We recently had the chance to connect with Mllyssa MUAA and have shared our conversation below.
Mllyssa, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building is the woman I became after everything that tried to break me.
At a young age, I worked four jobs to help my family survive. I faced violent situations that almost took my life. I learned early how to keep moving no matter how exhausted I was.
When my house burned down, we lost everything. People told me to start a GoFundMe. I laughed…. They asked why, and I said, why be devastated over material things? At least my family is alive. I rotated one outfit all week, wore clothes that smelled like ashes, even slept in my minivan at one point. I never asked for sympathy. I just kept going.
I survived a suicide attempt. In that moment, God saved me.
Then came the back to back losses. It was like God was preparing me for a level of strength I didn’t even know I would need.
Then I lost Rafa, the father of my two daughters. That season broke me. It was a full year of mental battles, exhaustion, and nonstop tears. I felt depleted. I could barely function. Some days, even getting out of bed felt impossible.
During that time, I saw the true colors of people I genuinely thought cared about me. The betrayal during my most vulnerable season hurt deeply.
There were moments I questioned if I would become a bitter person because of it…. but I realized my heart will never change based on what others have done to me. I still pray and wish them well. I refuse to let pain harden me.
I stepped away from my business for a year because mental health mattered more than success. I was judged and misunderstood, but I didn’t owe anyone an explanation. I came back when I was ready.
Toward the end of that season, I chose gratitude. For the real ones who stayed. For the family I still have. For my daughters who keep me here and give me purpose.
Today I’m not just a makeup artist, I’m a creative director.
I build vision. I build safe spaces. I bring people together and help them see what’s possible.
What I’m creating now is bigger than beauty. I’m building community. I want to build confidence and love for those who struggle with mental health, grief, and insecurity.
I love having deep conversations that help someone feel understood or discover their purpose, because you never know how close someone is to giving up.
Making someone feel seen, beautiful, or purposeful could truly save their life.
The life I live now does not reflect the storms I survived, and that is what I’m most proud of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Melissa Rodriguez. I’m a makeup artist and creative director. I specialize in runway, fashion, weddings, and camera ready productions. Whether it’s a live show, a bridal moment, or a full creative concept, I bring vision and execution together.
One of my specialties is creating makeup that looks flawless but feels weightless. Your face will feel like you’re not even wearing makeup. I focus on skin first, structure, and balance so the final result photographs beautifully while still feeling comfortable and natural.
What makes my brand unique is that I don’t just focus on the makeup. I focus on the entire experience. I understand lighting, angles, movement, and how everything translates on camera or on stage.
As a creative director, I build concepts from the ground up. I curate teams, align creatives, and make sure every detail flows with intention.
I genuinely love building community. I love connecting artists, models, and entrepreneurs who inspire each other.
Confidence is at the center of everything I do. When someone sits in my chair or works in one of my productions, I want them to leave feeling elevated, secure, and powerful.
Right now, I’m expanding my work in creative direction and continuing to build bold, inclusive beauty and fashion spaces that create real impact.
For me, beauty isn’t just about how you look. It’s about how you feel when you walk into a room knowing you belong there….and that’s what I’m here to build.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
As a child, I believed you really had to care about what people thought of you.
I grew up in a traditional Hispanic household where you moved a certain way, acted a certain way, and carried yourself carefully. There was this pressure to not be too loud, not be too different, not stand out too much.
I used to filter myself. I thought approval mattered. I thought being liked meant staying within certain boundaries..
Now, I truly do not care! If I want to laugh loud, I’m going to laugh loud. If I want to be goofy, I’m going to be goofy. If I’m in the middle of the street and I want to sing Paramore at the top of my lungs, best believe I’m going to do it!
I’ve learned that shrinking yourself for comfort or tradition doesn’t serve your purpose.
Authenticity is freedom and the moment I stopped living for other people’s opinions was the moment I started fully becoming myself.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I saw my mother refuse to hide hers.
If you only knew her story, she’s the biggest warrior I know! She has been through more than most people could imagine, and she has always been honest about it. Not to mention the SWEETEST women!
In many Mexican households, depression and anxiety are not openly talked about, but my mother never pretended… She was real about her struggles, her setbacks, her pain. She didn’t sugarcoat life. IYKYK
Watching her be that open gave me permission to do the same.
In todays world people are taught to only show the highlights. Especially now, everyone hides behind a screen and posts the best moments, but life is not just highlights.
Sometimes people are not okay, and that’s okay! Sometimes we go through setbacks, depression, and exhaustion. Pretending it’s not happening doesn’t make it disappear!
I realized that being honest is more powerful than being perfect.
I don’t share for attention or sympathy. I share because authenticity helps people feel less alone.
There is strength in saying, this hurt me, this changed me, this is what I learned.
I believe we go through certain things not just to survive them, but so we can help others when it’s their turn.
Sometimes your pain becomes someone else’s understanding and
that’s when I stopped hiding it.
I started using it to connect, to uplift, and to remind people that struggling does not make you weak! It makes you human!
Being honest about that is real power.
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’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
One cultural value I protect at all costs is this simple belief I grew up with in my family is if I’m eating, you’re eating too.
It’s deeper than food. It’s about generosity. It’s about community! It’s about never turning your back on someone who is struggling.
Even if someone doesn’t like me, even if we’ve had differences…if I see them hungry, struggling, needing gas, needing help, I’m going to show up!
That’s just how I was raised.
In my family, you don’t let people go without if you have something to give..
It’s not about pride. It’s not about keeping score. It’s about humanity!
That value shaped me and It taught me that abundance isn’t just money or success….It’s heart!
It’s being the type of person who can still extend a hand even when it would be easier not to.
And that’s something I will always protect.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that my heart made a difference…
I hope they say that when they met me, they felt seen, loved, and encouraged. That I gave people the love they needed when they needed it most.
Remember yall! It doesn’t cost anything to be kind, genuine, or respectful, and I try to live by that every day.
Everyone calls me their biggest hype woman, and that’s intentional.
I believe in uplifting people and reminding them of their worth.
If I helped someone feel more confident, more secure, more understood, and most importantly loved, then I did what I was meant to do.
If people remember me for the love I gave, that’s enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mllyssamuaa.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/mllyssamuaa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.rodriguez.519235?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mllyssamuaa?si=otvUdqQOuyVoPrBR
