Nailed It: How Julieta Meillón Built A Community Through Beauty

Over the last four years, Julieta Meillón has built a business off her talent and a loyal clientele. Many of her customers return not just for her skill with designs, but for the welcoming atmosphere she’s known for. Photo Credit: Emily Urias

Julieta Meillón is redefining what it means to be a Latina entrepreneur in the beauty industry. At just 23 years old, she has transformed her passion for nail artistry into a full-fledged career, building a dedicated clientele and a strong social media presence. But her journey is about more than just perfecting intricate designs—it is about self-made success as an undocumented woman in the United States and building a community that believes in her as much as herself.

In a landscape where Latina entrepreneurs launch businesses at nearly twice the rate of any other demographic, Meillón’s story is part of a larger movement of Latinas carving out a space for themselves in the beauty industry.

Originally from Mexicali, Mexico, Meillón immigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was six years old. Growing up, she quickly realized the limitations placed upon her due to her status.

“Obviously, I can’t go get a normal job that requires a Social Security number,” Meillón said. “So I feel like I was kind of—not pushed, but led—to do something creative, to be self-employed. It was hard, but it made me take the harder route and start my own business.”

Meillón is based in Downey, California where she obtained her beauty license despite her undocumented status.

“California was one of the first states to allow undocumented people to get licensed,” Meillón said. “I was able to sign up with my ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), but most schools need a Social Security number. I think my school was one of the first in SoCal to allow it, which was huge.”

Julieta Meillón meticulously applies the finishing touches to a client’s nails at her private studio in Downey. As a dedicated nail technician, Meillón takes pride in creating intricate designs and providing quality service to her customers. Photo Credit: Emily Urias

This policy shift reflects a broader effort to make professional industries more accessible to immigrant communities, opening doors for Latina entrepreneurs like Meillón to establish their careers legally and thrive in their trades.

That trade? Nails. What started as a hobby—painting her friends’ nails and practicing intricate designs—quickly turned into a full-time job. When she was ready to get serious about becoming a nail technician in 2021, Meillón took an unconventional approach by offering stunning, complex nail sets for a whopping $30.

“I was literally working for free, but it got people in the door,” Meillón said.

Now, Meillón’s business is booming, and she attributes her success to her local Latina community. She is an advocate for finding community in an industry that can often feel isolating for creatives.

“It’s important to find people who understand your struggles,” Meillón said. “My beauty school, which was called Cosmetica Latina, was filled with other Latinas with similar dreams. When you’re Latina, you feel comfortable with other Latinas.”

“It’s sweet to come in and see everyone, clients and techs, having a good time,” said Kat Nuñez, 22, who’s been a client of Meillón’s for two years. “I knew that we’d be able to connect, and I stayed with her because we did.”

Meillón’s experience reflects a trend of young Latina entrepreneurs breaking into creative trades as a means of economic empowerment. In an industry where self-employment can provide more opportunities than traditional employment structures, Latinas are forming networks that support one another both professionally and socially.

In fact, Latine immigrants are starting businesses at more than twice the rate of the U.S. population as a whole, according to a UCLA analysis of U.S. Census data. Social media has played a key role in this, allowing Latina beauty professionals to uplift one another in ways that were not possible before.

“Social media is everything,” Meillón said. “It’s how we showcase our work, find inspiration and support each other as business owners.”

This sense of collective success fuels Meillón’s passion—not just for nails, but for the community she has built along the way. As a self-employed nail technician, Meillón has faced her share of challenges.

“No one is telling me what to do or how to do anything, so I manage everything—social media, scheduling, even handling taxes,” Meillón said. “The IRS isn’t automatically taking money from my paycheck like everyone else—I don’t even get a paycheck! I just figure it out myself.”

Meillón is more than a talented nail artist, “I’m proof that success is possible on your own terms,” Meillón said.

Through creativity and a strong sense of community, Meillón is building a legacy, one meticulously crafted nail set at a time. In doing so, she is paving the way for more Latinas to enter the beauty industry, proving that there is power in representation and strength in community.

“I feel like everyone in my circle knows about and goes to Julieta,” said Ellyse Ramirez, 21, a friend of Kat Nuñez and a Meillón client convert. “She just gets all of us—she listens, she’s creative and she cares about all of us.”