April 3, 2025 • 12 mins
Gia Zermani's journey from a Clinique employee to the founder of Waalà Beauty highlights her commitment to personalized care in the beauty industry. Inspired by her best friend's talent and propelled by necessity during her time in the music industry, Gia honed her stage makeup skills and later worked with renowned brands like Sephora, Dior, and Chanel. She identified a gap in customer attention that led her to establish Waalà Beauty in Wakefield, Massachusetts—a sanctuary for vegan, cruelty-free products and customized services. Central to her philosophy is adapting makeup trends to suit clients' unique features rather than mimicking unattainable, retouched images seen on social media.
Gia's resilience shines through her story of overcoming a cancer diagnosis discovered during a pre-surgery mammogram. While navigating her personal challenges, she deepened her dedication to helping clients feel beautiful despite life's hardships. This ethos drives her mission of restoration and self-rediscovery, whether at her studio or through mobile services. Waalà Beauty is more than makeup application—it's a space for empowerment and transformation. To explore her work, visit waalabeauty.com or follow, @Gia7waalabeauty on social media.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, YvonneGodfrey.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today, we're thrilled to haveGia Zermani with us.
She is the owner and founder ofVoila Beauty.
Gia, how are you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I'm doing great.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I'm really excited, wonderful, wonderful.
We're so excited to learn moreabout Wallah, how long you've
been in business, and as muchinformation as possible.
We're open, we're ready.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Let's go.
Let's go, your ultimatedestination for makeup services
and your go-to products that arevegan, cruelty-free and high
performance and affordable.
Beauty and mommy approved,right here in Wakefield 255
(00:58):
North Avenue, Wakefield,Massachusetts.
Wonderful, wonderful.
So how did you get into thisbusiness?
Gia Got into it due to my bestfriend when I was about 18.
She's an amazing makeup artist.
She's older than me but boy isshe talented and she hit the
little button for me to beintrigued and want to get
involved and learn about it.
So I dived in and, 18 workedfor Clinique and that was the
start of learning all about themakeup and then going further.
(01:20):
Being in the music industry, Ihad to learn makeup real fast
because I had no budget.
So I dived into that andlearned stage makeup and just
continued my journey working forthe best of the best in the
makeup industry.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So you had to learn fast.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Oh, very fast, very quick, especially in the world
of Sephora, dior, chanel, trishMcAvoy, tarte.
There were so many incrediblebrands that I've been blessed to
work with and learn from masterartists and skincare creators
that were just phenomenal, and Itook the world of nature and
science, put it in my backpocket and learned the
techniques and continue toharvest and grow my talent.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Wonderful, wonderful.
You've earned your PhD.
You are poor, hungry anddesperate to learn this
profession.
Work in this profession andmake it all that you need it to
be for your future, exactly.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
In New York City, where I come from, where I'm
from, and a transplant toMassachusetts, pizza was $1.25
and a 50-cent soda, so that wasour happy meal every day, and so
we got our paychecks on Fridaysfor amazing brands who make
millions of dollars.
You know, we did the hustle, wefreelanced and and we did
(02:33):
makeup services out of work.
Fashion week, we rocked it out.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Poor, hungry and desperate.
But here you are today.
Yes, wonderful, wonderful,wonderful.
So, gia, can you tell ourlisteners a little bit more
about your company?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
So Walla Beauty was born for the fact that there's a
void in the industry where Ifound customers were not getting
the attention that they needed.
In the world of Sephora, ulta,blue, mercury, department stores
like Bloomingdale's, saks, Imean, there's so many of them,
there's too many people and notenough artists.
So here that person can gettheir customized makeup for any
(03:19):
special occasion.
They can come and sit and wecan chat and I can find out what
are the needs that they'relooking for to perfect their
look for that special occasion,and that you couldn't do in a
department store or a Sephorabecause, again, not enough
artists, a lot of clients, butthey want to have that
one-on-one attention and that'swhere we can sit and really
(03:40):
curate what is you want toachieve, whether it's a natural
look, an evening look orsomething that is fun and
different.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Wow, well said, well said, thank you.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I mean, honestly, it's like even me going in and
I'm a makeup artist and I stillbuy products because not every
brand is the end all be all.
You can't get everything fromone brand, not even mine, so I
still have to keep on the trendsand I can see it the
frustration of like they want toask for the help they're not
getting it.
Well, you come to yourneighborhood Walla Beauty Studio
(04:13):
.
You're going to get theattention that you need and that
quiet time just to get that.
Look, for you can be off and bebeautiful, or I travel to you
and the privacy of your home andyou get your happy service.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Mobile service as well.
Absolutely, wow.
That's icing on the cake.
I love it, yes.
So what are some myths ormisconception in the cosmetic
industry?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
That when a client brings me a picture and they
think they're going to look likethe image, you know it's not
happening because that is aprofessionally done photo,
social media or in a magazine,and it's a nice way to kind of
get an idea of what the clientwants, but it's not reality.
But I am a master artist, proartist when it comes to copying
(05:02):
looks.
I can do it, but I'm going tomold it into your face shape,
your color of, your complexionand your eye shape.
So with me it's makeup is aboutmatching the hair color, eye
color and complexion.
So those pictures are great,they're fabulous, but it's not
always going to translate that.
That's going to be the lookyou're going to have.
You'll get close to it, but youhave to be realistic.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Fantasy is so much more attractive these days.
But yeah, I love what you'resaying.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
You can still give that look that is desired, yeah
absolutely, and again, I'm goingto customize it for you, for
what you're wearing, because,again, the outfits they're
wearing, you're not going to bewearing that outfit.
You know, and it's also, youknow, studio lighting, sun
lighting.
It's on a beach, it's beautiful, but I will, I will achieve it,
(05:50):
but I'm going to achieve it foryou.
So you have similar, but it'syour look I'm making for you and
it's more realistic, correct.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Love it, thank you.
So, outside of work, what doyou do for fun?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Oh for fun I, when we don't get that time.
But out of work, oh for funwhen we don't get that time out
of work.
It's all about family.
We are cooking, we are baking,we are bike riding.
I love Scattergories.
Personally, it's a brainthinker.
It's opposite of doing makeup,it's just honestly.
I love baking and seeingeverybody's face eating my yummy
(06:26):
cookies or my brownies, makingsome good pasta dishes with my
husband and our girls.
So my downtime is family time,to be honest, because we're
always on the go and to get thatit's super special.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah, family is very, very, very important to me as
well.
Yeah, you can't replace them,nope, and they grow fast,
Absolutely.
You got to enjoy the momentwhile you can.
Wonderful, so changing gears.
Can you describe one hardshipor one of life's challenge that
you rose above and can now saythat because of it, you're
(06:59):
better and you're stronger?
Speaker 3 (07:12):
had a health hiccup and I had to.
Well, let's just be honest,people, we're going to be very
honest.
I was looking for a breastenhancement and I couldn't get
the surgery if I didn't have amammogram.
Well, seven mammograms later, Ifound out that I'm atypical
high risk with these cancercells in the breast area and I
was like what I said?
Well, I'm not getting a breastenhancement, but I'm going to
get the surgery.
(07:33):
And only three people knew mymom, my husband and my boss at
Trish McEvoy, erica Emeralds,who is a thoroughbred and an
incredible influencer in ourindustry right now, and she
couldn't believe how I justdived into work leading up to
the surgery and, after me doingmakeup on clients, took my mind
(07:54):
off of it because I was helpingthem get through their moment
and they had no idea what I wasgoing through.
So I went in quick surgery,took the bad cells out good
health, hallelujah.
Health, hallelujah.
(08:15):
And I'm awesome ever since.
And that just gave me thelicense to life of continue
pursuing what you love.
Do not let anything hold youback, and you have a tribe of
people that will get you andelevate you and your faith in
God.
That's the ultimate truth.
So I lived through that, Iworked through that, I survived
that, and that made me propelmyself even more to come up with
this brand to help other peopleand just be there for them for
(08:36):
that makeup moment that they canforget their health hiccups and
feel beautiful.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
You know you got to go through your own personal
experience in order for yourfaith to build, for you to be
able to say to God, be the gloryAbsolutely.
It was nobody else but himworking through those doctors to
take away those cancer cellsand give you back your life,
give you back your health.
He worked through those doctors.
I'm very fortunate.
(09:04):
Only you can tell that storyCorrect.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
And those are the only three people that knew and
you know.
One was impressed, one was likeyou'll be, you know you'll get
through this.
And one was like you know Ineed you.
So I need to be strong.
And the clients kept me strongdoing makeup.
Ironically, it's crazy to say,but me going in dressed and
seeing the customer and doingthe makeup and just making them
(09:28):
feel good, knowing what I wasgoing through, it made me just
push it aside and say no, no, no.
We're going to push forward andthat's it.
I'm not allowing anything todefeat me.
So, because of that strengthand that emotional moment that
you go through, I know how to bethere for other people because
I'm going through it personally.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
I love the rise from the ashesthat you painted.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, and this is the first time I'm actually talking
about it.
I've kept it very, very quiet,but I feel that you know,
sometimes some stories need tobe heard to help other women and
give or people in general,general encouragement.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
And that they're not alone at all.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, because people can borrow strength from someone
else.
Correct?
Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely so, gia.
Please tell our listeners onething that they should remember
about Walla Beauty.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Walla Beauty is a place you go to to forget
everything and just feelbeautiful and regain something
that may be lost because we gothrough our hormonal changes or
something that needs to be found.
So it's a place that you knowyou're going to get your
attention.
You're going to get that timethe world deserved to be
pampered and feel beautiful andtranscend to whatever you want
(10:48):
to be.
It's Walla Beauty.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
We care about our customers.
I love it.
I love it.
So, Gia, even though you'vealready shared it at the
beginning, can you share withour listeners one more time?
How can our listeners learnmore about Walla Beauty?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook
GS7WalaBeauty GS7Y that's myname and 7 is my lucky number,
and I was a recording artist inthe music industry, so again had
to learn stage makeup veryquickly.
There was no budget for makeupartists at that time and you can
always go to the WalaBeautycomwebsite W-A-A-L-A-B-E-A-U-T-Ycom
(11:31):
, and there you can learn abouta little bit of snapshot of our
story, the history, and you canview the products and you can
book your services.
You can text me directly, emailme, call me, whatever is the
way you'd like to navigate, tocommunicate your service with me
.
I'm here for you, Beautiful, tocommunicate your service with
me.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
I'm here for you.
Beautiful, beautiful Gia, thankyou so much for being with us,
for sharing your story, forinforming our listeners.
We hate to see you go, but wereally appreciate you being on
the show with us today and wewish you and your business all
the very best moving forward.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
I thank you very, very much and I appreciate this
podcast and everybody just stayblessed and stay happy.
And thank you very, very muchand I appreciate this podcast
and everybody just stay blessedand stay happy, and thank you
for listening.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Amen.
Thank you for listening to thegood neighbor podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNP Northshorecom.
That's GNP North shorecom, orcall 857-703-9406.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, YvonneGodfrey.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today, we're thrilled to haveGia Zermani with us.
She is the owner and founder ofVoila Beauty.
Gia, how are you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
I'm doing great.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I'm really excited, wonderful, wonderful.
We're so excited to learn moreabout Wallah, how long you've
been in business, and as muchinformation as possible.
We're open, we're ready.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Let's go.
Let's go, your ultimatedestination for makeup services
and your go-to products that arevegan, cruelty-free and high
performance and affordable.
Beauty and mommy approved,right here in Wakefield 255
(00:58):
North Avenue, Wakefield,Massachusetts.
Wonderful, wonderful.
So how did you get into thisbusiness?
Gia Got into it due to my bestfriend when I was about 18.
She's an amazing makeup artist.
She's older than me but boy isshe talented and she hit the
little button for me to beintrigued and want to get
involved and learn about it.
So I dived in and, 18 workedfor Clinique and that was the
start of learning all about themakeup and then going further.
(01:20):
Being in the music industry, Ihad to learn makeup real fast
because I had no budget.
So I dived into that andlearned stage makeup and just
continued my journey working forthe best of the best in the
makeup industry.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So you had to learn fast.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Oh, very fast, very quick, especially in the world
of Sephora, dior, chanel, trishMcAvoy, tarte.
There were so many incrediblebrands that I've been blessed to
work with and learn from masterartists and skincare creators
that were just phenomenal, and Itook the world of nature and
science, put it in my backpocket and learned the
techniques and continue toharvest and grow my talent.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Wonderful, wonderful.
You've earned your PhD.
You are poor, hungry anddesperate to learn this
profession.
Work in this profession andmake it all that you need it to
be for your future, exactly.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
In New York City, where I come from, where I'm
from, and a transplant toMassachusetts, pizza was $1.25
and a 50-cent soda, so that wasour happy meal every day, and so
we got our paychecks on Fridaysfor amazing brands who make
millions of dollars.
You know, we did the hustle, wefreelanced and and we did
(02:33):
makeup services out of work.
Fashion week, we rocked it out.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Poor, hungry and desperate.
But here you are today.
Yes, wonderful, wonderful,wonderful.
So, gia, can you tell ourlisteners a little bit more
about your company?
Speaker 3 (02:54):
So Walla Beauty was born for the fact that there's a
void in the industry where Ifound customers were not getting
the attention that they needed.
In the world of Sephora, ulta,blue, mercury, department stores
like Bloomingdale's, saks, Imean, there's so many of them,
there's too many people and notenough artists.
So here that person can gettheir customized makeup for any
(03:19):
special occasion.
They can come and sit and wecan chat and I can find out what
are the needs that they'relooking for to perfect their
look for that special occasion,and that you couldn't do in a
department store or a Sephorabecause, again, not enough
artists, a lot of clients, butthey want to have that
one-on-one attention and that'swhere we can sit and really
(03:40):
curate what is you want toachieve, whether it's a natural
look, an evening look orsomething that is fun and
different.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Wow, well said, well said, thank you.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
I mean, honestly, it's like even me going in and
I'm a makeup artist and I stillbuy products because not every
brand is the end all be all.
You can't get everything fromone brand, not even mine, so I
still have to keep on the trendsand I can see it the
frustration of like they want toask for the help they're not
getting it.
Well, you come to yourneighborhood Walla Beauty Studio
(04:13):
.
You're going to get theattention that you need and that
quiet time just to get that.
Look, for you can be off and bebeautiful, or I travel to you
and the privacy of your home andyou get your happy service.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Mobile service as well.
Absolutely, wow.
That's icing on the cake.
I love it, yes.
So what are some myths ormisconception in the cosmetic
industry?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
That when a client brings me a picture and they
think they're going to look likethe image, you know it's not
happening because that is aprofessionally done photo,
social media or in a magazine,and it's a nice way to kind of
get an idea of what the clientwants, but it's not reality.
But I am a master artist, proartist when it comes to copying
(05:02):
looks.
I can do it, but I'm going tomold it into your face shape,
your color of, your complexionand your eye shape.
So with me it's makeup is aboutmatching the hair color, eye
color and complexion.
So those pictures are great,they're fabulous, but it's not
always going to translate that.
That's going to be the lookyou're going to have.
You'll get close to it, but youhave to be realistic.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Fantasy is so much more attractive these days.
But yeah, I love what you'resaying.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
You can still give that look that is desired, yeah
absolutely, and again, I'm goingto customize it for you, for
what you're wearing, because,again, the outfits they're
wearing, you're not going to bewearing that outfit.
You know, and it's also, youknow, studio lighting, sun
lighting.
It's on a beach, it's beautiful, but I will, I will achieve it,
(05:50):
but I'm going to achieve it foryou.
So you have similar, but it'syour look I'm making for you and
it's more realistic, correct.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Love it, thank you.
So, outside of work, what doyou do for fun?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Oh for fun I, when we don't get that time.
But out of work, oh for funwhen we don't get that time out
of work.
It's all about family.
We are cooking, we are baking,we are bike riding.
I love Scattergories.
Personally, it's a brainthinker.
It's opposite of doing makeup,it's just honestly.
I love baking and seeingeverybody's face eating my yummy
(06:26):
cookies or my brownies, makingsome good pasta dishes with my
husband and our girls.
So my downtime is family time,to be honest, because we're
always on the go and to get thatit's super special.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah, family is very, very, very important to me as
well.
Yeah, you can't replace them,nope, and they grow fast,
Absolutely.
You got to enjoy the momentwhile you can.
Wonderful, so changing gears.
Can you describe one hardshipor one of life's challenge that
you rose above and can now saythat because of it, you're
(06:59):
better and you're stronger?
Speaker 3 (07:12):
had a health hiccup and I had to.
Well, let's just be honest,people, we're going to be very
honest.
I was looking for a breastenhancement and I couldn't get
the surgery if I didn't have amammogram.
Well, seven mammograms later, Ifound out that I'm atypical
high risk with these cancercells in the breast area and I
was like what I said?
Well, I'm not getting a breastenhancement, but I'm going to
get the surgery.
(07:33):
And only three people knew mymom, my husband and my boss at
Trish McEvoy, erica Emeralds,who is a thoroughbred and an
incredible influencer in ourindustry right now, and she
couldn't believe how I justdived into work leading up to
the surgery and, after me doingmakeup on clients, took my mind
(07:54):
off of it because I was helpingthem get through their moment
and they had no idea what I wasgoing through.
So I went in quick surgery,took the bad cells out good
health, hallelujah.
Health, hallelujah.
(08:15):
And I'm awesome ever since.
And that just gave me thelicense to life of continue
pursuing what you love.
Do not let anything hold youback, and you have a tribe of
people that will get you andelevate you and your faith in
God.
That's the ultimate truth.
So I lived through that, Iworked through that, I survived
that, and that made me propelmyself even more to come up with
this brand to help other peopleand just be there for them for
(08:36):
that makeup moment that they canforget their health hiccups and
feel beautiful.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
You know you got to go through your own personal
experience in order for yourfaith to build, for you to be
able to say to God, be the gloryAbsolutely.
It was nobody else but himworking through those doctors to
take away those cancer cellsand give you back your life,
give you back your health.
He worked through those doctors.
I'm very fortunate.
(09:04):
Only you can tell that storyCorrect.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
And those are the only three people that knew and
you know.
One was impressed, one was likeyou'll be, you know you'll get
through this.
And one was like you know Ineed you.
So I need to be strong.
And the clients kept me strongdoing makeup.
Ironically, it's crazy to say,but me going in dressed and
seeing the customer and doingthe makeup and just making them
(09:28):
feel good, knowing what I wasgoing through, it made me just
push it aside and say no, no, no.
We're going to push forward andthat's it.
I'm not allowing anything todefeat me.
So, because of that strengthand that emotional moment that
you go through, I know how to bethere for other people because
I'm going through it personally.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
I love the rise from the ashesthat you painted.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, and this is the first time I'm actually talking
about it.
I've kept it very, very quiet,but I feel that you know,
sometimes some stories need tobe heard to help other women and
give or people in general,general encouragement.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
And that they're not alone at all.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, because people can borrow strength from someone
else.
Correct?
Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely so, gia.
Please tell our listeners onething that they should remember
about Walla Beauty.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Walla Beauty is a place you go to to forget
everything and just feelbeautiful and regain something
that may be lost because we gothrough our hormonal changes or
something that needs to be found.
So it's a place that you knowyou're going to get your
attention.
You're going to get that timethe world deserved to be
pampered and feel beautiful andtranscend to whatever you want
(10:48):
to be.
It's Walla Beauty.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
We care about our customers.
I love it.
I love it.
So, Gia, even though you'vealready shared it at the
beginning, can you share withour listeners one more time?
How can our listeners learnmore about Walla Beauty?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook
GS7WalaBeauty GS7Y that's myname and 7 is my lucky number,
and I was a recording artist inthe music industry, so again had
to learn stage makeup veryquickly.
There was no budget for makeupartists at that time and you can
always go to the WalaBeautycomwebsite W-A-A-L-A-B-E-A-U-T-Ycom
(11:31):
, and there you can learn abouta little bit of snapshot of our
story, the history, and you canview the products and you can
book your services.
You can text me directly, emailme, call me, whatever is the
way you'd like to navigate, tocommunicate your service with me
.
I'm here for you, Beautiful, tocommunicate your service with
me.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
I'm here for you.
Beautiful, beautiful Gia, thankyou so much for being with us,
for sharing your story, forinforming our listeners.
We hate to see you go, but wereally appreciate you being on
the show with us today and wewish you and your business all
the very best moving forward.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
I thank you very, very much and I appreciate this
podcast and everybody just stayblessed and stay happy.
And thank you very, very muchand I appreciate this podcast
and everybody just stay blessedand stay happy, and thank you
for listening.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Amen.
Thank you for listening to thegood neighbor podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNP Northshorecom.
That's GNP North shorecom, orcall 857-703-9406.
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