeling in the world. So when I thank you for your trust the moment you sit in my chair I mean it!

I could extend forever but this sums it up pretty good. Thank you for your support! From my repeat clients, my future ones and to those who always share my work and are willing to hear my story, you help me a whole lot doing that giving me the opportunity reach more people every time.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I re-discovered my art and realized that it doesn’t have to be just a hobby—if you work hard enough, it can be a lifestyle. This journey also taught me a lot about myself. Spending so much time at home gave me the perfect opportunity to get in touch with my thoughts and beginning to understand who I really am.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamxbeauty?igsh=MXRnYzY4emkwaDd5YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550749617486&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Nick spicer