We’re looking forward to introducing you to Aaliyah Griffin. Check out our conversation below.
Aaliyah, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Honestly, the gym has been bringing me a lot of joy lately—surprisingly! It’s become my time to reset mentally, challenge myself physically, and leave feeling stronger and more focused than when I walked in. My trainer, Laveca, is AMAZING! She truly pushes me to my full potential, and she believes in me, which is especially important in the gym. Lol
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Aaliyah, the founder of Aaliyah’s Beauty and Beyond, a Dallas-based beauty and wellness brand focused on results-driven skincare and holistic self-care. What started as a passion for skin health has grown into a space where science, education, and confidence intersect. I specialize in advanced treatments and personalized care, but at the core, my mission is helping people feel empowered in their skin. I’m currently focused on expanding my brand, refining my offerings, and building a community that values consistency, wellness, and self-investment.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Bonds between people are broken when trust is betrayed through lies, secrecy, or broken promises, when communication breaks down into silence, avoidance, or harsh words, and when respect is lost through dismissal, control, or repeated boundary violations. Unresolved conflict allows resentment to grow, inconsistency between words and actions erodes reliability, and emotional neglect leaves people feeling unseen and unvalued. Bonds are restored through truth and accountability, where harm is acknowledged without excuses, and through clear, compassionate communication that prioritizes understanding over winning. Consistent, reliable actions rebuild trust over time, while sincere apologies paired with changed behavior make forgiveness possible. Empathy, validation, and a shared commitment from both sides to invest in the relationship ultimately allow connection, trust, and closeness to be rebuilt.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the most defining wounds of my life began in college, when a professor told me I wouldn’t be successful. Those words didn’t just hurt in the moment—they settled into my mind and quietly shaped how I saw myself for a long time. I went through a mental phase where I questioned my worth, my intelligence, and whether I truly deserved the dreams I had. There were moments I felt like I was moving through life trying to prove I belonged, carrying an internal battle no one else could see. Healing didn’t come all at once. It came through faith, through choosing to keep showing up even when I felt unworthy, and through learning that someone else’s opinion could never define my destiny. Building my business became a form of healing—each step forward reminded me that my path was being guided by God, not limited by human judgment.
A profound part of that healing journey has been my mother. When I struggled to believe in myself, she believed for me. She spoke life into me during moments when doubt was loud, reminding me who I was when I forgot. Her presence, encouragement, and unwavering support became a safe place where I could heal without shame. Through her, I learned what unconditional love looks like in action—steady, patient, and affirming. Today, I have no one to thank but God, my supporters, and especially my mom, whose role in my healing continues to shape who I am becoming. That wound didn’t break me—it refined me, deepened my faith, and anchored my self-worth in love, resilience, and purpose.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
In the beauty industry, one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that appearance equals worth—that looking perfect, polished, or “on trend” determines value or success. Another lie is that success is instant, that fully booked schedules, viral transformations, and luxury lifestyles happen quickly, when most thriving beauty businesses are built slowly through consistency, skill, and trust. The industry also glorifies overworking and burnout, making it seem normal to sacrifice health, boundaries, and balance just to stay competitive. There’s also the belief that you must look the part before you’re ready, as if confidence, money, or mastery has to come first, when in reality growth happens by starting before you feel ready. Lastly, the industry sells perfection—flawless skin, flawless bodies, flawless branding—when what actually builds loyalty is authenticity, education, and genuine care for clients. These lies keep people chasing comparison instead of building sustainable, ethical, and purpose-driven success.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had ten years left, I would stop wasting even a single breath trying to survive versions of myself that were built in fear. I would stop tolerating environments that drain my spirit just because I’ve learned how to be strong in them. I would stop normalizing emotional heaviness, exhaustion, and silence as if they’re just part of adulthood. I would stop abandoning myself in subtle ways—by pushing through when my soul is asking me to rest, by minimizing my intuition, by staying composed when something inside me is grieving or yearning to be expressed.
I would stop measuring time by productivity and start measuring it by presence. I would stop carrying wounds I’ve already outgrown simply because they once shaped me. I would stop holding back truth to “keep the peace” when peace without honesty isn’t peace at all. I would stop waiting for the perfect moment to say what matters, to love out loud, to forgive fully, or to let go completely.
Most of all, I would stop living like I have to earn rest, joy, or divine grace. I would live softer and braver at the same time—choosing depth over distraction, meaning over momentum, and connection over control. Because if ten years were all I had, I’d want my life to feel full, not just impressive, and I’d want to meet the end knowing I lived aligned, awake, and unafraid.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vagaro.com/aaliyahsbeautyandbeyond1
- Instagram: aaliyahsbb
- Facebook: aaliyahsbb
Image Credits
Kaiya P. Horton
