March 24, 2026 • 38 mins
On the first episode of Against All Odds, host Yris Palmer, entrepreneur and investor, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to forge your own path when the odds are not in your favor. Desiree Ansari, her manager, business partner and longtime friend, joins the show to discuss how Yris' entrepreneurial spirit from a very young age helped pave the way to where she is today.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to Against All Lots Podcasts. I'm your host, Iris Palmer.
For those of you that don't know me, I'm going
to tell you a little bit about me. I am
an entrepreneur, a mommy, a fiance. You've probably seen me
doing everybody's lashes, or investing, or just on Instagram, you know,
wearing something fashionable or with my cute kids. But I
(00:32):
wanted to tell you guys that this is my first episode.
I'm so excited. I wanted to start by sharing why
I wanted to do this podcast. It's really important for
me to inspire those that come from similar circumstances as
I did and didn't see a way and just had
a dream and kept going and somehow we made it.
(00:53):
We made it to be whatever level of success you
are chasing, because I know success different for everybody, and
I wanted to share a little bit of my story
with you guys. Actually a lot of my story with
you guys, but I thought it was really important for
my first episode, for you guys to get to know me.
I come from immigrant parents from a Salvador, and I've
(01:16):
been a hustler my whole life. I am still hustling,
but I have reached certain levels of success that I
feel like are very inspirational. And I brought in my
manager friend family, who has started with me from the
(01:37):
very beginning, who I spend almost every day speaking to,
and I feel like, who knows me the best to
ask me questions and for you guys to get to
know me better. So let me introduce Dasire, my one
and only manager now friend family. And I feel like
my writer die, like my little scorpio writer Die.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I feel like we were meant to.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, we like fit. Yeah, we just fit like and
she's never getting rid of me.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
No, you're one and only.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
So take us back to the year.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
It's so funny because this was when I was in
management and I was working at a company and they
were like, you have to sign someone, and I was like, okay, who.
And I had been watching Iris for like a long time,
and you had like probably like one hundred thousand followers
yeah at the time, and you were actually still doing lashes,
like I remember you had your store on Ventura, like
(02:38):
you had all your starlash girls, and so I was like,
there is something about this girl that I feel like
is just so much bigger than what she's doing with
her lashes and her business, and so I think I
like DMed you or I emailed you. I don't remember exactly,
and I was like, hey, like come in for a meeting,
and I remember you came in.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
And at the time, I was like, I've always played
multiple roles for myself, like when I first started starlash,
like I was playing my own secretary. I'd be like,
she's not available, Like I was playing different roles. And
I remember at the time, I was getting these Instagram
deals from like you know, like different fashion brands, and
I was doing my own deals like pretending. So when
(03:18):
you DM me, I was like perfect, Like I needed this.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I remember you had a really horrible haircare deal at
the time, and I was like, why is she accepting
like this little money for this deal? No, But then
we had a meeting and I just feel like it clicked,
and I feel like it was the right time because
you and we can talk about this on the podcast,
but like you're such a visionary, I think with your
own life, and I think you truly have manifested everything
(03:43):
that is in front of you today and everything that
is to come. And so we had little similarities that
kind of came up like little synchronicities in that meeting,
and I was like, Okay, yeah, this is meant to be.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So we started working together and the rest is history.
Now we do everything. Yeah, yeah, we start still work together.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah, And honestly, like, I feel like you inspire me
every day because it's never like enough, and not in
a bad way, because I think like as humans, you
have to be motivated in order to just like you
want to continue to hit new levels in your life.
Like there's never just like one level of success, and
I think you're the definition of that. And so it's fun.
We get to do a lot of cool things together.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yeah, I feel like, so we're really both really into
zodiac signs. So like I'm gonna start there. She's Scorpio.
She's a Scorpio and I'm a taurust we're sister signs,
and we're sister signs, but we're also the true definition
of a Scorpio and a Taurus. So like I feel
like I'm such a bull and I'm Earth and I'm grounded,
and I feel like sometimes like I ground her, but
(04:48):
she's very like Scorpios are crazy, They're so like they
push you outside of your comfort zone and she will
do that to me where sometimes I need that because
as a Taurus, we're so comfortable that we're like we're
good and she's like, no, you're gonna do this, Like
and I feel like you you know, whether it's PRP
and inject getting injecting it into my face, you push
(05:09):
me to do stuff that I would never do.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
It's so funny because everybody asked Iri was like, what
lip filler do you do? Like what you've done so
much to your face? And she actually has done nothing.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
I am the scary cat. She will be like we
need to do this, we need to do that, and
I'm like it's gonna hurt, like the PRP. I mean
it's like a naturally draw your own blood and they
inject it. But like I would never do that. She
makes me do. She's like you need to do this,
and I'm like, do I need to do it?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Yeah, So anything that she's tried is all my fault.
And it's like but it's so fun I love and
I've never had lit filler. By the way, like people
don't want to believe that these are my lips.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Look at my kids. We all have the exact same leg.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
You have the best lips. That's what I've been trying
to get for like the last ten years. So but
maybe I should read. I actually saved some stuff about toruses.
I want to see if it's like, if it resonates
with you. Okay, okay. So I picked these ones because
I feel like these are exact. So it says Taurus's
motto in life is live life in the moment. They
won't wait for tomorrow to follow their dreams. They know
(06:07):
what they want and aren't afraid to go out and
get it.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah. I'm not afraid. I'm going after all of my dreams.
I'm telling you that right now.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah. They put family first and they would do anything
for their loved ones, which is so you.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
One thing about Desiree Desiree not to put her business
out there, but she has no kids and she'll blow
me up. Like it'll be like six am and she
starts texting me and I do not respond until I've
dropped off my kids to school. So I feel like
I have those are my work hours, and like my
she'll be blowing me up and I'll be like, I'll
(06:41):
call you when I drop off the kids. Yeah, I
always know when Iris is gonna call me, Yeah, like
as soon as the last kids dropped off, And then
I'm calling her and I'm like okay, and then we're
on the phone, like she I'm not a phone person,
Like I don't really talk on the phone. I'm on
the phone with this girl every single day for like
multiple hours. Yeah. It's crazy.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah it's nuts, but talk about everything. Okay, this one
is really you. They have amazing intuition. Nothing gets past them.
Tauruses are people that trust their gut and always seem
to make the right decisions, which I feel like that's
been really helpful for you and you're investing. And then
they are determined with a practical and pragmatic head on
(07:21):
their shoulders. They don't waste time complaining about things they
have to do. Instead they just get on with things.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And then famous tourist personalities are George Clooney and Adele.
I love Adele. Yeah, I love George Clooney. Yeah, I
feel like that was.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Those are great.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
You know, I have a little zodiac app that I
go to and I was like, why are we so
compatible in friendship? I don't know about relationships. Have you
ever dated a Taurus.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Oh, but Taurus men and women are totally different.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
It's dangerous because I.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Feel like Scorpio women and men are totally different too.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
But some of the things that it said why we click,
Like as a friendship and a girl friendship, we're both
loyo as fuck. We neither of us do fake friendships,
and I feel like that's us to a tee even
while we're somewhere at an event or something like if
we don't, if we don't vibe with you, we're not
gonna We're not gonna fake the funk or be in
your face. It's gonna be like a high and a bye. Right.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Sometimes she has to check my face because I like.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Like fix your face like so. And then and then
trust matters to both Scorpios. Scorpio guards emotion and Taurus
guards stability, and I feel like that is like truly us,
Like for me, it's like you like stable, being stable
is very important. And then I think I already said this,
(08:38):
but we're we're opposite like store like turist grounds Scorpio
and Scorpio pushes tourists out of my comfort zone. And
then we have shared values. So I think we both
love security, honesty, commitment, and consistency, and money and money,
a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yeah. I feel like Taurus and Scorpios are definitely motor
made of my money.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah we yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Let's get into it because this is why we're here today.
I'm super excited to be here because I think so
many people don't know your story, and I think a
lot of people are like, what does she do? How
does she make money? Like how did she get to
where she is? And so that's what we're going to
talk ab right.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
I think people people forget. I feel like they forget
like I've put in the grind. I've worked everywhere. Like
they just look at my life now on Instagram and
they're like, oh my gosh, she just woke up and
lives this amazing life. And I'm like, babe, I've worked
every job that you can probably think of except being
a stripper. I've never been a shipper. But like, I'm
(09:47):
still working and people don't see that because I don't
have a nine to five that I'm clocking into, but
I have like a twenty four hour NonStop that like
we're never I'm never checking out of, you know. I
feel like being an entrepreneur is harder than like clocking
into a nine to five where I'm like I'm here,
I'm out, peace out, you know what I mean. It's
like non stop for us. Like last night we're watching
We're like at an event at a party, nine o'clock
(10:09):
at night and we're like playing poker. Midway, you get
an email we're like working. I'm like, how are we working?
On the side, and everybody's like, are you guys working?
We're like, yeah, no.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
But I think a lot of people think your road
to success was a really easy one, and you and
I both know it wasn't. So I think let's start
from the beginning. You come from an immigrant family. Your
parents are from El Salvador. Where did you grow up
and what kind of household did you grow up in?
And how did that play into who you are today.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
I think, like my story, and I always say this,
like my story starts with my parents' story, and it
starts with Ol Salvador. And I think that's why, like
I go so hard to put El Salvador on the map,
because it's not talked about enough. I'm clearly like slvy queen,
I'm gonna rep it till I die. And how I
grew up was I grew up very very humble beginnings
(10:59):
like my parents. My dad in particular, like he worked
every single day. Like the only thing I remember as
a like as a child that I did with my
dad together was go to Denny's on a Sunday. Sunday
was the only day that he wouldn't work. So every
Sunday we would go to Denny's. And it was like
my like treat with him, you know. But I saw
(11:21):
hard work from like a child. So and I never
wanted to ask my dad for stuff. So since I
was like in elementary school, I feel like the hustler mentality,
I was like I need to make money, you know.
So I would tell my dad like can you take
me this moort and final to buy me the box
of hot Cheetos, And then I would go to school
and I would sell them for a dollar. We would
(11:41):
get them for twenty five cents, and I would sell
them for a dollar. Then I got to middle school
and I was like bedazzling shorts. Then I got to
high school and the minute I turned fifteen, I was
like I needed a job, Like I need it because
my dad would give me lunch money, like five dollars
a day. I would save it I wouldn't need, and
then I would buy new Vans every week because I
wanted to have like matching Chanceport matching vans, like I've
(12:02):
always been into like fashion and like like what I
thought was fashion back then, you know, it was like
Vans and like a matching bra strap and like that
was my thing.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And wait, a matching bra strap.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah, Brad shop in your head. So I have like
a like you never had that.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
I don't think we did that.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Oh you're from the Baby the By We had the Chalkers,
also from La born and raised. I grew up on
like Santa Monica and Gower. So if you know the area,
it's very very Hispanic world, not the nicest. And it
was about eight of us living in a two bedroom apartment.
(12:38):
Like one thing about Latinos and like you know, being
in a Hispanic household if you're Tianny, somewhere to stay,
if you're TII, like you're just gonna be like come
on and we're just gonna sleep on the floor and
make it work. So it was like three bedrooms in
one bed in one bedroom, like three beds in one
bedroom and we would just I don't know, we would
just figure it out. It was like eight of us.
(12:58):
We I grew up with like cocker roaches, and like,
I mean, it was like now that I look back
at it and like how my kids are growing up
and how I live now, I'm like, wow, it was crazy,
like you know, but at the time it was so
normal for me. Now I see a freaking cockerroach or
a spider and I'm like in a scream and act like,
you know, like oh my god. You know. Yeah, back
then it was so it was so normal that it's
(13:19):
not normal this time.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
You are in acting school trying to be an actor.
How did you get into lashes?
Speaker 1 (13:25):
So I at the time was with ALA's dad and
he lived in London, so I was started traveling to London,
and I also had never traveled like outside of the country.
I'm like nineteen at this age, and everybody in London
had these lashes and actually, like two of his family
(13:46):
members had a like businesses in lashes in London. So
that's where I thought about, like, oh, I could do
this as a side hustle like type of thing. And
it was actually there that I took my class. I
took a class in London and I was researching everything
there and that's where the idea came up. And when
I came back, I was like, I'm gonna I don't
(14:07):
know anybody in LA that's doing lashes, Like I'm going
to be that person in La. So I came back
and I just put it all into work.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
And how long from when you took the course to
when you actually started taking clients? Two months like I started.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I started taking clients and doing everything within yeah, like
a month and your bed I was really good. Like
even when I took the class the late the girl
there was like, oh my god, like have you done
this before? And I was like no, like I've never
be but you've.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Always been going with your hands.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
I've always been That's what I'm saying. I've always been
really resourceful, like I'm telling you, I was like, but
dazzling this. I was making cakes, I remember, like for fun,
like I would make perverted cakes and they were really
really cool and good, but just like for fun.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I was so impressed when I saw those.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Yeah, I've always been like a do it yourself girl,
you know, so like I was just like just for
fun though, and naturally, Like I never thought I never
even like thought that like people in the beauty space
would make this much money, right, And it really opened
my eyes where like beauty is the one thing that
(15:12):
women will spend their last money on. It doesn't matter
if they have a testament to that. Everybody was so good,
especially in Los Angeles, like we're we're all looking for
like what's going to keep us young? Hot? And like
also like low maintenance like lashes. You get your lashes
done every three weeks, like and you're like great, Like
I don't need makeup. I feel like I'm like I look,
you know, like my eyes that look refreshed, Like yeah,
(15:34):
so what do they say?
Speaker 2 (15:36):
These are my high maintenance things I do to stay
low maintenance?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Yeah, lashes. Self care is like a non negotiable, especially
for me.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
But were you able to live off your income from lashing?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Like right away, oh my god, yeah, I quit my job.
I was like, wow, I was making five six hundred
dollars every two weeks. I started making that, Like I'm
not forget when I went to go do when they
called me to do Selena, go missus lashes, and I went,
I'll never forget that. They paid me five hundred dollars
to do her lashes. I didn't even know how much
to charge. I didn't know, you know. And I remember
(16:10):
her assistant at the time, Teresa, was like, this is
how much we were paying her last girl, like six
hundred dollars or whatever, and I was like, no, no,
Like I was uncomfortable, you know, I did.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
It was that imposters.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
I didn't know. And I remember I got in the
car and I was like, I just got paid five
hundred dollars for two hours, and I was like that
used to be my whole paycheck in two weeks. Yeah,
you know. So that really opened up my mind. And
as we know, I am very motivated by money. So
I was like, I'm going to pay six times a
million more like I was, you know, and it's crazy
(16:41):
what you can really do in the beauty world, Like
it's insane. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
So, do you think that you got your work ethic
from watching your dad as you were growing up?
Speaker 1 (16:49):
One hundred percent? Like, I know that my work ethic
came from my dad, but I also want to say
that it also my mom's situation. My mom never worked
when she was with my dad, and that also inspired
me to never want to be like that, like in
the way that like I don't like asking a man
for anything.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Like I was always like why doesn't she work?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Like why does it?
Speaker 3 (17:11):
You know?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
And it's really my dad didn't want her to work
because my dad wanted me, Like I'm my dad's only child.
My dad wanted me to have like home cook meals
and like so but like her in her defense, like
before my dad, because I have an older sister and
an older brother, Like she worked and figured it out
and like, you know, was that person. And then my
dad came in and was like trying to give her
like a soft life, you know. And I feel like
(17:36):
at first it was like, Okay, yeah, this is nice,
but then I feel like she resented him in a
way where like well I don't have my own stuff,
you know, And I was like I never want to
be that person. So my whole thing, like even with
my daughter, and I was like, you always have to
have your own no matter who you're with, And I
think that's so important. God forbid something happens to your husband,
(17:57):
like how can you take care of your kids? How
can you? So that's always been instilled in my head
where I'm like I'm not depending on nobody, I'm depending
on me. And it's also the tourist, like I'm very
strong minded, and I think that all of that has
really showed in my work but also continues to push
me where I'm like, I'm not stopping. I do have
some friends that are like, no, my dream was always
(18:17):
to be a housewife. That was never my dream, like
my dream and I've said it to even when I
got with Troy he was playing for the Lakers, and
I was like, I'm telling you right now, like I
would be miserable if you're looking for a housewife, Like
that's never going to be me. Like I would be
miserable if I didn't have an outside purpose, you know,
and I know and I know that.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
And well people assume when he was playing overseas that
you were just going to move your life over there,
and You're like, no, I have to like have a to.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Be asked me too. He said, well, you know, Milan
sent me an offer, and I go, you should a
hundred percent go, And he goes, would you call me?
I go absolutely not, Like I can't, you know. I
was like, but I will, I will go. I will travel.
I love to travel. I will go once a month
to see you. But like, no, I have my own boundaries,
I have my own dreams, and I just I it's
very important for me to keep those things forward and
(19:04):
not let it go, you know, because I think, like
a lot of people don't talk about when you have
kids and you get married.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
You lose yourself, you lose your life, you give up.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
This, you think. And for me, I'm like, I need
to have a balance. Like there's no such thing as
like an equal balance. Some days I give my mommy
roll one hundred percent and some days I give it
five percent. Like today, I'm like, he's doing a drop off,
you know, and I have two other you know, work
things to be doing. But it's about like balance and
finding the team and being honest about like your needs.
(19:33):
Because I think sometimes women were like, let me just
shut up and make it easy.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
We try to do it all. We try to do
it all.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Yeah yeah, And I'm like, no, yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Well, speaking of your dreams, what were young Iris's dreams
and was there anyone or anything that really inspired you.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
My young dreams were I always wanted to have a business,
but I didn't know like what kind of business. But
like my first dream was actually to be an actress.
I wanted to be an actress. Like I had done
a vision board. I had put like Eva Longoria on
their Eva Mendes, like all the Latinas that you think
(20:11):
were like you know up there, like those are the
people that I looked up to, like jay Lo, Selena Knia,
like all of those. Those were like, okay, I'm gonna
be one of them. Like and then I also because
I lived I was born and raised in LA and
I saw so many struggling actors or people moved here
from Texas and they were living in their car and
they were trying to like book a job to pay
(20:34):
for this. I was like, I don't want to be
that person either. So like I never auditioned. I never.
I did like a two year conservative acting school in LA.
But I had a job, and I was you know,
once you finished the school, you were able to audition
or stuff. I was like, I need to I'll come
back to this as a hobby when I have something set.
And that's how Starlash came came about because I was like,
(20:57):
I cannot not make money. So then I was like
what business could I do that? Like I could could
give me flexible hours where I could audition, where I
could do this. And then I kept thinking about lashes,
and I was like, nobody in La like talks about
getting their lashes. And at the time it was like
Jlo getting her lashes done and like all of these people,
(21:18):
but I was like, no one's talking about where they're going.
It was like a hidden like the thing, like we
weren't openly talking about all the stuff we were getting done.
It's not like nowadays where I feel like people don't
keep and they share everything. So I was like, I'm
going to be that person like you were O G.
I'm gonna be this celebrity lash artist and I'm going
to build this side hustle, but I'm going to be
(21:40):
anonymous in case I suck.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
So that's how I started it.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
And then I kept thinking about the name. I'm like who,
And I was like, how do I even start a business?
So Google was my best friend. I googled how to
start a business, and they told me go to go
daddy Dome and get a domain and do that. And
I was just like and I did everything wrong. Like
when I opened and the store, I thought all you
needed was money and I didn't know you had to
get a permit for the sign. I didn't know you
(22:05):
had to get you know, BE eighty eight compliance. Like
I didn't know, and I didn't have somebody helping me.
But I always say, like the best type of learning
is hands on and like getting thrown in there. And somehow,
some way I made away. I made a name for
myself everybody. I was doing everybody's lashes. Yeah, like and
(22:27):
out of your dad's apartment and out of my dad's apartment, okay,
Like it was so crazy. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I mean I think about your sturel all the time,
and I think it kind of goes back to your
kind of Taurus intuition and instinct because you saw an
opportunity that like a lot of people might have overlooked
and was like, okay, like I'm going to be the
best at that. And you also like maybe talk about
how you got noticed and like who the first person?
Speaker 1 (22:51):
So the first person that actually started liking my pictures?
So I was looking at it like what are people
doing and what am I going to do different? And
nobody was seeing them before and afters. And I love
just like stories like I loved I love to hear
people's stories of like where they were, how did how
did they become successful? Like I love stuff like that,
which is one of the reasons why I really want
(23:11):
to do this podcast, was because I want to know,
like your story, how did you become successful and like
you know, and your struggles and like I love that.
So I was like, no one is posting before and
after pictures of lashes, like show me what your lashes
look like before some people have no lashes, and show
me what they look like after. So what I started
doing was all of my pictures were a side by
side of before and after. So that caught the attension
(23:34):
of Christina Milion. She started liking my pictures and then
I was like, I saw her liking my stuff, and
I was like wait. I was like, let me DM
her and ask her if I could do her lashes.
So I sent her a dmay I.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Saw you're liking my pictures, would love to do your.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Lashes if you're ever interested.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
She hit me back and she was like, yeah, let's
set it up.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
She was so nice. Mind you like, I've only been
doing lashes for like a month or two, so I'm
like super fresh, you know, Like I'm like I suck. Yeah,
So I went to go do her. I take like
two hours. I'm like nervous because I'm like, oh my god,
I'm taking so long on this girl's lashes. She was
so sweet posted me on Instagram. And when she posted
me on Instagram, it was like a ripple effect. Then
(24:12):
I got a call to do Selena Goms's lashes. Then
it was Kylie's lashes, then it was Ariana Grandet. Then
it was a ripple effect. And the thing with me
was they all tried me, but they all stayed with me.
So I think all of that gave me like credibility,
like okay, So I just became like the person. I mean.
I remember looking at my emails because at the time,
(24:33):
I used to book everything through this starlash email and
I remember when they had posted me like multiple people,
and I would look at my emails and it'd be
like one hundred emails a day. I'd be like, oh
my god. So I went to Home Goods, I got
a boored and I put my hours were from nine
am to seven pm because my dad normally gets to hold
me like seven from work, so those were my working hours.
(24:55):
And I was just when I tell you, I was
doing everybody's lashes. I would not turn down nobody like
I remember one time somebody They're like, I need an
in house in Chino Hills. That was so dangerous. I
drove my ass to Chino Hills to do whatever it took.
I was not turning down a dollar. I was like no,
like I and I did it for two years, like
straight by myself, just hustling. I wouldn't even like I
(25:18):
didn't have a life and I have a social life,
Like all I wanted to do was make money. I
was going every week to Sacks Fifth Avenue and buying
a Chanel bag when they were fifty two hundred dollars,
and I was like on an all time high. I
was like, I feel like I was like when I
tell you, I was like a lash dealer, Like I
had so much cash it was crazy. And then that
(25:42):
led me to invest I always used to think though, like,
oh my god, if something happens to my hands, how
am I going to continue this money? And I was like,
I need to diversify my my portfolio. And then that
led me to investing in a medical spa. Thank god
I did that, because.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Which is so smart. By the way, because I I
think when you're making that much money, a lot of
people just get lost in the dollar siens. They're like Okay,
like I'm just gonna keep doing this over and over.
But I think what's amazing is that you kind of
saw the ceiling there and you realize, like I have
to find other ways to just amplify this.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
And I used to research to like what how many
jobs do successful people haven't I remember I read some
words that like the average successful person has like six incomes,
and I remember thinking, like, Okay, what else could I do?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Because my fear was always like running out or like
me now, like coming from where I came from, Like
I worked like retail jobs where they were paying me
like seven eight dollars an hour, you know what I mean.
My paychecks were like five hundred dollars every two weeks
to now making like fifteen hundred dollars a day.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Yeah, I was like, oh no, especially now in an
era you can't just have one job like everybody has to.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Do nowadays, especially Yeah, But at the time, I also,
like I look back now, knowing everything that I know
in business, I'm like, damn, like I could have done
products really quick. I could have done you know, my business.
I could have sold my business.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Like, do you have regrets, like any regrets?
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Look, yeah, the way I did. I did certain things, yes,
but only because I didn't have that knowledge and I
didn't have parents to guide me, to help me. Like
I'm the I'm the typical Hispanic daughter that was translating
for their parents, that was filling out her school forms.
You know, I was putting other people's numbers. It was
(27:29):
like in high school. They were never calling my parents
when I would ditch school. You know, they were calling
whatever number I put down I was. I've always been scrappy,
but I that was me. You know, I've never walked
a straight line like I've My lines have been super
crooked and curved and just trying to figure it out
and make a way. And I always say that, like
one thing about our culture, like our cura, we will
(27:53):
figure it out. Like and I think, like once you
come from nothing, like I'm so so grateful for how
I grew up because it's like I always appreciate everything
more because I know everything I didn't have, Do you
know what I mean? But I'm always like, Okay, what's
the worst that can happen, I could go back down
to where I came from, you know what I mean.
I'm not going to allow that for myself, but I
also think, like, what's the worst that could happen?
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Yeah, you take risks. So Starlash was your launching pad,
and then maybe talk a little bit about how you
got into investing and the opportunity you saw and how
that really grew you to where you are.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Now.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
You're not doing lashes anymore, you're full time investing, You're
an entrepreneur, and now you have some other really exciting
projects that people are going to see this year too. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
So I got a call from one of my business partners,
now Sev, and she asked me if I could come
do her lashes at the salon in Melrose. So I
get there and she's like, where are you working from?
And I'm like, I'm working for my dad's house, my
dad's apartment in Van Ice. She's like, why don't Why
(29:05):
don't you work here and we work together. You bring
me some of your celebrity clients and you get to
work here. And I was like, yeah, that's great, So
nice on Melrose. I'm like, what this is a dream okay.
So I start working from there, taking some clients on
the weekends, and they had one laser machine and this
machine they were seeing like so many people a day.
(29:25):
My max that I could see was like seven people
a day, okay, because it takes like about an hour
and a half ur lashes. So I was like, I
started getting curious about the machine, and I remember I
asked her how much is a laser machine? And she
said one hundred thousand dollars. So I was like in
my head, I was like, I'm gonna save the money.
I'm gonna save one hundred thousand dollars cash and then
I'm going to ask her if I can invest in
(29:45):
a machine buying a machine. So once I saved the money,
I asked her, have you ever thought about opening like
another location? And she was like not really, And I
was like, what if we opened one together, like we'll
put up the money in Sherman Oaks, and fully pitched
this idea to her, fully pushed it, and Sev was
so easy going, was like, yeah, let's do it. And
(30:06):
that's how I invested in the medical spall. You know.
We then brought in like other like five other family
members of hers basically made it, created a team, and
we opened twenty seven locations and then sold three years ago.
We sold seventy percent of the business and that was
(30:28):
my first investment. And during COVID, when a lot of
the beauty salons were shutting down because of the regulations,
Starlash was completely full stop clothes because we were a
storefront and I had seven girls working for me for
at Starlash. At this point, I had opened my own
(30:49):
Starlash because the location that I had with SEV seven Starlash,
I had outgrew the space there and I was like,
I need my own space where I can add more
than seven girls. Okay, this is how Poppin' Star Starlash
was like if you were like if you just knew
anything about beauty, like you were at Star.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
It was all over Instagram.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Yeah, it was like if you were a.
Speaker 4 (31:10):
Baddie, you had your Starlash.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
So I COVID fully, like honestly COVID fully messed up
my business. Like it. I lost a lot of the
girls then because everybody went independent, you know, and people
some people wanted me to double dick. They're like, hey,
can you pay me cash on the side, and still
collect you know how they were collecting like unemployment and
(31:33):
all that, and I was like, no, I can't. And
so during that time, what kept me afloat was my
other investment because sev Laser was considered a medical spa,
so we never closed. So then that taught me like,
oh damn, I gotta I gotta invest in other stuff,
you know. And from there, I feel like my entrepreneur
side came more. And I think during COVID, I mean
(31:56):
that's when I had signed with you guys, and we
really locked into more like in fluence your deals and like,
so then I had that as like a third income.
And then from that, like I had told you, like
I want to invest in a lot of female founded businesses,
and then I, you know, I invested and then I
did a podcast with Eva. Yeah full circle because a
lot of people may not know that you also work
(32:16):
with Eva, and you worked with her for a really
or ever time, so there was a lot of like
little moments where I was like, this is so crazy,
Like she works with somebody that I've always looked up to.
And then you used to tell me little things like,
oh my god, you remind me so much of Eva
or like.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
You guys remind me so much of each other, which
is so funny and it's I think that you both
really created a lane for yourself. You didn't and in
your own avenues like anyone that told you know you,
you were like, Okay, I'm talking to the wrong person exactly,
you know. And so it's exciting to see you guys
(32:50):
collaborate now together because I think that you just have
are so much more powerful like together as a community.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
So like twenty twenty, I was in the Bahamas and
I did for Kylie's birthday. I was on Kylie's birthday trip.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
I remember I was like, you have to be available
for this.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yeah, And it's so funny because I remember like I
was really excited to do that podcast with her, And
I remember I told Kim because I was like, oh,
I have to go to a podcast like in one
of the rooms or whatever. She's like, O, who are
you doing the podcast? Case? I was like Eva Longoria
Like I was like I've always like loved her, like
I've had her on my vision board. So it was
so full circle. And the minute we got on the
(33:28):
podcast and I connected with her, I felt like I
just knew her like it was. So she made it
so comfortable and so easy. And then she started bringing
me into deals and I invested in you know, casadel Soul,
and now I mean she's literally like one thing about Eva.
She's such a girl's girl and she really like puts
on for her community, and I feel like she wants
you to win. And even when we're like at events
(33:50):
together or like they want to take a picture of her,
she'd be like, get up, get up, like get in
the picture with me. Like She's like, I've never had
somebody kind of like pull me up like that.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
So she truly like she really bless those around you know,
she really really like puts on for her community.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
And yeah, she's like one of those that I'm like,
I love her. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
So I feel like at this transition of you going
from starlash to investing, it was like the perfect timing.
How much of your success would you say was attributed
to luck or preparation hard work?
Speaker 1 (34:24):
I think I think it's both. I think like I
think you can't there's no such thing as overnight success
or like anything that sounds too good to be true.
Is like there's no thing as fast cash and fast money,
like I don't believe in that. I believe like you
have to put in the work. But I also believe
that like some people are born with a certain luck,
(34:45):
like some people like will find their way, you know
what I mean. Like I do think it's like ten
percent luck, and I know, I know I'm a lucky person.
But how my luck comes is by the people that
God places in my life. Like every time I think
like how am I going to get to this next
level of success of where I want to be, He'll
drop a eva, He'll drop somebody that's going to open
(35:08):
the doors to my next road, do you know what
I mean. Yeah, So I feel like a lot of
it is luck, a lot of it is God. Like
I like my dad, Like my dad never went to
church and stuff like that, but my dad praise every night.
My dad prays for me every night, and I always say,
like God's hearing my dad's prayers, you know what I mean, Like,
(35:28):
like my dad is always like, oh, like I'm so
happy for you, Like I continue to pray for you
every day, and I think, like God truly looks out
for me.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Yeah. Well, I feel like that was a reason that
was so important for you to tell your story, because
your story started arguably when you were a kid selling
cheetos at school and then really like it was it
twenty twelve you started Starlash twenty eleven, twenty thirteen. But
there's no such thing. I think this generation is so
quick to finding fast success. Ye see that online every
(36:01):
single day, but it really there's no such thing as fast.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
No, You've got to put in the work, yeah, especially
if you're creating a business. You're not gonna Some people
create the business and they think I'm going to get
this is gonna make me x amount and like a
month or two and it's like no, babe, it might
be like three years and then you start seeing you
know a little bit, but it's like nothing happens overnight.
You really have to put in the work. And I
think you have to create a good team, Like it
all comes down to your team, and I see that
(36:25):
more and more, especially with where we're at now, you know,
with negotiations and our team and everything, like it comes
down to creating a good team.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
If there's anybody that's listening to this episode, what's one
thing that you would want to leave them with to
inspire them just based off of your story and where
you are today.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
I think, don't look for other people to believe in you,
Like all you need is one person to believe in you,
and that one person is you, because I remember like
even when I started start lash, like my dad didn't
see the vision, my family like nobody, nobody got it.
But I was like I I believe in me, you know.
And I think sometimes people are searching for another person
(37:04):
to believe in them, and I think it all starts
with you. If you have that dream, if you have
that mindset and you're willing to put in the work,
you're gonna get to where I am at or maybe
even further. But I feel like that's my one piece
of advice, is like, believe in you, put in the work,
and like, don't don't let nobody stop you. Thank you
so much for being here today. I think nobody else
(37:26):
knows me more than you, truly, and I think you
have been one of the one of the people that
have pushed me, believed in me from the start, and
now it's all paying off, babe.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Thanks V.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
But yeah, I hope that if you're watching this episode,
you feel inspired, that you enjoyed it, and that you
stay tuned for all the episodes that we have coming
up on Against All Odds. Thank you so much for
watching today's episode. Against a Lots is a Hyphene Media
Group production in partnership with I Heartsmichu podcast Network. For
(38:02):
more of your favorite shows, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome to Against All Lots Podcasts. I'm your host, Iris Palmer.
For those of you that don't know me, I'm going
to tell you a little bit about me. I am
an entrepreneur, a mommy, a fiance. You've probably seen me
doing everybody's lashes, or investing, or just on Instagram, you know,
wearing something fashionable or with my cute kids. But I
(00:32):
wanted to tell you guys that this is my first episode.
I'm so excited. I wanted to start by sharing why
I wanted to do this podcast. It's really important for
me to inspire those that come from similar circumstances as
I did and didn't see a way and just had
a dream and kept going and somehow we made it.
(00:53):
We made it to be whatever level of success you
are chasing, because I know success different for everybody, and
I wanted to share a little bit of my story
with you guys. Actually a lot of my story with
you guys, but I thought it was really important for
my first episode, for you guys to get to know me.
I come from immigrant parents from a Salvador, and I've
(01:16):
been a hustler my whole life. I am still hustling,
but I have reached certain levels of success that I
feel like are very inspirational. And I brought in my
manager friend family, who has started with me from the
(01:37):
very beginning, who I spend almost every day speaking to,
and I feel like, who knows me the best to
ask me questions and for you guys to get to
know me better. So let me introduce Dasire, my one
and only manager now friend family. And I feel like
my writer die, like my little scorpio writer Die.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
I feel like we were meant to.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, we like fit. Yeah, we just fit like and
she's never getting rid of me.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
No, you're one and only.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
So take us back to the year.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
It's so funny because this was when I was in
management and I was working at a company and they
were like, you have to sign someone, and I was like, okay, who.
And I had been watching Iris for like a long time,
and you had like probably like one hundred thousand followers
yeah at the time, and you were actually still doing lashes,
like I remember you had your store on Ventura, like
(02:38):
you had all your starlash girls, and so I was like,
there is something about this girl that I feel like
is just so much bigger than what she's doing with
her lashes and her business, and so I think I
like DMed you or I emailed you. I don't remember exactly,
and I was like, hey, like come in for a meeting,
and I remember you came in.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
And at the time, I was like, I've always played
multiple roles for myself, like when I first started starlash,
like I was playing my own secretary. I'd be like,
she's not available, Like I was playing different roles. And
I remember at the time, I was getting these Instagram
deals from like you know, like different fashion brands, and
I was doing my own deals like pretending. So when
(03:18):
you DM me, I was like perfect, Like I needed this.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
I remember you had a really horrible haircare deal at
the time, and I was like, why is she accepting
like this little money for this deal? No, But then
we had a meeting and I just feel like it clicked,
and I feel like it was the right time because
you and we can talk about this on the podcast,
but like you're such a visionary, I think with your
own life, and I think you truly have manifested everything
(03:43):
that is in front of you today and everything that
is to come. And so we had little similarities that
kind of came up like little synchronicities in that meeting,
and I was like, Okay, yeah, this is meant to be.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So we started working together and the rest is history.
Now we do everything. Yeah, yeah, we start still work together.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Yeah, And honestly, like, I feel like you inspire me
every day because it's never like enough, and not in
a bad way, because I think like as humans, you
have to be motivated in order to just like you
want to continue to hit new levels in your life.
Like there's never just like one level of success, and
I think you're the definition of that. And so it's fun.
We get to do a lot of cool things together.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yeah, I feel like, so we're really both really into
zodiac signs. So like I'm gonna start there. She's Scorpio.
She's a Scorpio and I'm a taurust we're sister signs,
and we're sister signs, but we're also the true definition
of a Scorpio and a Taurus. So like I feel
like I'm such a bull and I'm Earth and I'm grounded,
and I feel like sometimes like I ground her, but
(04:48):
she's very like Scorpios are crazy, They're so like they
push you outside of your comfort zone and she will
do that to me where sometimes I need that because
as a Taurus, we're so comfortable that we're like we're
good and she's like, no, you're gonna do this, Like
and I feel like you you know, whether it's PRP
and inject getting injecting it into my face, you push
(05:09):
me to do stuff that I would never do.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
It's so funny because everybody asked Iri was like, what
lip filler do you do? Like what you've done so
much to your face? And she actually has done nothing.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
I am the scary cat. She will be like we
need to do this, we need to do that, and
I'm like it's gonna hurt, like the PRP. I mean
it's like a naturally draw your own blood and they
inject it. But like I would never do that. She
makes me do. She's like you need to do this,
and I'm like, do I need to do it?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Yeah, So anything that she's tried is all my fault.
And it's like but it's so fun I love and
I've never had lit filler. By the way, like people
don't want to believe that these are my lips.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Look at my kids. We all have the exact same leg.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
You have the best lips. That's what I've been trying
to get for like the last ten years. So but
maybe I should read. I actually saved some stuff about toruses.
I want to see if it's like, if it resonates
with you. Okay, okay. So I picked these ones because
I feel like these are exact. So it says Taurus's
motto in life is live life in the moment. They
won't wait for tomorrow to follow their dreams. They know
(06:07):
what they want and aren't afraid to go out and
get it.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah. I'm not afraid. I'm going after all of my dreams.
I'm telling you that right now.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah. They put family first and they would do anything
for their loved ones, which is so you.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
One thing about Desiree Desiree not to put her business
out there, but she has no kids and she'll blow
me up. Like it'll be like six am and she
starts texting me and I do not respond until I've
dropped off my kids to school. So I feel like
I have those are my work hours, and like my
she'll be blowing me up and I'll be like, I'll
(06:41):
call you when I drop off the kids. Yeah, I
always know when Iris is gonna call me, Yeah, like
as soon as the last kids dropped off, And then
I'm calling her and I'm like okay, and then we're
on the phone, like she I'm not a phone person,
Like I don't really talk on the phone. I'm on
the phone with this girl every single day for like
multiple hours. Yeah. It's crazy.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah it's nuts, but talk about everything. Okay, this one
is really you. They have amazing intuition. Nothing gets past them.
Tauruses are people that trust their gut and always seem
to make the right decisions, which I feel like that's
been really helpful for you and you're investing. And then
they are determined with a practical and pragmatic head on
(07:21):
their shoulders. They don't waste time complaining about things they
have to do. Instead they just get on with things.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
And then famous tourist personalities are George Clooney and Adele.
I love Adele. Yeah, I love George Clooney. Yeah, I
feel like that was.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Those are great.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
You know, I have a little zodiac app that I
go to and I was like, why are we so
compatible in friendship? I don't know about relationships. Have you
ever dated a Taurus.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Oh, but Taurus men and women are totally different.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
It's dangerous because I.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Feel like Scorpio women and men are totally different too.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
But some of the things that it said why we click,
Like as a friendship and a girl friendship, we're both
loyo as fuck. We neither of us do fake friendships,
and I feel like that's us to a tee even
while we're somewhere at an event or something like if
we don't, if we don't vibe with you, we're not
gonna We're not gonna fake the funk or be in
your face. It's gonna be like a high and a bye. Right.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Sometimes she has to check my face because I like.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Like fix your face like so. And then and then
trust matters to both Scorpios. Scorpio guards emotion and Taurus
guards stability, and I feel like that is like truly us,
Like for me, it's like you like stable, being stable
is very important. And then I think I already said this,
(08:38):
but we're we're opposite like store like turist grounds Scorpio
and Scorpio pushes tourists out of my comfort zone. And
then we have shared values. So I think we both
love security, honesty, commitment, and consistency, and money and money,
a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yeah. I feel like Taurus and Scorpios are definitely motor
made of my money.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah we yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Let's get into it because this is why we're here today.
I'm super excited to be here because I think so
many people don't know your story, and I think a
lot of people are like, what does she do? How
does she make money? Like how did she get to
where she is? And so that's what we're going to
talk ab right.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
I think people people forget. I feel like they forget
like I've put in the grind. I've worked everywhere. Like
they just look at my life now on Instagram and
they're like, oh my gosh, she just woke up and
lives this amazing life. And I'm like, babe, I've worked
every job that you can probably think of except being
a stripper. I've never been a shipper. But like, I'm
(09:47):
still working and people don't see that because I don't
have a nine to five that I'm clocking into, but
I have like a twenty four hour NonStop that like
we're never I'm never checking out of, you know. I
feel like being an entrepreneur is harder than like clocking
into a nine to five where I'm like I'm here,
I'm out, peace out, you know what I mean. It's
like non stop for us. Like last night we're watching
We're like at an event at a party, nine o'clock
(10:09):
at night and we're like playing poker. Midway, you get
an email we're like working. I'm like, how are we working?
On the side, and everybody's like, are you guys working?
We're like, yeah, no.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
But I think a lot of people think your road
to success was a really easy one, and you and
I both know it wasn't. So I think let's start
from the beginning. You come from an immigrant family. Your
parents are from El Salvador. Where did you grow up
and what kind of household did you grow up in?
And how did that play into who you are today.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
I think, like my story, and I always say this,
like my story starts with my parents' story, and it
starts with Ol Salvador. And I think that's why, like
I go so hard to put El Salvador on the map,
because it's not talked about enough. I'm clearly like slvy queen,
I'm gonna rep it till I die. And how I
grew up was I grew up very very humble beginnings
(10:59):
like my parents. My dad in particular, like he worked
every single day. Like the only thing I remember as
a like as a child that I did with my
dad together was go to Denny's on a Sunday. Sunday
was the only day that he wouldn't work. So every
Sunday we would go to Denny's. And it was like
my like treat with him, you know. But I saw
(11:21):
hard work from like a child. So and I never
wanted to ask my dad for stuff. So since I
was like in elementary school, I feel like the hustler mentality,
I was like I need to make money, you know.
So I would tell my dad like can you take
me this moort and final to buy me the box
of hot Cheetos, And then I would go to school
and I would sell them for a dollar. We would
(11:41):
get them for twenty five cents, and I would sell
them for a dollar. Then I got to middle school
and I was like bedazzling shorts. Then I got to
high school and the minute I turned fifteen, I was
like I needed a job, Like I need it because
my dad would give me lunch money, like five dollars
a day. I would save it I wouldn't need, and
then I would buy new Vans every week because I
wanted to have like matching Chanceport matching vans, like I've
(12:02):
always been into like fashion and like like what I
thought was fashion back then, you know, it was like
Vans and like a matching bra strap and like that
was my thing.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And wait, a matching bra strap.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah, Brad shop in your head. So I have like
a like you never had that.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
I don't think we did that.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Oh you're from the Baby the By We had the Chalkers,
also from La born and raised. I grew up on
like Santa Monica and Gower. So if you know the area,
it's very very Hispanic world, not the nicest. And it
was about eight of us living in a two bedroom apartment.
(12:38):
Like one thing about Latinos and like you know, being
in a Hispanic household if you're Tianny, somewhere to stay,
if you're TII, like you're just gonna be like come
on and we're just gonna sleep on the floor and
make it work. So it was like three bedrooms in
one bed in one bedroom, like three beds in one
bedroom and we would just I don't know, we would
just figure it out. It was like eight of us.
(12:58):
We I grew up with like cocker roaches, and like,
I mean, it was like now that I look back
at it and like how my kids are growing up
and how I live now, I'm like, wow, it was crazy,
like you know, but at the time it was so
normal for me. Now I see a freaking cockerroach or
a spider and I'm like in a scream and act like,
you know, like oh my god. You know. Yeah, back
then it was so it was so normal that it's
(13:19):
not normal this time.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
You are in acting school trying to be an actor.
How did you get into lashes?
Speaker 1 (13:25):
So I at the time was with ALA's dad and
he lived in London, so I was started traveling to London,
and I also had never traveled like outside of the country.
I'm like nineteen at this age, and everybody in London
had these lashes and actually, like two of his family
(13:46):
members had a like businesses in lashes in London. So
that's where I thought about, like, oh, I could do
this as a side hustle like type of thing. And
it was actually there that I took my class. I
took a class in London and I was researching everything
there and that's where the idea came up. And when
I came back, I was like, I'm gonna I don't
(14:07):
know anybody in LA that's doing lashes, Like I'm going
to be that person in La. So I came back
and I just put it all into work.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
And how long from when you took the course to
when you actually started taking clients? Two months like I started.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I started taking clients and doing everything within yeah, like
a month and your bed I was really good. Like
even when I took the class the late the girl
there was like, oh my god, like have you done
this before? And I was like no, like I've never
be but you've.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Always been going with your hands.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
I've always been That's what I'm saying. I've always been
really resourceful, like I'm telling you, I was like, but
dazzling this. I was making cakes, I remember, like for fun,
like I would make perverted cakes and they were really
really cool and good, but just like for fun.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I was so impressed when I saw those.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Yeah, I've always been like a do it yourself girl,
you know, so like I was just like just for
fun though, and naturally, Like I never thought I never
even like thought that like people in the beauty space
would make this much money, right, And it really opened
my eyes where like beauty is the one thing that
(15:12):
women will spend their last money on. It doesn't matter
if they have a testament to that. Everybody was so good,
especially in Los Angeles, like we're we're all looking for
like what's going to keep us young? Hot? And like
also like low maintenance like lashes. You get your lashes
done every three weeks, like and you're like great, Like
I don't need makeup. I feel like I'm like I look,
you know, like my eyes that look refreshed, Like yeah,
(15:34):
so what do they say?
Speaker 2 (15:36):
These are my high maintenance things I do to stay
low maintenance?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Yeah, lashes. Self care is like a non negotiable, especially
for me.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
But were you able to live off your income from lashing?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Like right away, oh my god, yeah, I quit my job.
I was like, wow, I was making five six hundred
dollars every two weeks. I started making that, Like I'm
not forget when I went to go do when they
called me to do Selena, go missus lashes, and I went,
I'll never forget that. They paid me five hundred dollars
to do her lashes. I didn't even know how much
to charge. I didn't know, you know. And I remember
(16:10):
her assistant at the time, Teresa, was like, this is
how much we were paying her last girl, like six
hundred dollars or whatever, and I was like, no, no,
Like I was uncomfortable, you know, I did.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
It was that imposters.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
I didn't know. And I remember I got in the
car and I was like, I just got paid five
hundred dollars for two hours, and I was like that
used to be my whole paycheck in two weeks. Yeah,
you know. So that really opened up my mind. And
as we know, I am very motivated by money. So
I was like, I'm going to pay six times a
million more like I was, you know, and it's crazy
(16:41):
what you can really do in the beauty world, Like
it's insane. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
So, do you think that you got your work ethic
from watching your dad as you were growing up?
Speaker 1 (16:49):
One hundred percent? Like, I know that my work ethic
came from my dad, but I also want to say
that it also my mom's situation. My mom never worked
when she was with my dad, and that also inspired
me to never want to be like that, like in
the way that like I don't like asking a man
for anything.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Like I was always like why doesn't she work?
Speaker 1 (17:11):
Like why does it?
Speaker 3 (17:11):
You know?
Speaker 1 (17:12):
And it's really my dad didn't want her to work
because my dad wanted me, Like I'm my dad's only child.
My dad wanted me to have like home cook meals
and like so but like her in her defense, like
before my dad, because I have an older sister and
an older brother, Like she worked and figured it out
and like, you know, was that person. And then my
dad came in and was like trying to give her
like a soft life, you know. And I feel like
(17:36):
at first it was like, Okay, yeah, this is nice,
but then I feel like she resented him in a
way where like well I don't have my own stuff,
you know, And I was like I never want to
be that person. So my whole thing, like even with
my daughter, and I was like, you always have to
have your own no matter who you're with, And I
think that's so important. God forbid something happens to your husband,
(17:57):
like how can you take care of your kids? How
can you? So that's always been instilled in my head
where I'm like I'm not depending on nobody, I'm depending
on me. And it's also the tourist, like I'm very
strong minded, and I think that all of that has
really showed in my work but also continues to push
me where I'm like, I'm not stopping. I do have
some friends that are like, no, my dream was always
(18:17):
to be a housewife. That was never my dream, like
my dream and I've said it to even when I
got with Troy he was playing for the Lakers, and
I was like, I'm telling you right now, like I
would be miserable if you're looking for a housewife, Like
that's never going to be me. Like I would be
miserable if I didn't have an outside purpose, you know,
and I know and I know that.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
And well people assume when he was playing overseas that
you were just going to move your life over there,
and You're like, no, I have to like have a to.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Be asked me too. He said, well, you know, Milan
sent me an offer, and I go, you should a
hundred percent go, And he goes, would you call me?
I go absolutely not, Like I can't, you know. I
was like, but I will, I will go. I will travel.
I love to travel. I will go once a month
to see you. But like, no, I have my own boundaries,
I have my own dreams, and I just I it's
very important for me to keep those things forward and
(19:04):
not let it go, you know, because I think, like
a lot of people don't talk about when you have
kids and you get married.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
You lose yourself, you lose your life, you give up.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
This, you think. And for me, I'm like, I need
to have a balance. Like there's no such thing as
like an equal balance. Some days I give my mommy
roll one hundred percent and some days I give it
five percent. Like today, I'm like, he's doing a drop off,
you know, and I have two other you know, work
things to be doing. But it's about like balance and
finding the team and being honest about like your needs.
(19:33):
Because I think sometimes women were like, let me just
shut up and make it easy.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
We try to do it all. We try to do
it all.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Yeah yeah, And I'm like, no, yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Well, speaking of your dreams, what were young Iris's dreams
and was there anyone or anything that really inspired you.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
My young dreams were I always wanted to have a business,
but I didn't know like what kind of business. But
like my first dream was actually to be an actress.
I wanted to be an actress. Like I had done
a vision board. I had put like Eva Longoria on
their Eva Mendes, like all the Latinas that you think
(20:11):
were like you know up there, like those are the
people that I looked up to, like jay Lo, Selena Knia,
like all of those. Those were like, okay, I'm gonna
be one of them. Like and then I also because
I lived I was born and raised in LA and
I saw so many struggling actors or people moved here
from Texas and they were living in their car and
they were trying to like book a job to pay
(20:34):
for this. I was like, I don't want to be
that person either. So like I never auditioned. I never.
I did like a two year conservative acting school in LA.
But I had a job, and I was you know,
once you finished the school, you were able to audition
or stuff. I was like, I need to I'll come
back to this as a hobby when I have something set.
And that's how Starlash came came about because I was like,
(20:57):
I cannot not make money. So then I was like
what business could I do that? Like I could could
give me flexible hours where I could audition, where I
could do this. And then I kept thinking about lashes,
and I was like, nobody in La like talks about
getting their lashes. And at the time it was like
Jlo getting her lashes done and like all of these people,
(21:18):
but I was like, no one's talking about where they're going.
It was like a hidden like the thing, like we
weren't openly talking about all the stuff we were getting done.
It's not like nowadays where I feel like people don't
keep and they share everything. So I was like, I'm
going to be that person like you were O G.
I'm gonna be this celebrity lash artist and I'm going
to build this side hustle, but I'm going to be
(21:40):
anonymous in case I suck.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
So that's how I started it.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
And then I kept thinking about the name. I'm like who,
And I was like, how do I even start a business?
So Google was my best friend. I googled how to
start a business, and they told me go to go
daddy Dome and get a domain and do that. And
I was just like and I did everything wrong. Like
when I opened and the store, I thought all you
needed was money and I didn't know you had to
get a permit for the sign. I didn't know you
(22:05):
had to get you know, BE eighty eight compliance. Like
I didn't know, and I didn't have somebody helping me.
But I always say, like the best type of learning
is hands on and like getting thrown in there. And somehow,
some way I made away. I made a name for
myself everybody. I was doing everybody's lashes. Yeah, like and
(22:27):
out of your dad's apartment and out of my dad's apartment, okay,
Like it was so crazy. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I mean I think about your sturel all the time,
and I think it kind of goes back to your
kind of Taurus intuition and instinct because you saw an
opportunity that like a lot of people might have overlooked
and was like, okay, like I'm going to be the
best at that. And you also like maybe talk about
how you got noticed and like who the first person?
Speaker 1 (22:51):
So the first person that actually started liking my pictures?
So I was looking at it like what are people
doing and what am I going to do different? And
nobody was seeing them before and afters. And I love
just like stories like I loved I love to hear
people's stories of like where they were, how did how
did they become successful? Like I love stuff like that,
which is one of the reasons why I really want
(23:11):
to do this podcast, was because I want to know,
like your story, how did you become successful and like
you know, and your struggles and like I love that.
So I was like, no one is posting before and
after pictures of lashes, like show me what your lashes
look like before some people have no lashes, and show
me what they look like after. So what I started
doing was all of my pictures were a side by
side of before and after. So that caught the attension
(23:34):
of Christina Milion. She started liking my pictures and then
I was like, I saw her liking my stuff, and
I was like wait. I was like, let me DM
her and ask her if I could do her lashes.
So I sent her a dmay I.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Saw you're liking my pictures, would love to do your.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Lashes if you're ever interested.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
She hit me back and she was like, yeah, let's
set it up.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
She was so nice. Mind you like, I've only been
doing lashes for like a month or two, so I'm
like super fresh, you know, Like I'm like I suck. Yeah,
So I went to go do her. I take like
two hours. I'm like nervous because I'm like, oh my god,
I'm taking so long on this girl's lashes. She was
so sweet posted me on Instagram. And when she posted
me on Instagram, it was like a ripple effect. Then
(24:12):
I got a call to do Selena Goms's lashes. Then
it was Kylie's lashes, then it was Ariana Grandet. Then
it was a ripple effect. And the thing with me
was they all tried me, but they all stayed with me.
So I think all of that gave me like credibility,
like okay, So I just became like the person. I mean.
I remember looking at my emails because at the time,
(24:33):
I used to book everything through this starlash email and
I remember when they had posted me like multiple people,
and I would look at my emails and it'd be
like one hundred emails a day. I'd be like, oh
my god. So I went to Home Goods, I got
a boored and I put my hours were from nine
am to seven pm because my dad normally gets to hold
me like seven from work, so those were my working hours.
(24:55):
And I was just when I tell you, I was
doing everybody's lashes. I would not turn down nobody like
I remember one time somebody They're like, I need an
in house in Chino Hills. That was so dangerous. I
drove my ass to Chino Hills to do whatever it took.
I was not turning down a dollar. I was like no,
like I and I did it for two years, like
straight by myself, just hustling. I wouldn't even like I
(25:18):
didn't have a life and I have a social life,
Like all I wanted to do was make money. I
was going every week to Sacks Fifth Avenue and buying
a Chanel bag when they were fifty two hundred dollars,
and I was like on an all time high. I
was like, I feel like I was like when I
tell you, I was like a lash dealer, Like I
had so much cash it was crazy. And then that
(25:42):
led me to invest I always used to think though, like,
oh my god, if something happens to my hands, how
am I going to continue this money? And I was like,
I need to diversify my my portfolio. And then that
led me to investing in a medical spa. Thank god
I did that, because.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Which is so smart. By the way, because I I
think when you're making that much money, a lot of
people just get lost in the dollar siens. They're like Okay,
like I'm just gonna keep doing this over and over.
But I think what's amazing is that you kind of
saw the ceiling there and you realize, like I have
to find other ways to just amplify this.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
And I used to research to like what how many
jobs do successful people haven't I remember I read some
words that like the average successful person has like six incomes,
and I remember thinking, like, Okay, what else could I do?
Speaker 2 (26:27):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Because my fear was always like running out or like
me now, like coming from where I came from, Like
I worked like retail jobs where they were paying me
like seven eight dollars an hour, you know what I mean.
My paychecks were like five hundred dollars every two weeks
to now making like fifteen hundred dollars a day.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Yeah, I was like, oh no, especially now in an
era you can't just have one job like everybody has to.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Do nowadays, especially Yeah, But at the time, I also,
like I look back now, knowing everything that I know
in business, I'm like, damn, like I could have done
products really quick. I could have done you know, my business.
I could have sold my business.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Like, do you have regrets, like any regrets?
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Look, yeah, the way I did. I did certain things, yes,
but only because I didn't have that knowledge and I
didn't have parents to guide me, to help me. Like
I'm the I'm the typical Hispanic daughter that was translating
for their parents, that was filling out her school forms.
You know, I was putting other people's numbers. It was
(27:29):
like in high school. They were never calling my parents
when I would ditch school. You know, they were calling
whatever number I put down I was. I've always been scrappy,
but I that was me. You know, I've never walked
a straight line like I've My lines have been super
crooked and curved and just trying to figure it out
and make a way. And I always say that, like
one thing about our culture, like our cura, we will
(27:53):
figure it out. Like and I think, like once you
come from nothing, like I'm so so grateful for how
I grew up because it's like I always appreciate everything
more because I know everything I didn't have, Do you
know what I mean? But I'm always like, Okay, what's
the worst that can happen, I could go back down
to where I came from, you know what I mean.
I'm not going to allow that for myself, but I
also think, like, what's the worst that could happen?
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Yeah, you take risks. So Starlash was your launching pad,
and then maybe talk a little bit about how you
got into investing and the opportunity you saw and how
that really grew you to where you are.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
Now.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
You're not doing lashes anymore, you're full time investing, You're
an entrepreneur, and now you have some other really exciting
projects that people are going to see this year too. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
So I got a call from one of my business partners,
now Sev, and she asked me if I could come
do her lashes at the salon in Melrose. So I
get there and she's like, where are you working from?
And I'm like, I'm working for my dad's house, my
dad's apartment in Van Ice. She's like, why don't Why
(29:05):
don't you work here and we work together. You bring
me some of your celebrity clients and you get to
work here. And I was like, yeah, that's great, So
nice on Melrose. I'm like, what this is a dream okay.
So I start working from there, taking some clients on
the weekends, and they had one laser machine and this
machine they were seeing like so many people a day.
(29:25):
My max that I could see was like seven people
a day, okay, because it takes like about an hour
and a half ur lashes. So I was like, I
started getting curious about the machine, and I remember I
asked her how much is a laser machine? And she
said one hundred thousand dollars. So I was like in
my head, I was like, I'm gonna save the money.
I'm gonna save one hundred thousand dollars cash and then
I'm going to ask her if I can invest in
(29:45):
a machine buying a machine. So once I saved the money,
I asked her, have you ever thought about opening like
another location? And she was like not really, And I
was like, what if we opened one together, like we'll
put up the money in Sherman Oaks, and fully pitched
this idea to her, fully pushed it, and Sev was
so easy going, was like, yeah, let's do it. And
(30:06):
that's how I invested in the medical spall. You know.
We then brought in like other like five other family
members of hers basically made it, created a team, and
we opened twenty seven locations and then sold three years ago.
We sold seventy percent of the business and that was
(30:28):
my first investment. And during COVID, when a lot of
the beauty salons were shutting down because of the regulations,
Starlash was completely full stop clothes because we were a
storefront and I had seven girls working for me for
at Starlash. At this point, I had opened my own
(30:49):
Starlash because the location that I had with SEV seven Starlash,
I had outgrew the space there and I was like,
I need my own space where I can add more
than seven girls. Okay, this is how Poppin' Star Starlash
was like if you were like if you just knew
anything about beauty, like you were at Star.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
It was all over Instagram.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Yeah, it was like if you were a.
Speaker 4 (31:10):
Baddie, you had your Starlash.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
So I COVID fully, like honestly COVID fully messed up
my business. Like it. I lost a lot of the
girls then because everybody went independent, you know, and people
some people wanted me to double dick. They're like, hey,
can you pay me cash on the side, and still
collect you know how they were collecting like unemployment and
(31:33):
all that, and I was like, no, I can't. And
so during that time, what kept me afloat was my
other investment because sev Laser was considered a medical spa,
so we never closed. So then that taught me like,
oh damn, I gotta I gotta invest in other stuff,
you know. And from there, I feel like my entrepreneur
side came more. And I think during COVID, I mean
(31:56):
that's when I had signed with you guys, and we
really locked into more like in fluence your deals and like,
so then I had that as like a third income.
And then from that, like I had told you, like
I want to invest in a lot of female founded businesses,
and then I, you know, I invested and then I
did a podcast with Eva. Yeah full circle because a
lot of people may not know that you also work
(32:16):
with Eva, and you worked with her for a really
or ever time, so there was a lot of like
little moments where I was like, this is so crazy,
Like she works with somebody that I've always looked up to.
And then you used to tell me little things like,
oh my god, you remind me so much of Eva
or like.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
You guys remind me so much of each other, which
is so funny and it's I think that you both
really created a lane for yourself. You didn't and in
your own avenues like anyone that told you know you,
you were like, Okay, I'm talking to the wrong person exactly,
you know. And so it's exciting to see you guys
(32:50):
collaborate now together because I think that you just have
are so much more powerful like together as a community.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
So like twenty twenty, I was in the Bahamas and
I did for Kylie's birthday. I was on Kylie's birthday trip.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
I remember I was like, you have to be available
for this.
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yeah, And it's so funny because I remember like I
was really excited to do that podcast with her, And
I remember I told Kim because I was like, oh,
I have to go to a podcast like in one
of the rooms or whatever. She's like, O, who are
you doing the podcast? Case? I was like Eva Longoria
Like I was like I've always like loved her, like
I've had her on my vision board. So it was
so full circle. And the minute we got on the
(33:28):
podcast and I connected with her, I felt like I
just knew her like it was. So she made it
so comfortable and so easy. And then she started bringing
me into deals and I invested in you know, casadel Soul,
and now I mean she's literally like one thing about Eva.
She's such a girl's girl and she really like puts
on for her community, and I feel like she wants
you to win. And even when we're like at events
(33:50):
together or like they want to take a picture of her,
she'd be like, get up, get up, like get in
the picture with me. Like She's like, I've never had
somebody kind of like pull me up like that.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
So she truly like she really bless those around you know,
she really really like puts on for her community.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
And yeah, she's like one of those that I'm like,
I love her. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
So I feel like at this transition of you going
from starlash to investing, it was like the perfect timing.
How much of your success would you say was attributed
to luck or preparation hard work?
Speaker 1 (34:24):
I think I think it's both. I think like I
think you can't there's no such thing as overnight success
or like anything that sounds too good to be true.
Is like there's no thing as fast cash and fast money,
like I don't believe in that. I believe like you
have to put in the work. But I also believe
that like some people are born with a certain luck,
(34:45):
like some people like will find their way, you know
what I mean. Like I do think it's like ten
percent luck, and I know, I know I'm a lucky person.
But how my luck comes is by the people that
God places in my life. Like every time I think
like how am I going to get to this next
level of success of where I want to be, He'll
drop a eva, He'll drop somebody that's going to open
(35:08):
the doors to my next road, do you know what
I mean. Yeah, So I feel like a lot of
it is luck, a lot of it is God. Like
I like my dad, Like my dad never went to
church and stuff like that, but my dad praise every night.
My dad prays for me every night, and I always say,
like God's hearing my dad's prayers, you know what I mean, Like,
(35:28):
like my dad is always like, oh, like I'm so
happy for you, Like I continue to pray for you
every day, and I think, like God truly looks out
for me.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Yeah. Well, I feel like that was a reason that
was so important for you to tell your story, because
your story started arguably when you were a kid selling
cheetos at school and then really like it was it
twenty twelve you started Starlash twenty eleven, twenty thirteen. But
there's no such thing. I think this generation is so
quick to finding fast success. Ye see that online every
(36:01):
single day, but it really there's no such thing as fast.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
No, You've got to put in the work, yeah, especially
if you're creating a business. You're not gonna Some people
create the business and they think I'm going to get
this is gonna make me x amount and like a
month or two and it's like no, babe, it might
be like three years and then you start seeing you
know a little bit, but it's like nothing happens overnight.
You really have to put in the work. And I
think you have to create a good team, Like it
all comes down to your team, and I see that
(36:25):
more and more, especially with where we're at now, you know,
with negotiations and our team and everything, like it comes
down to creating a good team.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
If there's anybody that's listening to this episode, what's one
thing that you would want to leave them with to
inspire them just based off of your story and where
you are today.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
I think, don't look for other people to believe in you,
Like all you need is one person to believe in you,
and that one person is you, because I remember like
even when I started start lash, like my dad didn't
see the vision, my family like nobody, nobody got it.
But I was like I I believe in me, you know.
And I think sometimes people are searching for another person
(37:04):
to believe in them, and I think it all starts
with you. If you have that dream, if you have
that mindset and you're willing to put in the work,
you're gonna get to where I am at or maybe
even further. But I feel like that's my one piece
of advice, is like, believe in you, put in the work,
and like, don't don't let nobody stop you. Thank you
so much for being here today. I think nobody else
(37:26):
knows me more than you, truly, and I think you
have been one of the one of the people that
have pushed me, believed in me from the start, and
now it's all paying off, babe.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Thanks V.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
But yeah, I hope that if you're watching this episode,
you feel inspired, that you enjoyed it, and that you
stay tuned for all the episodes that we have coming
up on Against All Odds. Thank you so much for
watching today's episode. Against a Lots is a Hyphene Media
Group production in partnership with I Heartsmichu podcast Network. For
(38:02):
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