Get a coach because you don’t know what you don’t know.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Scrima.
Tracy Scrima is a Med Spa owner and consultant who began her journey when her 34-year-old aunt was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Tracy sought solutions as her aunt was facing the biggest physical challenges of her life. She found the art of lash extensions, then grew a beauty boutique and med spa with a prestigious physician. She has also delved into holistic healing after a doctor sent her for testing for MS and did 2 years of healing and detoxing and continues the path of beauty, health, and wellness.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Upon receiving the startling stage 3B cancer diagnosis of my 34 aunt, who was only four years older than me, I knew she would face severe aesthetic challenges during her chemotherapy — losing her thick blonde hair, lashes and brows. I needed to help. So, after researching, I skipped work one day and took a lash extension course, catapulting my journey into the beauty field and mastering lash extensions. Partnering with a physician, we established a med spa and lash boutique. As one of the early adopters of lash extensions in our area, we saw clients experiencing allergic reactions from improperly placed lashes.
The repercussions of subpar lash application not only resulted in allergic reactions but also caused pain and even posed risks to vision. So the doctor and I joined forces to find comprehensive solutions, we sought to create an environment where beauty and health seamlessly coexisted.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
What fascinates me the most about my career is the transformative power of these tiny 9mm hairs. It’s incredible how they can significantly alter someone’s face, boost their self-esteem, and bring immense joy and confidence. Long lashes have this universal appeal, captivating our attention on everyone from babies and men to animals and, of course, women. Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for lashes, often curling and mascaraing my way to complete my beauty routine. There’s just something magical about the impact of those little lashes!
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
My major slip-up was glossing over details, neglecting the fine print, being vague, and sidestepping tough conversations. Trust me, those lessons hit hard! A few years into successfully running the business, the Board of Cosmetology walks in and drops the bomb that I can’t work anymore because I lacked a license. I mistakenly believed I was covered under the medical umbrella. It was a total shocker — my staff knew, I couldn’t teach or take clients, and I was super embarrassed! In a scramble, I enrolled in esthetics school, with the slight hiccup that they spoke Portuguese, a language I didn’t. Since it was their primary language, during lectures, they’d consistently slip into Portuguese. After a while, I just gave up reminding “não, português.” and started learning alongside the class, even though I couldn’t understand a word.
Out of this, however, I honed my ability to break down difficult tasks and became a great teacher.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
Health, wellness, beauty, and the psychology of how one feels about themselves all roll into one, don’t they? At my lash boutique, one rep once said, “Forget Disney; this is the happiest place on earth.” If we can make a woman feel good about herself, shorten the morning beauty routine, and help her conquer her day, I’m happy. With all the hats that today’s woman wears — mom, daughter, career woman, caretaker, homemaker, etc. — we need all the help we can get!
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
Many steps in life are terrorizing! We have to work through the fear and sometimes fake confidence and courage. Fake it till you make it, right? But look at the second definition, having a strong or vivid appearance. That’s beautiful! Strong and vivid memories, a strong and vivid life!
1. B-Be beautiful, whatever that means to you. See beauty in the ordinary every day.
2. O-Openness and ease; believe that things come to you easily and be open as a lifelong learner. It doesn’t mean that all things come easy; you will be challenged, but that is growth.
3. L-Listen to your heart and learn to listen to yourself and to whomever or whatever speaks to you, then take action.
4. D- Don’t compromise on the essence of being you; you’ll change and grow but remember what brings you joy.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Let’s start with the way you think about yourself, the way you speak to yourself. For example, I was looking in the mirror; I’m 50, and as I gazed at the stomach bump over the top of my jeans, my brain was saying, “OMMGGGG, I hate that! Look how terrible that looks. I can’t even hide it over my high-rise jeans. Geez, Trace, why don’t you just eat your way to your death?” Then I thought, what if my teenage daughter was saying this out loud to me? I would be mortified, and I’d tell her, “CANCEL THAT!”
So, I changed my thinking. I recalled all the dinners that tasted so good, the wine nights with friends where we laughed until we cried, the frozen custard when my husband took our little family out for a treat with the dog hanging her head out the window, country music blaring, and the summer wind blowing in my face. Finally, I remembered the God led, miraculous healing of my body when that stomach was triple its size, carrying the most amazing gift in my life, my daughter. Wow, just wow!
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
Get a coach because you don’t know what you don’t know.
Keep going even if you have to cry a lot.
It’s going to ok, it’s always ok (that’s still a hard one for me).
Teachers are loved and Bosses are despised, in business, do your best in managing that.
Be open to miracles, they happen every day.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
I would say my entire journey revolves around feelings, thus mental health. You have to change your own brain sometimes. A mature woman learns how to handle her emotions; in return, you get the beautiful gift of peace. It’s about recognizing, understanding, and managing your own emotions, as well as being attuned to and empathetic toward the emotions of others. I don’t mean being sensitive because, in business, that doesn’t work.
When a mature woman, or anyone for that matter, learns to navigate life, find beauty, see it, feel it, and believe it, your whole perspective changes. It is a lifelong journey, and I’m just beginning that road, a toddler myself. But my gift has been persistence, I fall flat on my face, curse and cry a bit, ask God for some strength and get up and go at it again. Personally, I am open to miracles.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
Tracy Scrima on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyscrima/
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com .
