Life & Work with Maria Victorio of Fort Worth Texas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Victorio.

Hi Maria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my waxing business in 2021 at only 18 years old. I was always sure about waxing. When I enrolled in esthetician school, I knew exactly what I wanted to do, so as soon as I got the chance, I started. Just me and my clients in a spare bedroom at my family home, a huge shoutout to my parents because without them giving me the confidence to start from home I wouldn’t be where I am today. I remember my clients had to walk through the laundry room and kitchen to get to my waxing room, my back bar was a mini party table with fake marble paper over it, and my first wax pot was a little one that came in a $70 waxing kit that “had everything I needed to start.” I remember being so excited when it got delivered because I was a step closer to being able to wax my own clients! Even though I started in a bedroom and not under the best conditions, I felt like I was the hottest waxer in town. I was seeing maybe 10-13 clients a week, my parents couldn’t believe Brazilian waxing could actually be a career, and I was so happy to show them it could! Little did they know, it was only the start.

Even though I’ll hold my home-based days really close to my heart, Polishedbypocha is in a more profesional setting inside of a suite! When I got my first suite in 2024, I realized I had gotten too comfortable at home, and sometimes when you want your business to grow, you have to be a little uncomfortable. Moving to a suite has been the best thing I could have done for my business, with a 70% annual appointment increase as of last year!

I never realized how much Polishedbypocha has grown until I sit with questions like this one. Five years into my business, I’m not yet where I want to be, but I’m so thankful and blessed to be where I am. Polishedbypocha is now a six-time award-winning business, and I’m still seeing a good handful of those clients who had to walk through my kitchen while my mom was washing dishes or my dogs were barking at them like crazy, and we were sitting through 45-minute Brazilians 😭 (don’t worry, I don’t take nearly as long now haha). I will never stop being thankful for those clients.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My business is far from perfect. There have definitely been bumps in the road. I’ve compared myself, struggled financially, and struggled mentally, but if you knew who my mom is you’d understand the determination, & hard work!!

I was able to start my waxing business solo & full time once I graduated esthetician school because of my hard working immigrant parents, I’ll never forget the help they gave me, and I will never take their sacrifices for granted. Their sacrifices are my strength. I know they went through so much to give my sisters & I the life we have now. I hear about struggles we went through growing up that I didn’t even know about, because my parents made sure to give us the best childhood possible!!

My partner has also been such an incredible support. In the beginning, when I was struggling and making zero profit, he would buy my wax & supplies with his paycheck just to help me keep going. Even now, he continues to be my biggest help and cheerleader!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a full body waxer that specializes in the Brazilian wax. The Brazilian wax is the hair removal service that removes all of the pubic hair from front to back, including a butt strip. I would say this is the service that I am known for, but aside from my #1 service, I would say I’m known for the care and comfort I bring to my clients, especially during such a nerve-wracking service. I think my clients really appreciate how much care I put into their waxes, making their comfort my number one priority. I get so many compliments on having a light hand, making the service less painful than maybe a wax they’ve gotten in the past. I know people think a Brazilian wax is so easy, as it’s just applying and removing wax, but technique is sooo important. To me, it’s more than just wax on & off. I love to educate my clients!

I would say I’m most proud of the clientele I have built. Having so many returning clients makes me realize I’m doing something right! Seeing the same faces month to month and being able to get life updates, or what’s new from the last appointment, is the best feeling. Knowing that my clients trust me with more than just their wax means so much to me!! It’s seriously one of the best feelings ever. Of course, new clients are always welcomed! I love meeting new faces & I look forward to our appointments after the first one!!

I think what sets me apart is what I’ve been able to accomplish at such a young age, but also the values I stand on. Polishedbypocha is a 6x award-winning business. I won my first award in 2023 at just 19 years old, becoming the first waxer featured in DFW Favorites Magazine. I’ve been featured every year since, which is amazing, but awards aren’t everything to me.

At the end of the day, it’s the love and care I genuinely pour into my work and my clients that sets me apart. I don’t turn a blind eye to what’s happening outside of my business. Polishedbypocha is a safe space and proudly supports immigrants, public education, LGBTQ+, Palestine, art, reproductive rights, community, and diversity!! My clients deserve a space where they can feel safe, heard & respected.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I do loveee reading and listening to books but I’d be lying if I said I read or listened to business books & podcasts! I will say though I have listened to one of Mel Robbins’s podcast episode about finances & read her book that went viral on TikTok “the let them theory” 10/10 it absolutely was some of the best advice, and I think it applied well to something I deal with a lot, as someone who feels things super deeply, I overthink every thing, if a client leaves me on read, when a regular cancels, peoples tones etc. (also applies very well to personal life!) she makes some really good points and points out some really important things. I would be lying if I said I still don’t overthink things like that as a business owner.. but I feel like I’ve grown so much in that aspect since the beginning of my career.

My current reads for any book worms out there are wild love by Elsie silver & im listening to the housemaid by Freida McFadden! I refuse to watch the movie before I read the book! So far both of them are really good!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://polishedbypochallc.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polishedbypocha