Meet Kimberly Aquino

We were lucky to catch up with Kimberly Aquino recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from challenges thrown my way. They keep me going to get better.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

MY STORY:

I Am Kimberly, the Woman Behind ZephayaBeauty**

I am Kimberly—the lash artist, mother, business owner, and wife behind ZephayaBeauty. My journey hasn’t been simple or smooth, but it has been powerful. Everything I am today was built from resilience, intention, and faith in the vision I carry.

THE ARTIST IN ME

As a lash artist, I pour my heart into my craft. ZephayaBeauty is more than a business to me—it’s a space where women come to feel beautiful, seen, and cared for. Every set I create is personal. I pay attention to detail, to balance, to the little things that make a client look in the mirror and say, “Wow, that’s me.”
Lash artistry isn’t just my job—it’s my art, and it’s part of my purpose.

THE MOTHER I AM

Being a mom is my greatest responsibility and my greatest blessing. I show up for my child with love, patience, and strength—even on the days when I’m tired or overwhelmed. Motherhood taught me resilience in a way nothing else could. It’s given me a reason to push harder, dream bigger, and create a future that reflects the love I have for my family.

THE ENTREPRENEUR I’VE BECOME

Running ZephayaBeauty means juggling everything—clients, schedules, branding, education, finances, growth. I built this business from the ground up with determination and heart. Every late night, every risk, every idea has been a stepping stone toward generational success.
I’m not just building a brand. I’m building legacy.

THE WIFE WHO LOVES AND LEADS WITH INTENTION

As a wife, I am a partner in growth, love, and strength. I support my marriage with the same dedication I give to my family and my business. Balance isn’t always easy, but love makes every sacrifice worth it.

THE WOMAN WHO SURVIVED DEPORTATION

One of the hardest chapters of my life was facing deportation. It shook my world and forced me to rebuild everything from a place of uncertainty and fear. But it also uncovered a strength within me that I didn’t know I had.
I refused to let that experience define me—I let it empower me.
It became the fire that pushed me to create the life I have now.

WHO I AM TODAY

I am a woman who rose from challenges and created something beautiful.
I am an artist, a mother, a wife, a business owner, and a survivor.
I am Kimberly.
I am ZephayaBeauty.
And I am still rising.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking Back: The Three Qualities That Shaped My Journey

When I look back on everything I’ve overcome—from rebuilding after deportation to growing ZephayaBeauty while being a mom, wife, and entrepreneur—three qualities stand out as the most impactful in my journey.

1. Resilience

My resilience is what carried me through every setback, heartbreak, and moment of uncertainty. Life tested me in ways I never expected, but I refused to stay down. That inner strength is what allowed me to rebuild my life, my confidence, and my future.

My advice:
Resilience is built through experience. Don’t be afraid of challenges—lean into them. Every obstacle you overcome becomes a new layer of strength. Start by reminding yourself daily that you’ve survived 100% of your hardest days so far. Let that be your proof.

2. Adaptability

I had to learn how to shift—emotionally, mentally, and professionally. Whether it was navigating immigration challenges, changing environments, or learning the business side of beauty, adaptability kept me moving forward when the path wasn’t clear.

My advice:
Stay open to learning. Pivot when needed. Don’t get stuck on how things should look; focus on how you can make things work. Take classes, ask questions, try new things, and allow yourself to evolve. Your ability to adapt will determine how far you go.

3. Self-belief

Believing in myself—even when I was scared, unsure, or starting from nothing—was my foundation. ZephayaBeauty was built on a vision I held long before anyone else could see it. That belief kept me consistent. It kept me going. It kept me creating.

My advice:
You have to be your own biggest supporter before anyone else joins you. Strengthen your self-belief by keeping the promises you make to yourself—big or small. Show up for your dreams every day, even in little ways. Confidence grows through action.

To Anyone Just Starting Their Journey

Don’t rush the process. Don’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty. Build your resilience through challenges, your adaptability through experience, and your self-belief through daily wins.
Your story won’t look like anyone else’s—and that’s your power.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The Biggest Challenge I’m Facing Right Now

The number one obstacle I’m currently facing is my husband’s deportation. It has changed the rhythm of our family, shifted the weight I carry every day, and created a level of emotional and logistical stress that’s hard to put into words. Being a wife, a mother, and a business owner while navigating something so heavy has tested me in ways I never expected.

But challenges like this also reveal what you’re made of.

What I’m Doing to Overcome It

I’m facing this moment with a combination of faith, focus, and action:

• Keeping my family grounded
Emotionally, it’s hard—especially for our child. So I focus on maintaining stability at home, keeping routines strong, and being present even when I’m exhausted. My priority is making sure my family feels supported and loved through all of this.

• Leaning into my purpose and my work
ZephayaBeauty has become more than just a business—it’s a source of strength for me. Continuing to grow my brand, create beauty, and connect with my clients helps me stay centered. My work reminds me of the future I’m building, not just the challenge I’m surviving.

• Protecting my mindset
I’m choosing hope. I’m choosing patience. I’m choosing to believe that this is a chapter, not the ending. I remind myself daily that I’ve overcome difficult things before—and I will overcome this too.

Why This Challenge Doesn’t Define Me

My husband’s deportation is one of the hardest things I’ve ever lived through, but it’s not breaking me. If anything, it’s strengthening my purpose, sharpening my resilience, and showing me just how powerful I truly am.

I’m not just enduring this—I’m rising through it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zephayabeauty_llc?igsh=MW9zM2NkbjhiZmV3cQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@zephayabeauty?_r=1&_t=ZT-91tMHQDuPAk