Ladies & Gents: For this month's Artist Spotlight I give you, Monina Wright of northern California. I love her and so will you! Enjoy!
Hi my name is Monina Nolasco Wright, and growing up I hated having a different name. On the first day of school my teachers would always butcher my name. So I quickly corrected them and instructed them to just call me Nina. Once I got to college I went back to introducing myself as Monina, because now being different sounded so much more grown up.
I am the oldest of 3 and was born in the Philippines to two wonderful parents, who realized that greater opportunity was waiting for us in the United States. I was 4 years old when we arrived in California and I spoke no word of English. My parents set the example of how to make opportunities happen for you in this great country. My life now revolves around GOD, Family, Love of country and then my Profession as a Makeup Artist and Licensed Esthetician.
Growing up I was highly influenced by my mother’s sense of style and beauty. When I was a teenager, my love for makeup began as a necessity in order to cover up my very bad acne skin condition. During college I met my first esthetician and my passion for both skin and beauty merged. With the encouragement of my husband, I took my hobby and turned it into a full time business.
Moderne Beauty allows me to combine my 20+ years of makeup artistry and 14 years of esthetics to help every woman achieve her beauty goals from the inside out. Every woman’s idea of beauty is as unique as she is, so I use my skills to simply enhance her own beauty-not change it.
In 2014 my business partner and I launched our Mobile Blow Dry Bar and Salon called D’railed Beauty Trolley. It has allowed me to venture into the ever growing onsite services that most Dot.com companies in the Silicon Valley are bringing to their campuses for their employees.
When I’m not working on my beautiful brides, on set or on the Trolley, I love to just hang out with my 2 beautiful and awesome kids Nate(14) and Olivia(11), or go on a Date night with my amazing hubby of 21 years. We love being outdoors and doing things like Biking, Camping, Hiking, Skiing or Swimming.
My perfect day off includes a pamper day at the spa and then going to High Tea with my daughter or my little sister and mom. I also love being able to go window shopping then see a Movie.
With a teeneager and pre-teen, and running 2 businesses I don’t get much time off, so when I do I love to binge watch all my favorite shows on Netflix like Agents of Shield, Game of Thrones, and just started Stranger Things. But I also stared to watch some great Christian based movies on a new app called PureFlix, really great movies to watch with my kids.
I don’t really like to cook anymore, but I love to eat. I would love to go on a cruise just so I can eat the whole time, and stay up to watch all the entertainment offered on the ship. My family and I also love great music. My kids are in band, and my son is also a Jazz musician, so I love hearing them play together, especially the old Jazz classics. When we’re in the car we listen to our favorite music station KLOVE. If we aren’t listening to Jazz or Christian music, I have the radio on KRTY great country music.
Girl time is also really important to me, so whenever I get a chance, I meet up with my girlfiends for wine night or just grab some lunch and catch up. I’s so amazing how time flies when you’re taking time to relax and just hang out with family or friends. I love red wine, but when I’m out with my hubby I enjoy a nice tall glass of the darkest beer they got.
Well, that’s a small glimpse into my life. Please let me know if you’re ever in the Bay Area, I’d love to meet you.