Every Esthetician comes to the industry with their own inspiration. For Marieth Kiiza, that inspiration is rooted in memories of the family half a world away from her Vancouver home, and Blanche Macdonald was happy to offer Marieth the scholarship for Black Canadian students.
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“Sometimes we limit our beliefs. We all have doubt and insecurity. But your vision is valid. You are more than capable to become who you want to be and live your wildest dreams. So don’t give up on them!”
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“I grew up in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania and would often travel to the city of Arusha to see my grandmother, the late Bibi Shiri,” explains the Blanche Macdonald Medical Esthetics graduate, after graciously pointing out that the ‘H’ in Marieth is silent and her name is pronounced ‘Mariette.’ “She made her own skincare products using the local botanicals and valued the self-care aspects of skincare. She took care of her community with the resources she had around her. Her wisdom about nutrition and skincare made her home a safe haven for women -especially her granddaughters- to visit and learn how to nourish themselves. That inspired me to want to learn the science behind skin and the skills of someone who enjoys nurturing and caring for people. My grandmother taught me the importance of caring for yourself as well as other people. She told me, ‘If you wait for other people to take care of you, you’ll be waiting a long time.’”
As a Skin Educator and Esthetician for Formula Fig in Vancouver, taking care of people is Marieth’s passion and profession. But even before she followed her grandmother’s footsteps into the art of wellness, Marieth was committed to helping.
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“During my time at Blanche Macdonald, I naturally wanted to help people. I built so much confidence and started taking the initiative. I was preparing myself for the real world.”
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“I worked at a non-profit community resource centre in Surrey as a newcomer support worker for the Swahili community. I would act as their first point of contact when they moved to Canada. I loved it, but during the pandemic, I burnt out. Providing support for so many people became overwhelming. Clients needed me; sometimes in the middle of the night. I became intertwined in their lives and it became hard for me to separate my work and personal lives.”
2020 was the year of both the COVID pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. Inspired to do its part to support aspiring Black professionals, Blanche Macdonald launched its Black Canadian Scholarship program. For Marieth, it was a eureka moment.
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“I want everyone to win. When the class would set up for the day, I would help anyone running late. Every day I would make sure all the garbage was taken out and would be the last one to leave. That’s what leadership is.”
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“My manager sent me the information about the scholarship for Black Canadian students to share with my clients. I did my due diligence and sent out the flyer, but I also realized this was an opportunity for myself to get into something I’d always been passionate about.”
Marieth cried tears of joy when she was presented with the news that she’d won the scholarship for Black Canadian students. She channelled that emotional intelligence into her studies, becoming a leader in the classroom in the process.
“I naturally wanted to help people. I built so much confidence and started taking the initiative. I was preparing myself for the real world. I’d help other students in class if they wanted to go through notes or practice treatments. When the class would set up for the day, I would help anyone running late. Every day I would make sure all the garbage was taken out and would be the last one to leave. That’s what leadership is. I want everyone to win.”
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“Soon after I started at Blanche I met Miss Angie Barnetson. After meeting a brilliant Black woman in this field my nerves and anxiety went away. I could always approach her and ask questions, and she was always available to me.”
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Marieth had been originally inspired by her grandmother. She found more mentors at Blanche Macdonald, in and outside the classroom.
“Soon after I started I met Miss Angie [Barnetson]. I call her Miss Angie because of her knowledge and wisdom. After meeting a brilliant Black woman in this field my nerves and anxiety went away. I could always approach her and ask questions, and she was always available to me. I had a spiritual connection with Simona [Gozner], too. She encouraged me to lean into what I’d witnessed from my grandmother.”
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“I had a spiritual connection with Simona Gozner, too. She encouraged me to lean into what I’d witnessed from my grandmother. ”
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After graduation, Marieth took a trip back to Tanzania. It was meant to be a two-month vacation. It turned into something even more powerful.
“In Tanzania I attended a three-day wellness retreat organized by my friend Natalie Mgonja of Backyard Soiree. There was one missing component: beauty. My friend asked if I’d be open to giving facials to the attendees. I created a makeshift facial corner, and for the first time, I was able to experience my own magic and power. I realized that I was now a esthetican professional and could help people feel good about their skin. People started reaching out and I created a mobile facial service in Tanzania, rushing around in a tricycle or cab, heading to someone’s house for a treatment!”
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“My grandmother taught me the importance of caring for yourself as well as other people. She told me, ‘If you wait for other people to take care of you, you’ll be waiting a long time.’”
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That professional confidence was evident when Marieth returned to Vancouver and applied for a Esthetican position at Formula Fig.
“The treatment manager later told me that as soon as I walked through the door, she knew she wanted me on the team. They asked a lot of questions about skin and skincare in the interview, but she said it was the way I presented myself – my confidence, the way I spoke and my attention to detail – that made me special.”
The role of a Formula Fig Skincare Educator begins but doesn’t end in the skin treatment space. Marieth is helping her clients, called guests at Formula Fig, help themselves.
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“A lot of people don’t make the connection between their internal health and what’s manifesting on their skin. As an Educator, I’m encouraging them to make skincare and self-care ritualistic.”
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“Our branch on Main Street is Fig’s busiest location. I’ll usually do ten facials a day. Within an appointment, I’ll ask guests how their skin is feeling, ask about their routine and what they’re using, and work to understand what they’re hoping to achieve from the treatment and beyond. A lot of people don’t make the connection between their internal health and what’s manifesting on their skin. As an Educator, I’m challenging them to think about what’s happening internally and their health in terms of diet and lifestyle. I’m helping them build a customized skincare routine tailored to their skincare concerns and goals. I’m encouraging them to make skincare and self-care ritualistic. I’m instilling what we call at Formula Fig ‘skin confidence.’
“I love seeing relationships form between me and my guests. It’s so exciting to be able to connect with them and be part of their spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being. Guests come in to be pampered for 30 minutes, but they’re also open to healing. A facial treatment is a form of healing. I’m also someone who can listen to them, whether they’re having a good day or a bad day. I love being able to build and sustain those relationships.”
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“Fig honours local brands, and brands created by women and Black dermatologists. For Black History Month, my manager asked me to curate a line of Black-owned skincare products and display them at the front of the store. I love that things I value are also valued by the company.”
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Another wonderful relationship is the one between Marieth and her Company. They’re practically perfect for each other.
“Fig honours local brands, and brands created by women and Black dermatologists. For Black History Month, my manager asked me to curate a line of Black-owned skincare products and display them at the front of the store. I love that things I value are also valued by the company.”
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“It’s so exciting to be able to connect and be part of my guests' spiritual, mental, emotional and physical well-being. A facial treatment is a form of healing. I love being able to build and sustain those relationships.”
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Marieth always knew that she wanted to follow her grandmother’s example. One scholarship for Black Canadian students and a large dose of inspiration later, the sky’s the limit.
“Sometimes we limit our beliefs,” she smiles. “We all have doubt and insecurity. But your vision is valid. You are more than capable to become who you want to be and live your wildest dreams. So don’t give up on them!”
