When Shivaughnette Mendoza left Trinidad for the US at the age of 21 she had only $20 to her name. But through her hard work and passion for beauty, she was able to open a spa in New York City. And this month Mendoza will be opening her newest branch of Bella Body Spa and Beauty Lounge back home in Trinidad at 47 Rodney Road, Endeavour Lange Park, Chaguanas.
She told Newsday in a recent Zoom interview she is originally from Chaguanas, specifically Enterprise Street in Longdenville. The sixth of eight children, Mendoza recalled she always had an interest in beauty.
"As a child, I would wear my mother's lipstick and high heels. I was the girly girl. My older sister was more tomboyish."
Coming to America
[caption id="attachment_918463" align="alignnone" width="642"] Bella Body Spa and Beauty Lounge owner Shivaughnette Mendoza, seated, with her niece Harmony Mendoza. -[/caption]
She studied fashion and designing while at Chaguanas Senior Secondary. In 1999 she moved to the US (Brooklyn, New York City) but it would be some time before she would work in the beauty industry. With little money, she began working as a nanny and caretaker for small children. She then got a job as a file clerk at Nationwide Insurance. She was quickly promoted to the front desk position and started taking classes for properties and casualties. But due to her citizenship status, she was unable to take the state board test to get licensed as an insurance agent.
She was recruited by one of her insurance clients, a Trinidadian, to work for him doing taxes. Shortly after starting her new job, she became pregnant and was placed on doctor-ordered bed rest. While working from home, she and her child’s father opened a trucking company. The revenue from this company allowed her to purchase real estate and she started to manage a collection of rental properties.
In 2007 after delivering her child she began her full journey into the beauty industry.
"I became interested in tummy tucks and breast augmentation, and looking sexier after having a baby."
[caption id="attachment_918468" align="alignnone" width="730"] A client receives a carboxy service which is a treatment for conditions such as cellulite, dark under eye circles, and stretch marks. -[/caption]
After experiencing aesthetics and body transformation as a client she decided to pursue it as a career path. She began taking classes at Berkowitz Aesthetic in Queens to get her aesthetician licence. The programme normally takes six months (either day or night classes) but Mendoza was able to convince them she could do it in three months.
"I created my own programme. I would go to school day and night. I wanted to get my licence."
Mendoza completed the accelerated three-month programme, the first to ever do so.
"I like to create my own lane."
After receiving her licence, she started to perform aesthetic services out of her home.
"It was exciting doing it, making alterations to people. It was
