Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Verango.
Hi Janet, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi, my name is Janet Verango. I’m 47 years old and a mother of four. I’ve also been a single mom for many years.
Anyway, this is my story—how I started and how I became the woman I am today.
When people see me now with my own business, they may think that I just built my business and became successful. But what they don’t see are all the struggles, sacrifices, failures, and stepping stones I had to go through before I achieved my dream.
I’m originally from the Philippines. When I first came to the United States, I was just a simple woman with a simple dream. I wanted to be a wife and a mother and take care of my family.
I came to America knowing very little about life here. I could barely speak or understand English, and in the Philippines, I had only finished Grade 6. At that time, I thought I didn’t need a diploma or a degree because my dream was simply to get married, raise my children, and have a family.
But life didn’t go the way I expected.
When my marriage started struggling and my ex-husband left, I had to learn how to survive and provide for my two daughters. I started working two jobs, day and night. I worked as a server and also worked at a small Filipino carinderia.
That was when something changed inside me.
I remember thinking, “I wish I had finished school. I wish I had at least a high school diploma so I could find a better job and make enough money to support my children.”
And that’s where a new dream started.
I decided to get my GED.
It was extremely difficult for me because I had only finished Grade 6, and I was trying to understand subjects in English when I could barely understand the language itself.
But I was determined.
I searched Google for anything that could help me. I studied day and night. On my days off, or while my children were in school, I would go to the library and study.
When I finally felt ready, I took my GED exam—and I failed.
I tried again, and I failed again.
I’m not embarrassed to say that I failed several times because those failures are an important part of my story. Every time I failed, I didn’t use it as a reason to stop. I used it as a reason to study harder.
On my fourth try, my children were with me. I remember being the last person to finish the exam. Afterward, my kids and I waited for the result.
Then the lady came to me and said, “Congratulations, you passed.”
I froze.
My whole body was shaking, and I started crying and hugging my children. I couldn’t believe that I had finally done it.
That moment changed something in me. It made me realize, if I could do that, maybe I could do more.
That’s when I decided to go to esthetician school.
And once again, it wasn’t easy. I was studying alongside people who were born and raised here and understood English much better than I did. Sometimes it was very difficult for me to understand the lessons.
But I refused to give up.
I would bring a recorder to school and record the lessons. After class, I would go home and listen to them over and over again so I could understand what my instructor was teaching.
Eventually, I finished esthetician school.
I will never forget walking across that stage and hearing my name called. Receiving my diploma was one of the proudest moments of my life because I knew what it took for me to get there.
But I still wasn’t finished.
I had to pass my state licensing exams. I passed my practical exam on my first try, but I failed the written exam.
Again, I told myself, “It’s okay.”
Instead of being disappointed and giving up, I went home and studied everything I had missed.
My children were a huge part of that journey. They helped me study, encouraged me, pushed me, and kept telling me, “Mom, you can do it.”
And finally, I passed.
I became a licensed esthetician.
Looking back, I’m grateful even for the times I failed because every failure taught me something. I learned that failing doesn’t mean you can’t do something. Sometimes it simply means you need to try again.
I started as a woman who came to America with only a Grade 6 education, barely speaking English, working two jobs just to survive and support my children.
I never imagined that one day I would earn my GED, graduate from esthetician school, earn my license, and eventually build a business of my own.
And that was only the beginning of my journey.
My journey started with a simple dream of building a better future for myself and my children\. I became a licensed esthetician because I have always loved skincare and helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin\.
I didn’t start with a big business or a lot of money\. I started small, doing house\-to\-house facial services and bringing my supplies and equipment with me\. Eventually, I was able to rent a small room inside a salon and slowly build my clientele\.
There were many challenges along the way, especially during the pandemic, but I didn’t give up\. I continued working hard, doing home services when I could, learning more about skincare, and investing in my education and equipment\.
After years of hard work, I was finally able to open my own skincare suite, AshMarie Skin Care\. I named my business after my daughters because my children have always been one of my biggest motivations to keep going\. As the business grew, I was able to expand from one room to two and continue offering more advanced treatments to my clients\.
Today, I am proud to be a small business owner and licensed esthetician with many years of experience\. But what makes me most proud is the trust I’ve built with my clients\. For me, skincare is not only about making someone’s skin look beautiful—it’s about helping people feel confident, cared for, and comfortable in their own skin\.
My journey taught me to be patient, work hard, stay humble, and trust the process\. I started small, and I am still growing and learning every day\. I am grateful for how far I’ve come and excited to see where this journey takes me next\.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road\. There were many obstacles and challenges along the way\.
One of my biggest challenges was being a single mother while trying to build a career and provide for my children at the same time\. I didn’t have a lot of money to start a business, so I had to start with what I had\. After getting my esthetician license, I started doing house\-to\-house facial services\. I carried my supplies and equipment with me and went wherever my clients needed me\.
Eventually, I was able to rent a small room inside a salon\. Building my clientele was another challenge\. There were days when I didn’t have any clients, but I still showed up\. I kept promoting myself, learning, improving my skills, and giving every client the best service I could\.
Then the pandemic happened, and that became another major obstacle\. Like many small business owners, I had to stop working for a while\. I was worried about how I would provide for my family and what would happen to the career I had worked so hard to build\. When I was able to work again, I started doing home services and slowly rebuilt my clientele\.
There were many times when I was tired, scared, or unsure about what would happen next\. But quitting was never an option for me because I had four children watching me\. I wanted them to see that even when life becomes difficult, you can keep moving forward\.
Every struggle became a stepping stone\. I learned to be patient, independent, resourceful, and not be afraid of starting from the bottom\.
Today, when I look at my business, I don’t only see success\. I see every sacrifice, every failure, every client who trusted me, and every difficult moment that helped me get here\.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, I am a licensed esthetician and the proud owner of AshMarie Skin Care. I specialize in facials, acne care, anti-aging treatments, Hydrafacial, and advanced skincare to help clients achieve healthy, confident skin.
I built my business from the ground up, starting by doing house calls with basic supplies and slowly growing into my own skincare suite.
What sets me apart is how I care for my clients. I don’t see them as just appointments—I take time to understand their skin and create personalized treatments based on their needs.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I believe the skincare industry will continue to grow significantly over the next 5–10 years. People are becoming more educated about their skin and are starting to understand that skincare is not just about beauty—it’s also about prevention, maintenance, confidence, and overall wellness.
I see the industry moving toward more advanced technology, non-invasive treatments, and personalized skincare. New machines and treatments will continue to give clients better results with less downtime.
At the same time, I believe the personal connection between an esthetician and a client will always be important. Technology can help us achieve great results, but understanding someone’s skin, listening to their concerns, and building trust cannot be replaced by a machine.
As an esthetician, I know I have to continue learning and growing with the industry. That’s why I believe continuing education, advanced training, and staying updated with new technology are very important.
My goal is to grow with the industry while never losing the personal care and attention that I give to every client.
Pricing:
- Customized Facials — starting at $135
- Hydrafacial — $199
- HIFU LDM Skin Tightening — starting at $350
- Astrodome facial $225
- Diamond glow plus $165
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashmarieskincare.com
- Instagram: Ashmarieskincare_sd
- Facebook: AshMarie skincare
- Yelp: Ashmarie skin care
