Entrepreneur ditches 9–5 to follow her dreams

At just 25 years old, Ruth-Ann Robinson walked away from a steady job with barely any savings and no 'Plan B'.

Today, the 28-year-old is the proud owner of Ruellia Aesthetic, an intimate care and skincare business built on comfort, trust, and results.

"When I left, on paper it would not look like a good decision," she told THE STAR. "My financial adviser told me I needed to save up at least six months' salary. I didn't have any of that. I probably had two months at best, but I just couldn't stay at that workplace any more. So I just decided I'm going to leave, and God and I will figure it out."

The gamble paid off almost immediately.

"Funnily enough, my first month, I made enough to pay myself and to pay the bills. I mean I wasn't very profitable, but it was enough to keep going," she said.

Robinson's career path could have looked very different. A former student of Wolmer's Trust High School for Girls, she pursued biochemistry at The University of the West Indies, but deep down, she knew science wasn't her true calling.

"To be honest, aesthetics was always the goal, but at the time, I didn't know what it was," she admitted. "I knew I wanted to get into skincare, but I didn't want to do dermatology. Then I went to a make-up class, and the instructor, who was an aesthetician, told me all about the career. From then, I knew that was it."

Though she completed her degree, she never used it.

"People always say at least you can fall back on your degree, but I tell people all the time that I'm not falling back on nothing. It's either this or nothing." Like most young entrepreneurs, Robinson faced her share of hurdles.

"I really struggled with the financial side, like keeping track of my expenses and income. I had to get an accountant almost immediately because numbers are not my thing," she said, noting that marketing was another uphill battle.

"In the beginning, I didn't want my face out there. I didn't even want to promote it on my personal page. I was so scared of putting myself out there. I wish I did more of that sooner."

What sets Ruellia Aesthetic apart is how Robinson approaches the intimate side of her work. She specialises in full-body waxing, sugaring, hydrafacials, chemical peels, dermaplaning, and corrective skincare treatments for acne and hyperpigmentation. But her main priority is her clients' comfort.

"People usually come about things that they feel insecure about, so I try to let everybody feel as comfortable as possible," she said. "One of my mantras for the business was 'Relax, you're home. I want you to feel very at home. I want you to be comfortable with me. It's a judge-free zone'."

With demand for beauty services booming, Robinson urges newcomers to focus on one niche before expanding.

"In the beginning stages, try to niche out. Don't try to do every single thing at once. Figure out what you want to do - it's easier to find your target audience - and hone your skills."

Three years on from that bold leap, Robinson said she is grateful that she trusted her instincts.

"I just couldn't stay any longer where I was. After my 25th birthday, I was, like, 'See y'all later'. And I've never regretted it."