Today we’d like to introduce you to Heaven Borja.
Heaven, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I guess it all started when I found YouTube videos of my childhood fondness to dolls, specifically American Girl Dolls. After years of watching videos, I decided to make my own. So there I was at the young age of 11 recording and uploading videos of my dolls. As I grew up, I started to watch more beauty related videos which sparked my interest as an awkward, geeky middle-schooler and like the dolls I figured, “I could do that too!” and my second YouTube channel was created.
Around 2014 I began to sell my unworn/used/outgrown clothes (and eventually dolls) as an Instagram boutique where I profited over $800 in the end. It was exciting to me, creating labels, figuring out new tools, editing photos, and making money through something I enjoy doing.
Throughout highschool, I tried to keep my YouTube Channel a secret and it wasn’t until the last few years when I became more confident. As a typical Filipino woman, I had hopes of becoming a nurse but I realized I wasn’t following my own dream, but a dream others had implied upon me. With being the eldest, eyes were always on me so when I didn’t want to pursue nursing I started to panic. What am I going to be now? Then, I took my first step into the business world with an AP Economics class my senior year of high school. I loved everything, it was new, different and exciting.
Shortly after graduation, I moved out of my mom’s house and rented a tiny room with my boyfriend. I worked a 9-5 job and went to school full time pursuing a Business Management degree while also filming and editing YouTube videos on the side. Everyday began to feel boring and repetitive, the only thing keeping me sane was my business and marketing classes. I started to do my research shortly after, using my days off to upload YouTube videos and create a business plan. After being with the same company since I was 16, I decided to quit my reliable assistant manager position and temporarily drop out of school to create my own business.
After months of keeping my business, business ideas, and inventory a secret, I decided to finally publish it to the world. I found myself waiting for the “right moment” until I realized that it was now or never. In less than two months, I had my own business and brand, Mahal Lashes.
Great, 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?
As the eldest child, my road was paved by me by my parents: finish school, get a stable job and don’t take too many risks. Although that road would’ve lead me to stability, I decided to create my own road that would lead to happiness and fulfillment.
Growing up with big ambitions but no resources or an instruction manual to reach them, I quickly learned that I had to figure it out on my own. I constantly found myself wondering, “Am I putting too much of my life and future at risk,” or “Am I not doing enough?” The main struggle I had was the lack of a role-model. It was difficult for me to find personable, relatable, and inspiring women who went through the same struggles I did growing up. I didn’t come from a family who owned a business or had any degrees. I learned through experience and observation that I had a large disadvantage due to my circumstances and environments. I didn’t have anyone to guide me through any steps along the way. However, I didn’t let that stop me from achieving the “crazy” goals I had.
My advice for any young women out there just starting is to trust your instincts, make decisions that constantly spark your happiness, and to take care of your mental health because you always come first! As a girlboss, it’s always easy to forget about yourself when you have so many things on your plate!
What should we know about Mahal Lashes? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m currently working as a barista, pursuing YouTube and building my business.
On YouTube, I post beauty, fashion and lifestyle videos where I try to inspire other girls to follow their dreams no matter how big or small while also feeling confident doing it.
The main thing I’m most proud of as owner of Mahal Lashes is that I created it to be a reusable and cruelty-free brand that is inclusive, safe, and supportive to every race, gender and sexual orientation. I also wanted to incorporate a Filipina-owned beauty brand into the industry.
I aimed to make Mahal Lashes as sustainable as I could without breaking my own bank by being mindful of packaging. As of today, all orders are shipped with recycled mailers and boxes. Not only did I want Mahal Lashes to be different and exciting but I also wanted to create a brand that helped the environment even by just a small step.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
Personally, I feel as there are two barriers in female leadership today.
One is that every girl wants to be a girlboss, CEO, and entrepreneur but there is no mutual support within the female entrepreneurial culture. Instead of women elevating one another, they’re competing with each other. This creates a gap where the idea that the rich get richer and the poor stay poor takes place. There’s enough opportunities for everyone and it’s never “too late” or “already done” because everyone has their own specific niche and twist!
The second is what I call the Girlboss Image; the idea that being in a female leadership role you always have to be productive, busy and on the go. I struggle with trying to post consistently while also still maintaining relationships and working on my business. There’s a constant overhead in the industry where you always need to be online, posting, commenting, and uploading. With social media, it’s a constant struggle to maintain relevance in order to be influential.
Contact Info:
- Website: Mahallashes.com
- Email: borja.heaven@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/nuhvayuh
- Other: Youtube.com/nuhvayuh
Image Credit:
– Personal/cover photo: | Instagram: @victoriayinphotography | – Mahal Lashes Website photos: | Instagram: @niky_bfc |
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
