Ashley Marquez on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Ashley Marquez and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day looks like waking up using restroom, brushing teeth, brush hair, let my dog out feeding and watering my dog and start my breakfast and coffee to start my day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi my name is Ashley Marquez, owner of Beauty Lounge, Beauty Salon and Lash By Ash and Cosmetics. Beauty Lounge is a new full service salon located in Union, MO. Our mission is to bring people together through the power of beauty, creativity, and community. I believe that beauty, in all its forms, has the power to inspire, unite and heal.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
The greatest lessons I’ve learned about work, integrity, and faith came from the two incredible people I’m blessed to call my parents. From an early age, they instilled in my siblings and me the value of hard work, not just as a means to an end, but as a way of life rooted in doing right by God, staying grounded, and earning what you need and want through perseverance. They taught us that nothing worth having comes easy, and that no one is going to hand you anything, you have to be willing to work for it.

That foundation has shaped every part of who I am. I’ve always been ambitious, never afraid of a challenge, and driven by a deep desire to grow and to serve. Helping others, whether in big ways or small, has always been at the core of what motivates me. I believe in showing up with purpose, pushing forward with faith, and living a life that not only works hard, but lifts others along the way.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me something success alone never could. It taught me patience when nothing was happening, strength when I felt weak, and faith when I couldn’t see a way forward. Through pain, I learned empathy. Through struggle, I learned to value even the smallest blessings.

Suffering took away ego and pride, showing me what truly matters, character over comfort, growth over glory, and purpose over praise. It reminded me that life isn’t just about what I accomplish, but who I become in the process.

Where success often brought applause, suffering brought wisdom. And in the quiet of those hard moments, I found a deeper version of myself—one that success alone would have never introduced me to.

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. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie the beauty industry tells itself? It’s obvious: not everything you see on the internet is real.

Filters, editing, perfectly curated content, and impossible beauty standards create a false reality that so many people silently compare themselves to. The industry sells an image—flawless, effortless, and often unattainable—and then convinces people that they’re not enough unless they buy into it.

But real beauty doesn’t come in one shape, shade, size, or standard. It’s not something you can always see on a screen—it’s something you feel in confidence, kindness, resilience, and authenticity. The truth is, perfection isn’t real—but pressure is. And the beauty industry often profits off that pressure.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I had 10 years left and if I had to stop doing something immediately would working and enjoy my time left with my family and loved ones and enjoy the rest of my years by traveling and trying new things. But honestly i would miss my clients too much that i would have to work once or twice a month.

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