We’re looking forward to introducing you to Barbie Zarraga. Check out our conversation below.
Barbie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
When I’m at Browaholic Studio, it’s usually a full day of clients and nonstop energy. I’m doing the services I love, connecting with clients who’ve been with me since the very beginning, and getting to know new ones too. That’s honestly one of my favorite parts of the day: the conversations, the laughs, the transformations. And somewhere in between all that, you’ll probably catch me filming a quick video or taking content for my socials. I’m always thinking about new ideas and how to bring more value and realness to what I share online.
On the days I’m not at the studio, I switch gears completely. I’m with my kids, taking them to their activities and doing all the mom things. But even then, my brain doesn’t stop. I’m still planning content, editing videos, or working on something behind the scenes for the business. Those days remind me why I do what I do because I get to be present for my family while still building something I’m proud of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Barbie Zarraga, the founder of Browaholic Studio and Browaholic Cosmetics. I’m a proud Latina from Venezuela, and I moved to the United States in 2014. From the very beginning of my career, my passion has always been helping people feel beautiful and confident in their own skin.
The first time I picked up a pair of professional tweezers at 17, I knew I had found my purpose. Doing brows made me genuinely happy — it allowed me to express my creativity while connecting deeply with my clients. Of course, the journey hasn’t been without its challenges, but every single one has helped me grow in so many aspects
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
When I decided to go solo I was very scared and I was full self doubt. I really didn’t have anyone in my circle who understood what I was feeling at the moment, however, there’s someone who knew me better than anyone and saw my potential even when I didn’t and that is my sister. She saw an opportunity for us to grow together and pushed me to start seeing my dreams as an actual business. She had a lot of experience being a Manager in different places so she decided it was going to be fun for us to start working together and that’s when she decided to quit her job to come full time with me. Ill be forever grateful for her because she saw the vision some the beginning and has constantly pushed me to become the best version of myself
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that used to hold me back was the fear of failure, and honestly, the fear of not being able to maintain success once I reached it. What I mean by that is, getting to a certain level is already hard, but staying there takes even more work. I’ve been in that position many times, and I’ve learned that both fears actually push me to stay focused, disciplined, and hungry to keep growing. Every new level requires a new version of me, and that means stepping out of my comfort zone, changing what’s not working, and trusting myself through the process. That’s how I’ve turned that fear into my superpower.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
In my opinion, one of the biggest lies in the beauty industry is pretending that passion alone is enough to run a successful business. You definitely need passion, you have to love what you do whether it’s brows, lashes, or skincare. But the truth is that money and strategy matter too, and a lot of artists have a hard time admitting that.
Most of us start this career out of love for our craft, but when the business starts growing and you become fully booked, reality hits. More clients mean more responsibilities, more expenses, and the need for real systems and structure. That’s when you realize your hobby has turned into an actual business, and you have to start treating it like one.
Many artists keep running things the same way they did when they were solo, but once you start hiring, managing a team, or expanding, you can’t use the same rules anymore. Growth requires change. You have to think differently, act like a business owner, and make decisions that go beyond your service room. Passion will always be your foundation, but once you start growing, it becomes a mix of passion and business, 50/50. Every new level requires a new version of you.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
This is a great question! Of course I have experienced this before. During my early days, I remember craving recognition not only online but also in real life. I made sure I learned so much about marketing, branding and public speaking because to me that kind of status was one of the things that would make me feel successful. Years later, all the hard work paid off and I did gain international recognition. I won’t lie, it feels amazing! However, I completely neglected other important parts of my business that were as equally important (if not more important) than the recognition and without those things I wasn’t going to be able to sustain my “success” for much longer. I was booked and busy but also broke and burned out. This made me realize how important is to have clear goals and expectations for you and your business and that most of the time, as you grow and your business evolves you’ll require a new version of yourself to handle and pivot through the changes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.browaholicstudio.com
- Instagram: @browaholics @bwhcosmetics
- Facebook: @browaholics
- Youtube: @browaholics
- Other: TikTok: @browaholics @bwhcosmetics
