I Am Priscilla Smith
Priscilla left a successful real estate career to become a nail tech, where she saw the need to support young women beyond technical skills. After building a 7-Figure training salon and founding a nail tech academy, she's now focused on elevating cosmetology school nail programs to equip more young women with the skills and confidence to thrive.
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Transforming Lives Through Beauty
Love comes in many forms, and sometimes, it can be unexpected and change the course of your life. I know this firsthand because it happened to me. I managed to break free from a dark past and become a pioneer in the nail industry. My passion for nails led me to create Passion's Story, a nonprofit organization that helps young at-risk women find purpose and build a career in the nail industry.
For the past 7 years, I have been running this program from my salon, Paixxão.Co, in Albuquerque. My goal was to combine my business with my passion for helping others so I could have a more significant impact. Passion's Story aims to provide opportunities for recent beauty school graduates, particularly vulnerable women who have experienced abuse or sex trafficking. Our mission is to offer them a tangible solution and a fast track to earn a sustainable income.
We have partnered with other nonprofit organizations such as the New Mexico Dream Center and local beauty schools. Our goal is to equip young women with the skills they need to thrive in the beauty industry through mentorship, career preparation, and entrepreneurship.
My experience of abuse and trauma inspired me to start Passion's Story. I witnessed firsthand how the beauty industry helped those who had been through similar experiences. Although I did not start my career in nails, my 13 years of experience in property management and real estate gave me the knowledge I needed to pursue my passion. My aim is to change the culture of the beauty industry and help those who are stuck and don't know how to ask for help.
Passion's Story is my way of paying it forward and making a difference in the lives of those who have been through similar struggles. Do you know someone who is stuck in a situation and feels like they can't get out of it?
If you or someone you know has the resources and means to help that person, please share this link to make a contribution to Passion's Story.
We have a long term goal to launch the first-ever nonprofit salon that helps young women live on their terms and earn a stable income from their creativity.
Together, we can make a difference in these women’s lives and give them the opportunities they need to thrive.
Turning struggles into opportunities
How Priscilla Empowers Young Women in the Nail Industry
When Priscilla started her nail salon Paixxão.Co in 2016, she set out to solve two problems. First, it was to give clients the BEST services with unparalleled standards in nail salon hygiene and sanitation. As a result, her nail salon was voted “Best Nail Salon” in Albuquerque since the day it opened. Next, because of her own experiences as an aspiring new nail tech, a decade earlier, she decided to only hire graduating beauty school students and teach them everything she knew about the business.
However, despite their undeniable talent, many of them faced personal challenges that made it difficult for them to succeed.
So, Priscilla studied how the nail industry offered a unique way for her team to express their creativity, find healing, and build fulfilling and successful careers. With her guidance, they were able to overcome their obstacles and find success.
That’s when it clicked…
"I came to the realization that my salon was not just a business, but a vehicle to empower young women and help them find their self-worth through nails."
Through this newfound passion she discovered an opportunity to help struggling young women leverage the nail industry in a way no one had done yet.
For the past ten years, Priscilla has dedicated herself to mentoring dozens of beauty school grads, helping them become financially independent and creative professionals.
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