Meet Alma Mirela

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alma Mirela. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alma below.

Hi Alma, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
My confidence comes from both my businesses and my fitness journey. Opening Rival Esthetics in 2022 and Rival Studios in 2024, showed me that I can create something from the ground up and overcome challenges along the way. Training and bodybuilding reinforced that by teaching me discipline, patience, and the ability to push past limits. In 2021, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and after going into remission, weightlifting completely changed my life. It gave me the strength to overcome obstacles and setbacks I never imagined facing, and that resilience has built an unshakable confidence in myself. Over time, those experiences created a deep trust in my own ability to rise above anything.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am the founder of Rival Esthetics and Rival Studios: The Artist Collective. My focus is on building spaces where artistry, confidence, and community come together. Rival Esthetics specializes in permanent makeup, lash extensions, brow services, & scalp micropigmentation—services that are deeply personal because they help clients feel restored and more confident in themselves. Rival Studios extends that mission by bringing together a collective of talented tattoo artists under one roof, giving them the freedom to grow their craft while contributing to a larger creative culture. What makes my brand exciting is the balance between artistry and empowerment. I’ve built businesses that don’t just deliver services—they give people a space to transform how they see themselves. At the same time, Rival Studios supports other artists’ independence, creating a ripple effect of opportunity and collaboration.
Looking ahead, I’m working on expanding both businesses with new services, training opportunities, and community events. My vision is to grow this brand into more than a business—it’s a platform that inspires confidence, creativity, and connection.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience – Challenges are unavoidable when building a business or pursuing growth. I learned to adapt quickly when things didn’t go as planned, and that ability to keep moving forward gave me staying power.

Embrace setbacks as lessons, not failures, and use them to sharpen your problem-solving.

Discipline and Consistency – Both in fitness and in business, success comes from showing up every day, even when motivation isn’t there. That discipline has carried me through long hours, difficult decisions, and constant learning. For anyone starting out, build small, repeatable habits that move you forward—it compounds over time.

Vision and Leadership – Creating Rival Esthetics and Rival Studios required not only a vision for what I wanted to build, but also the ability to inspire others to believe in it. Leadership has been about empowering others while holding myself accountable to the bigger picture.
Stay clear on your “why” and let it guide your choices, even when the path isn’t easy.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes—I’m always open to partnering and collaborating. I’m especially looking to connect with other creators, artists, and entrepreneurs who are interested in beauty, tattoo artistry, and personal growth. I also want to collaborate with fitness enthusiasts and wellness-focused individuals who share the same passion for discipline, mindset, and building confidence through health and self-care.

Collaboration can look like sharing services, co-creating content, cross-promotions, or even building events that combine artistry and fitness. I believe there’s a lot of power in blending creative industries with wellness, because both center around transformation and empowerment.

Anyone interested in collaborating can reach out directly through Instagram (@almamirelaxo) or [email protected].

I’d love to connect with people who are motivated, creative, and open to building something impactful together.

Contact Info:

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