Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Hardie.
Hi Melissa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story… Born and raised here in San Diego. I lived in Hawaii for a few years during my middle school years, but was so happy to come back to San Diego to start high school. I have literally lived everywhere in this city its the best city in the country! And I will die on that hill ha ha. So it’s an honor to be asked to do this interview! Right out of high school. I went to beauty school and I’ve been doing hair for almost 30 years. Married the man of my dreams back in 2011 had a daughter together who is now 12 unfortunately our time together as husband and wife ended, but he is still my best friend and an amazing coparent And the five years since I’ve been a single mom. I have definitely been down a wild ride! I feel like Alice in Wonderland ha ha whose life is this I ask myself because it’s so amazing and fucking cool! Can I cuss on here? (That’s just a part of who I am.)Once I broke free of the old version of myself and stepped into my authentic truth. My whole world has opened up. I finally started doing all the things I’ve ever wanted down to getting a sleeve of tattoos to piercing my nose to becoming a burlesque dancer and now I am an online dominatrix as well I own my own hair studio with my partner, Leslie. Every day feels like an adventure! I have some of the greatest friends a girl could ask for in a huge support system. And a lot of people who probably think I’m crazy for all the things that I do because I give zero fucks! We have one life to live and I’m gonna live it on my terms and I’m doing it with joy and happiness because that’s the road that I choose!. I’m so honored to share who I am with You
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have definitely found my fair share of obstacles and challenges, stepping into your authentic truth is never an easy thing to do! You will definitely lose people along the way because as you shed that old version and layer of yourself and become a new version of yourself they only want the old one. So you have to be comfortable in your own skin And brave enough to be who you are because once you do it all the doors open and the right people will show up in the right opportunities and you get to live the life that you want. So obstacles show up and they do suck but you’re gonna be grateful for them later there’s always a silver lining.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well as I mentioned earlier, I am a hairstylist of almost 30 years specializing in color, but I also love to cut. I’ve spent a lot of time really honing my cutting skills because it didn’t come as easy to me is coloring.
I’m also a burlesque dancer my stage name is Aphrodite Woman. I started dancing burlesque a year and a half ago after doing pole dancing since 2011. I loved burlesque so much and got so excited about it not knowing there was such a huge community in San Diego since I’m in North County… So last May 6 months after doing my first little burlesque routine at our studio showcase, I decided to produce my very own show. Which turned into starting my own production company called The Vagabond Girls. We just produced our second show in February with plans to produce more. There’s a great community of burlesque here in San Diego. You should follow San Diego burlesque on Instagram to find out when the next show is there are shows every weekend!
And finally, my newest endeavor and something I have so much fun doing is I am a love sex and relationship coach. I was certified by Leilla Martin and her two year course back in 2021. I specialize in coaching men and I present myself online to them as a dominatrix. I help these young men with all kinds of things from their marriages, their relationships, to dating, porn, addiction, etc. I absolutely love working with these men and I tend to attract men in their 20s and 30s and I have to say while I have anyone who is reading this this generation of young men are quite incredible! I feel like they are the greatest generation reincarnated and again I will also die on this hill! These young men are incredible
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck… I always wanna believe in it not necessarily sure it exists ha ha. However, I have been lucky with the people. I have met good bad and indifferent. Everyone has a role and a lesson for you to learn. There’s always a silver lining and everything. However I did grew up with a little bit of privilege. My parents put me through beauty school and they helped me when I needed it, but I have been on my own since I was 19 and definitely fell on my face a lot. But it turned me into the tenacious, hard-working push through the fear, get comfortable in my discomfort woman. I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Aphrodite.woman
- Facebook: Melissa Hardie
- Other: Vagabond.girls.sd (instagram) Mistressaphrodite(Private Instagram)
Image Credits
Melissa McClure
Scott Saw
