Hi Beautiful — Let Me Spill the Tea ☕️✨

I’m Marlee, founder and educator of Beauty and the Tea—and a proud special-needs mom to the most brilliant, loving 7-year-old boy, who inspires everything I do.

I was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, so hustle, heart, and resilience were part of my upbringing. Beauty found me early. As the oldest of four sisters, I naturally became the built-in stylist—experimenting with hair, makeup, and style, turning my sisters into my first models without realizing I was already laying the foundation for my future.

In 2010, I moved to Florida, searching for growth and opportunity. After graduating, though, I felt the pull of home and returned to the Bronx in 2013, because New York felt familiar—it felt safe. But deep down, I always wanted more for myself. I loved home, but I didn’t want to stay stuck in what was comfortable. I knew if I wanted a different life, I had to start fresh—on my own terms.

So I moved back to Florida again and immediately entered the corporate world. I worked in medical offices, management, call centers, and more. I got my first apartment, my first new car, and finally had the stability everyone tells you to chase. I earned promotions and pay raises—but no matter how good the job looked, something was missing.

I remember sitting in my manager’s office in 2016, talking for hours about my dreams—opening my own product line, building something creative and meaningful. He would always tell me, “You shouldn’t be working here. You should be chasing your dreams.” At the time, I didn’t fully believe him—but his words stayed with me.

A year later, life shifted again.

In 2017, I moved to Hawaii, and that distance forced me to slow down and get honest with myself. That’s where I created my five-year career plan, and one of the biggest goals on it was going back to school. I quit my medical job and enrolled in esthetician school—finally choosing purpose over comfort.

While in school, I found out I was pregnant with my son. Morning sickness, exhaustion, emotional days—I still showed up. Every single day. Because quitting wasn’t an option anymore. I wasn’t just building a future for myself—I was building one for him.

I graduated in 2018 and immediately started working at a nail salon as a front desk receptionist. I wanted to attend nail school next, but as a new mom, I had to be realistic about my schedule and priorities. So instead, I learned the industry from the ground up—answering phones by day and spending hours at night watching YouTube videos on nail techniques.

It was exciting… but also discouraging.

Many traditional nail schools weren’t teaching modern, industry-relevant skills, and often didn’t provide the supplies or guidance artists needed to truly succeed. That experience planted a seed. I realized I could teach myself, master the craft deeply, and eventually create something better—not just for me, but for others like me.

While on maternity leave, I started practicing nails at home. Just five months postpartum, I used my tax return to invest in nail supplies, furniture, and equipment. I didn’t know many people in Hawaii, so I joined Facebook groups, asking strangers to be my models. One model turned into two… then five… then fully booked.

And I never stopped.

In March 2019, Beauty and the Tea was born, and I became a dual-licensed professional. From 2019–2021, my business grew faster than I could have imagined—becoming a six-figure brand within the first six months. I sold out products, overfilled classes online and in person, and had students flying in from all over the world just to learn from me.

But let me be real—the growth wasn’t easy.

There were viral moments, stolen e-books resold anonymously, other professionals reporting me, hundreds of weekly orders piling up, and COVID delaying inventory and shipments. Being a mother, educator, and business owner with no team and no village, I wore every hat—and it was exhausting. Those years were crucial, but they also pushed me into survival mode.

By 2022–2023, life demanded more of me—divorce, motherhood, health, healing. I became quieter, servicing mostly referrals, questioning how far I could’ve gone if life hadn’t slowed me down.

But growth gave me clarity.

Those experiences didn’t break me—they molded me. They taught me structure, boundaries, and purpose. And most importantly, they reminded me that if I built it once, I could build it again—stronger and wiser.

So in 2024, I rebranded my entire life—mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Since then, I’ve been nominated over seven times as one of the Top 3 beauty professionals in Orlando, collaborated with incredible influencers, attended my first pop-up event where the line to my booth wrapped down the aisles, reached millions of engaged followers, tripled my clientele, and created viral services built from turning pain into purpose.

💅 Turning Passion Into Purpose

What started as a self-taught passion project is now a global education platform, where I teach nail professionals around the world through online and hands-on programs—from deluxe pedicures to acrylic, Gel-X, and Polygel techniques.

Many of my students start exactly where I did—overwhelmed, unsure, and chasing a dream without guidance. My mission is to show them that success doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from consistency, courage, and heart.

I often tell my students:
“Do it broken. Do it broke. Do it scared. Do it alone.
But do it anyway—because your dreams don’t wait.”

☕ The Meaning Behind Beauty and the Tea

Beauty and the Tea was created with intention—to be more than a business or academy. It’s a safe space. A home. A reminder that beauty can be authentic, education can be empowering, and growth can happen at any stage of life.

This brand is my story, my testimony, and my love letter to every woman who’s ever had to rebuild herself, start over, or chase her dream against all odds.

And if you’re here—welcome.
You’re exactly where you’re meant to be 🤍✨