Today we’d like to introduce you to Mya James.
Hi Mya, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was a teen Mom. Even though I had a very supportive family I wanted to be a great example for my son and be able to support myself. This lead me to finishing school early and learning a vocation, I chose Cosmetology. So in the early 2000’s I was the hairstylist. Long days and nights in the salon paid off, I earned very well. So well I started looking for other opportunities. That lead me to teaching cosmetology and hairstyling tecniques. Eventually that lead to me opening a school Modern Makeup Society in August 2012.
MMS was a beauty culture school. We focused on continuing education for beauty professional. I saw a gap in education. We have to take continuing education hours to keep our licenses in Texas but no one was coming to Texas to teach new techniques, trends or product education. So I opened a place where people could learn those things, and build their visual portfolio, network and meet professional teams. MMS was my breakthrough. It was huge creative hub. It changed everything for me. It took a lot of courage to do it because I was very young. But I knew alot in the industry and wasnt afraid to claim that authority and build on it.
People were always seeing me out with students or meeting one of my past students out working. I was always getting referred to teach at workshops and in other programs. Add to all of this Youtube beauty gurus and the beauty community online exploded in 2013. This perfect storm gave me the opportunity to teach abroad in 2013. I taught classes in 32 countries with my biggest programs being in UK and Ghana. Ghana left the best impression on me. When I first visited, Accra Ghana was not the party city you see trending today. Vocational training was new then and it is still growing today. In developing countries vocational training bridges the gaps in economic classes. It creates a middle class because it gives people that dont have money the opportunity to earn money and support themselves. My teaching was important everywhere but essential in Ghana. I partnered with a prominent business owner in Accra and opened a beauty school in May 2014. The school was the first American owned program in the country. I split my time teaching in Houston and abroad from 2014 to 2019. That was not easy at all. With teaching students and professionals in all these countires a phenonmenon happen, all of their businesses grew and expanded. Most of my past students reached back to me for business training, consulting or advise on product development. This open the door to my next venture and the foundation for Aperios Group. I opened a private consultancy company for beauty and wellness companies in 2017.
In 2019 I founded Aperios Group, a private corporation that owns companies that exclusively sell wellness products and experiences. Then COVID hit the world. I had to go back full time into teaching and consulting helping my students now clients, globally, weather an event that changed the beauty industry forever.
The latest company out of Aperios, Claim Beauty Wellness has not received the push it needed due to COVID complication and management changes. But all great things take time. CLAIM is shaping up to change innovate anti-aging and wellness for millenials through products, food and experience. I cant wait to relaunch the brand in the coming months and share all the cool things we have created.
On top of all this I am in medical school. Im studying to be a nurse, While its something that will help my businesses and actually reduce our staff overheard its also a personal goal. It was what I wanted to be when I became a teen mom. Going to college and medical school at the time was not ideal. Once I started working I began to do very well for myself. Success shapes you financial goals, personal goals shape your soul. They allow you to impact the Earth and leave it better than you found it, Being a nurse will allow me to impact all the children and mother I meet through my charity.
I feel I got where I am today becaus Im not afraid to try and fail. Im not afraid to try and not like something and pivot. Im not afraid to spend my own money to go, see, investigate and learn more. I have accomplished so much in a short time because of both good and not so good partnerships. Every experience is a lesson to grow from.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think learning and accomplishing anything has its tough parts. Whether it be the actual act or the environment, or the timing you have to do it in. I definitely have had rough patches, but I don’t let those times define my story. I concentrate on the breakthrough. Even when sharing my story, I don’t lead with the trials I always start with the triumphs.
My biggest struggle was feeling like there wasn’t enough time in the day. I had to learn to stop being defined by time and realize that goals are a continuum. I also had to reclaim my time and learn what’s essential and what’s extra. Helping myself is essential, helping others is extra. You can’t have the extra without the essential
We live in a show-and-tell world where we have to post our accomplishments and journey online to prove to others or to feel it really happened. The struggle of creating content that looks good while growing robs a lot of people of growing faster. I remind myself all the time, inspiring myself is essential, inspiring others is extra.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the founder of Claim Beauty Wellness and SisterSeed Foundation, two platforms dedicated to empowering women from the inside out. Through Claim Beauty Wellness, I focus on holistic beauty and self-care, and helping people embrace their essence at all ages and prioritize inner wellness, not just outer appearance. CLAIM is a part of the Aperios Group. Aperios is home to 5 wellness and 2 whole food companies. I founded these companies to increase wellness innovations in all aspects of life. Being well and living well is a lifestyle. It takes attention and curation, but it’s worth it. It will help you live longer. My goal is to make wellness tools accessible to all ages and price ranges.
With SisterSeed, my mission expands to supporting women and children through education, mentorship, and community resources that encourage growth, confidence, and healing.
What I’m most proud of is staying authentic in a beauty industry that often promotes superficiality. I’ve built my work around honesty, transparency, and genuine empowerment. I want every woman I encounter to understand that true beauty begins with self-acceptance and well-being.
What sets me apart is my heart-centered approach. Beauty isn’t all in how you look, it’s how you live. Do you treat your life beautifully? Do you eat beautifully? Do you sleep beautifully? Do you drive to work, walk the dog, and buy groceries beautifully? Or do you do your task stressfully? Do you not take care of your body? Do you rush through your meals, showers, and rest times?,
My work bridges wellness, purpose, and compassion for your existence. You only have one life. There is no do-over. I remind others that authenticity and care are the most powerful forms of beauty there are.
What were you like growing up?
Lord, have mercy on my Mom is all I can say. I was a very curious child and I grew up in a creative house hold. We were always making things and my Mom actually encourged us throught art and history. It was always something to do and see at home. My brother and I were definately raised by a village. I feel all the women in my family, especially my Mom, aunts and grandmothers are apart of my personality. These women truly shaped me.
They all took extradinary care of themselves and image. They all had care routines, Special ways they bathe and little concotions of lotions they mixed for butter soft skin. My mother had they most beautiful ligerie. She made bedtime a whole event. My aunts were flygirls. Always the latest hairstyles, all the trends every single fashion fab. My maternal grandmother made everything so exquistie, Even if was cheese and crackers, she prepared herself, prepared a tiny little plate, she drank water from a wine glass, turned on music for lunch and enjoyed quietly. I was obsessed. I just couldnt get over how she romantized life, My paternal grandmother was a boss! She sewed all her clothes and made all her wigs. We would go to the fabric store with her and she would glide her hand over all the fabric and make her selection. Then boom, another beautiful dress, when a matching hankerchief and a fancy wig. She was so together. Oh, I just adored watching them all growing up. My biggest take away is happiness is what you make it, you have to make it though. Its not just going to find you. Happiness is actually not looking for you. You have to look for it,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.claimbeautywellness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingmyajames/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089085061351
- Twitter: https://x.com/ClaimBeautyWell
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@claimbeautywellness?app=desktop
Image Credits
The photos are private photos. No credits needed
