With a bricks-and-mortar beauty studio and a respected digital presence, this San Antonio woman is one to watch.
Update: Since this story ran, Monterrosa has launched a new website, Live from the Southside, highlighting San Antonio’s Southside. Her beauty business, Shine Beautifully, has also relocated.
With her warm candor, quick wit, and excellent sense of what makes a great travel spot, April Monterrosa has made a name for herself not only in the Alamo City but also on the Internet. In fact the esteemed artisan jewelry company of Kerrville, James Avery, just named her one of their brand ambassadors.
Incredibly, while April enjoys a loyal online following online, she is also a writer and runs her own business, a beauty service company called Shine Beautifully. Basically, she knows how to hustle!
Because April is one of our favorite regional bloggers–and we love showcasing women creators and makers, we sent her a few questions with an eye to helping you get to know her better, too.
On her roots
“I was born and raised in the southside of San Antonio, Texas. I am blessed that my parents have been married almost 50 years, I have two brothers, a sister-in-law who is like a sister, three nephews who are the loves of my life, and a bratty dachshund named Razoo. I am extremely proud of my family. I’m a bit of a workaholic, an alpha-female, and a free-spirit. If I am not working, I am traveling throughout Texas (usually by the water) with those whom I love.”
On writing
“My writing began as a passion when I was a young girl. I often wrote poetry and had journals I kept to myself. My blog originally started as a beauty blog to share skin care and wellness tips with my beauty studio clients. From there my passion resurfaced and I became more open about my personal life. I started sharing more about my family, obstacles good and bad, my travels, and things I am passionate about. My blog (today) was not planned at all and has brought some of the most amazing people and ventures to my life.”
On travel as self-care for women
“To me, traveling is therapeutic; it’s a time out from all craziness life brings to go have fun, let loose, try new things, and enjoy scenic surroundings. Traveling has become a way of taking care of me; it recharges my battery, rejuvenates my mind, and, when I return home, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle all I need to do. On my blog, my goal is to inspire busy professionals to make time for adventure. If it’s therapeutic for me, it can be others, too.
Women these days have a lot on their plates. They are bosses, caretakers, moms, etcetera, and they are also expected to look their best all the time. A getaway with girlfriends, even if just for the day, can be a nice mental and physical break from the work and expectations.”
On San Antonio’s “Southside”
“I am a member and ambassador for the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. In collaboration with them, I share southside San Antonio events, things, and happenings via my blog. My biggest supporters, frankly, are from my southside community. I wanted a way to be able to share all the great news about upcoming events and activities, and now I can do that through my writing and social media work. The chamber has been extremely supportive to me as well, especially by sharing my #LiveFromTheSouthSide blog posts.”
On becoming a James Avery brand ambassador
“When they first reached out and complimented me on my Instagram account, I was speechless—which is rare! Ha! Then I was giddy and super excited! I immediately called my mom to tell her, even though I wasn’t sure what all the details were. Some of my first jewelry pieces were from James Avery. I feel honored to be an ambassador for such an amazing Texas brand.”
On the ideal destination for a summertime girl’s weekend
“This is such a tough one! In Texas, I would have to say Galveston. There is so much to do there that people don’t know about. I’ve had a few friend getaways there, and they were all a blast. Great food, boutiques, spas, the sea wall, art, and the beach. Out of Texas, I would have to pick New Orleans, my favorite city. It’s so alive and an experience like no other.”
Thanks, April! You can find and follow April Monterrosa on her blog, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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