PLA Brand Ambassador To Social Media Community Specialist
Hey Besties!
My name is Blanca Melendez and I am so excited to share a little bit about myself and how I ended up working at one of the biggest lash brands in the world! I am a mom to two beautiful girls, Victoria and Camila. They are my motive and the reason why I decided to enroll in beauty school back in 2020.
It all started the summer of 2006, I remember spending every day at my aunt’s salon, helping with cutting foils and sweeping the floor. That’s when I realized I wanted to be part of the beauty industry. Seeing how her clients left her chair beaming with happiness and confidence was very inspiring. 14 years later, as a mother of two, I decided to enroll in beauty school when my youngest was just two weeks old. I was eager to be present for my family and knew I needed a change. Little did I know that this decision would change my life forever.
As a lash artist, I struggled to find high-quality products. Especially ProMade lashes that wouldn’t come apart when picking up, so after a lot of research and testing, I discovered Paris Lash Academy (PLA) and lucky enough they were located in my hometown Reno, NV. I still remember my first pickup order, I was working at the bank at the time and went during my lunch break. I pulled into the parking lot on Maestro Drive and walked into their building, as soon as I walked in I was greeted and immediately helped. I was so impressed by the amazing customer service, and after trying the products, I instantly fell in love!
After a couple of years using PLA lashes, they announced they were looking for Brand Ambassadors, and I immediately applied. On December 30, 2022, I received an email from PLA saying they were thrilled to have me join their team as a Beauty Brand Ambassador! I was very consistent on social media, as well as, networking with my local lash artists and that resulted in me quickly growing and becoming their #1 Brand Ambassador. Becoming an ambassador opened many doors for me and gave me the confidence to attend the biggest lash conference in October 2023.
Attending LashCon truly changed my life. Michelle Nguyen, the CEO of PLA, hosted a class with Caitlin, the VP of Marketing, on how to build your dream team. I remember sitting in that class, so impressed by Michelle’s leadership and the way she supported her team, thinking to myself, “I want to work for her.”
Six months later, here I am, working for the top-selling lash company in the U.S as the Social Media Community Specialist. My role includes managing our Brand Ambassadors, creating content, and empowering lash artists through our online community. I’m also super excited to embark on a new journey of blog writing! As a lash tech, I’m thrilled to share my knowledge and insights through blog writing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I truly hope it inspires you! If your goal is to partner with a brand or open your own lash business, know that I’m cheering you on. No dream is too big to pursue! If you’d like to connect, you can find me in our Facebook group, Lash Queens. Feel free to ask me anything, and I might write a blog about it! I hope you’ll follow along, as there’s so much more to come!
Talk to you soon Bestie!
Blanca Melendez @renoslashbestie
