Today, we’d like to introduce you to Latavia Nottage Bienaime.
Hi Latavia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Latavia Nottage Bienaime is a self-taught makeup. Her devotion to doing makeup for special occasions began in 2012. Her passion for makeup blossomed into a career at MAC Cosmetics while enrolled at Miami College, majoring in Funeral Services.
She graduated in 2016 and found herself not wanting to put her makeup brush away, so she dabbled into doing makeup for the deceased. She understood that the last viewing of a loved one plays an integral role in the healing process and may bring final closure.
Themortuaryspa was launched as a small business when her childhood friend requested a mortuary makeover when she passed away. In 2017, that friend passed on, and Latavia was honored to grant her request. From this experience, Latavia made a vow that this was the most comforting and peaceful way to say goodbye to a friend.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Like any entrepreneur, the road is never easy. Starting a new business is expensive, and the financial strain can be overwhelming. One of the biggest challenges faced is funding the business or the struggle to get external funding. Even once revenue starts to flow in, it can fluctuate wildly month-to-month, making it difficult to predict your cash flow.
Another major challenge is maintaining a work-life balance. The pressure to succeed and make the business work can also create high-stress levels. More often than not, there are sacrifices and frequently working long hours in hopes of a strong return on your investments. Although starting a new business or maintaining one may be rough, the journey enables personal growth and builds character and financial gain with success.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When someone you love passes on, his or her final look is paramount. The last viewing of that loved one can play an integral role in the healing process and bring the final closure.
Testimony: With years of experience in makeup and knowledge in funeral service and restorative arts, Latavia’s expertise is in mortuary makeovers, which create a lifelike appearance of the deceased using makeup. Her goal is to provide a service with respect, passion, dignity, and comfort. Although Latavia is based in Miami, FL, she embraces traveling to Central Florida and other destinations to serve her clients.
Dealing with the passing of a loved one is the most difficult time any human can experience. There are several reasons why this process is so heart-wrenching.
At some point in your mind, you know and understand you’ll have to face a different kind of reality, which, in my case, is to look at the love of my life one last time. For me, this was a great farewell to the physical beauty of my wife. Knowing this, I wanted to be able to look at her and see her peacefully because it would give me a sense of peace during her farewell.
My wife’s friend found Themortuaryusa and set the appointment. I wasn’t sure what to expect, honestly; on the one hand, I’m grieving the physical loss of love, and on the other, if I am to accept that my wife is not physically here anymore, I want to at least find peace when I lay my eyes upon her as her physical body rest. Mrs. Latavia rode up from Miami sharply on time, I should add.
In an honest moment of clarity, I believe she saw the look on my face as I was nervous, I was heart, and scared of seeing my wife like that. We spoke briefly, but in that bride interaction, she reassured me that I didn’t need to worry and that I should go home to rest my nerves in a calming, peaceful voice. It felt that she was sent to bring a sense of peace to the entire situation.
When Mrs. Latavia finished her job, she gave me a call and described how beautiful my wife is and how she radiates beauty even in this moment. She made me feel great. Upon my arrival for the wake, I knew I had to do the unthinkable, and I must say it crushed me to know that I’d have to look at my wife like this.
As I began walking to my wife’s lying body, I shivered, shook, and broke down. I continued to push through, and as I got to her casket, it was sadness, but pushing through was a sense of peace as I stared at her beauty. It was as if my wife had done her makeup to highlight every feature, her skin tone, etc. It was as if she was sleeping. I was amazed at the talent and work that had been done. It just seemed as if my wife was napping radiantly, as always.
Beyond this service, Mrs. Latavia reaches out to me just to see how I’m doing mentally/emotionally. I think this is the type of service that everyone should seek in the theme of distress. Mrs. Latavia and her company gave me an ease that I could never forget.
For this company and its employees to give a hand even after the service has been provided is beyond hospitality. This is humanitarian work. I am sincerely grateful for the love and passion I have received. – Mr. Andre Caldwell.
How do you think about luck?
Latavia’s greatest business success has been her obedience to God.
Some may say that a business is considered successful based on how much is sold or how many clients it receives. She believes that a business is successful when its leader is serving the client, employee, or consumer because that’s God’s way. In honor of every family she has encountered, she served with her heart and the family in mind.
From the initial phone call she receives, she makes a new vow to serve each client personally to ensure that every component is unique. Latavia humbly declines all credit and gives all glory, honor, and thanks to God.
Contact Info:
- Website: Themortuaryspa.com
- Instagram: @Mortuarymakeover
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/327577417669313
