We’re looking forward to introducing you to Samantha Montes. Check out our conversation below.
Samantha, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Dancing salsa—especially at social events—is what makes me lose track of time and find myself again. In the rhythm, the movement, and the connection with others, I’m able to let go of stress and reconnect with joy. Dancing has carried me through some of my toughest times. It’s where I feel most alive, grounded, and free—completely in the moment, and completely myself.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Samantha—but everyone calls me Sam! I’m originally from Chicago and now based in South Florida. By day, I’m a marketing professional at an ad agency, and by night, I’m running my own clean beauty brand, Más Made Beauty, and performing as a professional salsa dancer. It’s a full, vibrant life—and I truly love doing it all.
Más Made Beauty is deeply rooted in Caribbean culture and celebrates the power of natural ingredients. Every product is crafted with clean, nourishing ingredients from mother nature—free from silicones, sulfates, parabens, mineral oils, drying alcohols, and synthetic colors. The goal? To help people feel good, embrace their natural beauty, and feed their hair and skin with ingredients that truly care for them over time.
Right now, I’m focused on scaling my brand to bring more natural beauty solutions to the community, while also spreading a message of self-love and authenticity. I’m especially excited to collaborate with nonprofit organizations and community events—sharing my passion and hearing the stories of others.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Losing my mother to breast cancer at just 15 years old was a moment that completely reshaped how I see the world. It was a pivotal experience that forced me to grow up quickly and taught me how fragile and unpredictable life really is. Ever since that loss, I’ve carried a deep awareness of how precious time is—and how important it is to never take anything or anyone for granted.
Grief has a way of revealing who you are at your core. For a long time, I went into survival mode, staying on autopilot and trying to be strong, while avoiding the depth of what I was really feeling. My relationship with God was rocky during that season, full of questions and doubt. But eventually, I came to realize that I needed a foundation—something to anchor me when everything felt uncertain. That’s when my faith started to rebuild, not as a crutch, but as something steady to help me move forward with purpose.
I’ve since learned that it’s okay to not be okay. That strength isn’t about suppressing emotions—it’s about feeling them, honoring them, and still choosing to heal. Losing a parent changes you, but it also teaches you to show up for yourself, to be present, and to truly appreciate the gift of life.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me the importance of resilience and never giving up on myself. While success can be validating, it never pushed me to dig deep the way suffering did. It was in my lowest and challenging moments that I learned how to ground myself. Success can bring confidence, but suffering gave me perspective. It shaped my character, my empathy, and my faith—and those are the things that truly define who I am.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. I honestly don’t know how not to be myself. I’ve always tried to show up as authentically as possible—especially in a world where so many people are trying to be like everyone else and losing their own identity in the process. I believe staying true to who you are is the only way to stay aligned with your purpose. When you start performing for the public and distancing yourself from your real self, it can lead to confusion, burnout, and even an identity crisis. I’d rather be real than perfect.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace in two spaces: when I’m in quiet moments with God—praying at home, on the beach, or in a cozy coffee shop—and when I’m fully tapped into my creativity. Whether I’m formulating new natural products for my beauty brand or choreographing a new salsa routine, those moments allow me to be fully present, aligned, and connected to something bigger than myself. It’s in both the stillness and the creativity that I feel most like myself and most at peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://masmadebeauty.com/
- Instagram: @mas.madebeauty
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammontes
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Mas.Madebeauty
- Other: Tik Tok: @mas.madebeauty
Image Credits
Ravin Content House
Vanessa Velasquez
