Meet Yuliia Arzumanova

We were lucky to catch up with Yuliia Arzumanova recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yuliia , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

How I Overcame Impostor Syndrome

Impostor syndrome is something that all creative people are familiar with—the feeling that you are never doing enough, that you don’t deserve what you have, and that you are constantly “not enough.” It comes with low self-esteem and a deep fear of public opinion—what people will think, what they will say. We often believe that others are judging us, watching our every move, just waiting for us to fail.

When I started working on this issue and digging deeper into myself, I realized what I had been missing since childhood—parental support and praise. Choosing my profession as a hairstylist, I didn’t receive encouragement. Instead, I faced criticism, and my achievements were seen as something ordinary, not worth acknowledgment. Due to my rebellious nature, I’ve spent my whole life fighting against myself, often doing things out of sheer defiance.

With time and maturity, I developed a healthy sense of self-worth and came to understand a crucial truth—people are primarily focused on themselves. I learned to prioritize myself, to celebrate even my smallest victories. And even if others don’t see their significance, it no longer matters to me. I’ve stopped seeking love and approval from my parents or society. Instead, I validate myself, and that is enough.
I am still learning not to rely on other people’s opinions. It’s not easy, especially when you grow up in a society where any deviation—whether in opinion, choice, appearance, or self-expression—is met with judgment. But the most important thing is to choose yourself and your own path, to step out of your comfort zone, and to stop trying to be a “convenient” person for others.

We are here for ourselves, for self-love. These are simple, even cliché truths, yet they are incredibly difficult to implement in everyday life. And I am still learning.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I was born and raised in Ukraine , Mariupol city in a family of doctors. It was expected that I would follow in their footsteps, but I always knew that this was not my path. From early childhood, I loved doing hairstyles for my dolls—just like many little girls—but for me, it wasn’t just a game. It became my passion and, eventually, my life’s work.

At 11, I started dyeing and cutting hair for myself and my friends, experimenting purely out of enthusiasm. I was completely captivated by the process and felt true euphoria from it. By the time I reached high school and had to choose a university path, I shocked my parents by announcing that I wanted to become a hairstylist. It was a real tragedy for them. No one supported me. Under pressure, I changed my decision, which even cost me a year of study. But despite everything, I eventually pursued my dream profession, going against my family’s expectations, and I have never regretted it for a single day.

I grew as a professional very quickly. Even while studying, I had clients and started earning my own money, reinvesting everything into better tools and further education. My client base expanded rapidly, and soon, I became an independent stylist, loved by my clients who appreciated my work. That was the moment I gained recognition and validation—I knew all my struggles had been worth it.

I became one of the most in-demand hairstylists in my city. By the age of 22, I was already teaching hairstyling, and I later opened my own studio in my hometown. I was certain that, with time, I would achieve my dream—a large beauty salon with a strong team of professionals and like-minded people.

But then, life took a different turn. First, COVID happened. Then, the war. My family and I lost our home, our country, and the life we had built. I don’t want to go into details because few can truly understand the depth of this tragedy—it’s hard to believe it even happened. The fact remains: we were left with nothing. With a six-month-old baby in my arms, we had no home, no money, no family, no business, and no plan for the future. Just a suitcase and complete uncertainty.

For a long time, we wandered in search of a new “home.” During all that time, the only thing that kept me afloat was my profession. My skills allowed me to find clients anywhere in the world and survive.

Fate eventually brought us to Kansas, where I am now slowly rebuilding my career from scratch, step by step. I specialize in one of the best hair extension techniques available on the market. Every day, I gain more new clients who return and express their gratitude for my work. Their appreciation motivates me to keep going, to keep building, and to believe in the future again.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three most important qualities that help me move forward in life are courage, passion for my craft, and openness to the world.

Courage has allowed me to go against expectations, take risks, and start over when life demanded it. It gave me the strength to pursue my dream despite opposition and to rebuild everything from nothing.

Passion for my craft keeps me going, no matter the circumstances. It’s what drives me to constantly improve, learn, and give my best to every client. It’s not just work for me—it’s a calling.

Openness to the world has helped me adapt, embrace new opportunities, and connect with people everywhere I go. Instead of resisting change, I’ve learned to accept it and grow from it.

These three qualities shape who I am and continue to guide me on my journey.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Right now, the biggest challenge I face is uncertainty about the future. When a person’s basic needs—safety and stability—are not secured, it’s hard to focus on anything else.

My greatest fear is losing everything again, after working tirelessly to rebuild my life piece by piece. Forced immigration, the search for a place to belong, and the struggle for the simple right to live a normal life—this is my biggest challenge today.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairextensions_usa?igsh=MWJkY2xtMGdjbTF6aQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BFNqs552x/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

The photos were taken by me.