We’re looking forward to introducing you to Esmeralda Cantu. Check out our conversation below.
Esmeralda , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day start off with sending off the kids to school, while my fiancé and I go to the gym or go out for a trail run before our day starts.
We put health and wellness first before anything.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Esmeralda, and I’m the owner of B.A.B.E Esthetics & Body, a beauty studio in the Clear Lake / Houston area. I specialize in brows, lashes, and skin brightening, but at the heart of my brand is empowerment—I’ve built B.A.B.E around helping women feel confident, seen, and unapologetically themselves.
What makes my brand unique is that it’s not just about beauty services, it’s about creating an experience. Every client who walks in my door isn’t just getting their brows mapped or their lashes done—they’re stepping into a space where they’re reminded of their worth and value.
My journey hasn’t been perfect—it’s been filled with setbacks, restarts, and moments where I had to rebuild both myself and my business from the ground up. But that’s also what makes my story real. I think people connect to my brand because they see that I’ve turned my struggles into fuel, and I want them to know they can do the same.
At the end of the day, I’m just a mom, a creative, and an entrepreneur determined to build something bigger than myself—and to show others that they can too.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Really, it could be anything that can break a bond it just depends on the type of relationship they have. Personally, if you ask me. My thing is boundaries. If you can’t respect my boundaries then there is no friendship. Relationships are a two-way street. And I personally have worked long and hard on myself to allow anyone run all over me and do what they please. How I think now; is if you don’t speak up then how will the other person know how you feel or what you like or don’t like? That’s how you build long lasting friendships and keep a tight family. If someone can’t accept what boundaries are then they aren’t the one to be around with.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me what success never could: who I am when nothing is guaranteed. Through rebuilds, quiet bank accounts, and starting over, I learned the Stoic truth—control what’s mine, release what isn’t. It made me disciplined, not just motivated; grateful, not just excited. It taught me boundaries as an act of self-respect, to ask for help without shame, and to keep promises to myself when no one’s clapping. It gave me empathy with a backbone—soft with people, firm with standards. It tuned me to the quiet wins: showing up for my daughters and my fiancé, honoring clients, telling the truth, choosing the next right step. Success can validate you; suffering refines you. I don’t chase comfort anymore—I choose character. That shift is why success feels less like a finish line and more like a by-product of who I’m becoming.
Success gave me applause; suffering gave me a backbone.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, absolutely. The public version of me is the real me because I can’t be any other way. I’ve learned that authenticity is my greatest strength—what you see is what you get. Whether it’s online, in my studio, or in my personal life, I show up as myself: flaws, humor, grit, and all. Pretending or putting on a mask has never worked for me. Being real not only keeps me grounded, it also builds trust with the people around me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
What I’m doing today that won’t pay off right away is building the foundation for something much bigger than myself. It’s a project rooted in service, meant to create real impact for people who need it most. The work is slow and often unseen, but I believe in the legacy it will leave years down the road.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @babeestheticsbody
- Other: TikTok: babe_esthetics_body
