Sophia, Building Beauty, Confidence and a Business
Starting your own business takes courage, creativity and a willingness to back yourself. For Santa Maria College alumna Sophia Whimp (Class of 2022), that journey began with a passion for helping people feel confident and a determination to pursue a career she truly loved. From styling brides to building a thriving home beauty salon, Sophia has embraced every opportunity to learn, grow and take risks. In this Q&A, she reflects on her time at Santa Maria, shares the lessons she’s learned as a young business owner, and offers advice for students considering turning their own passions into a career.
Looking back on your time at Santa Maria, what are some of your favourite memories?
One of the favourite parts of my time at Santa Maria was the lifelong friendships I formed. Many of those friendships have continued well beyond school, and having such a supportive community has been incredibly valuable.
Looking back, I also appreciate the life skills school helped me develop, particularly discipline, time management and the importance of treating others with respect. At the time, you don’t always realise how valuable those lessons are, but they’ve played a significant role not only in my day-to-day interactions, but also in the way I run my business.
What inspired you to start your own home beauty salon?
Throughout school, I was always drawn to beauty, fashion, art and dance. I was a very hands-on student and loved being creative. At the time, however, there was still a stigma around pursuing careers in beauty or attending TAFE, so I chose a different path and studied nursing during my final two years of school.
Although I enjoyed the healthcare field, I knew it wasn’t a career where I would truly thrive. After graduating, I started applying for jobs I had always dreamed of doing, even though I had little to no experience. Thankfully, one of those opportunities came my way, and I became a wedding stylist.
I absolutely loved that role. Working with brides and being part of such a special day was incredibly rewarding. I’ve always loved love, but what I found myself most drawn to was the bride herself, the hair, makeup and every detail that made her feel beautiful and confident. That’s when I realised where my true passion lay.
After working as a wedding stylist for a while and saving some money, I decided to take the leap into the beauty industry. Eyelash extensions were the only beauty treatment I was personally familiar with at the time, so it felt like the natural place to start. I completed a two-day lash extension course and was fortunate to pick up the skills quickly.
From there, I committed wholeheartedly. I left my part-time wedding styling job, took on some casual babysitting work to support myself, and dedicated all my time and energy to building my beauty business from the ground up.
What's been the biggest lesson you've learnt since becoming a business owner?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that success doesn’t happen overnight. There will be quiet weeks, setbacks and moments of self-doubt, but consistency is what truly makes the difference. Showing up every day, continuing to learn and always giving my clients my best has been the foundation of my business’s growth.
One thing I believe is essential to building a successful business is understanding that people don’t just connect with a brand, they connect with the person behind it. They want to know who you are, what you stand for and what makes you different. I’ve always viewed myself as part of my brand, which is why I’ve invested in three different brand photoshoots that showcase my work and personality in unique ways. It’s been an opportunity to help people understand not only what I do, but why I love it and what sets my business apart.
Another lesson I’ve learned since leaving school is that we often worry far too much about – what other people think. In reality, most people are focused on their own lives. They aren’t keeping score of your mistakes or your successes. Once I stopped letting the fear of judgment hold me back and started focusing on what genuinely made me happy, I found the confidence to grow, take risks and pursue the career I truly wanted. That mindset has been one of the biggest contributors to both my personal and professional growth.
Why is creating that welcoming, personal experience so important to you?
As I mentioned earlier, people don’t just want to support another business, they want to connect with the person behind it. Clients want to know who you are, see your personality and understand what makes you unique. That’s why I believe being authentic and sharing who you are is such an important part of building a successful business.
I’ve always been an older sister to my brother, but I also grew up wishing I had a younger sister. In many ways, this career has given me that opportunity. I have so many wonderful younger clients, and our appointments often become conversations about everything from beauty to life. Through those moments, I’ve built genuine, honest and trusting relationships that go far beyond the services I provide.
I don’t see my clientele as simply customers of my business. They’re the people who have supported me from the beginning, many have become friends, and they’ve played such an important role in making my career so fulfilling. I’m incredibly grateful for the relationships we’ve built, and they’re a big part of the reason I love what I do every day.
Running your own business, have there been any challenges along the way, and how did you overcome them?
Starting a business can be intimidating because there are no guarantees. One of my biggest challenges was building my clientele while continuing to believe in myself during the quieter periods. I overcame this by staying consistent, investing in my education, listening to client feedback and always reminding myself why I started in the first place. Every challenge has taught me something valuable and has helped me become a better business owner.
One of the most significant challenges I’ve faced was learning how to separate my personal life from my business. During the first five months of this year, I experienced some personal challenges that had a real impact on my business. It was a difficult period, but it also taught me one of the most important lessons of my career.
I realised that I needed to create systems and routines that would help me continue showing up for my clients, even when life became challenging. More than anything, I came to understand that no one else can build my business for me. If I want it to grow and succeed, I have to continue investing my time, energy and passion into it every single day.
Looking back, those experiences have made me more resilient, more disciplined and more determined. They’ve reminded me that while challenges are inevitable, it’s how you respond to them that ultimately shapes both your business and your personal growth.
When you're not working in the salon, how do you like to spend your spare time?
Outside of my business, I love making the most of my time by travelling and exploring new places. I enjoy trying new experiences, spending time with friends and taking moments for myself to recharge, as I believe maintaining balance is so important.
I’m very fortunate to live close to the coast, so during summer, if I have a break between clients, I love taking my dog for long beach walks and staying active. These simple moments help me reset and continue showing up as my best self.
I still have a strong love for my previous career as a wedding planner and stylist, and during quieter periods in my business, I enjoy bringing that creativity back into my work by organising brand shoots. I love creating new ideas, collaborating with my friends and involving my beautiful clients to showcase my business in an authentic way.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that when you truly love what you do, work often doesn’t feel like work. I feel incredibly grateful that I can pour my creativity and passion into my business and genuinely enjoy the process of growing it. It has become something that feels less like a job and more like a passion I get to pursue every day.
What advice would you give to current Santa Maria students who dream of starting their own business or turning a passion into a career?
JUST DO IT!
One thing that kept me positive throughout my journey was knowing that I started young, and I had so much time ahead of me to learn, grow and succeed. I often reminded myself: why wouldn’t I give starting a business a chance at 19? I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Don’t wait until you feel completely ready, because that moment may never come. Start small, keep learning, and don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Every mistake is an opportunity to grow and improve.
Be patient, stay consistent and never compare your journey to someone else’s. Everyone’s path looks different, and success happens at different times for everyone. Find something you are truly passionate about, and you’ll be surprised by how much dedication, determination and hard work you’re willing to put in to build something you’re genuinely proud of.
Taking that first step can be the hardest part, but sometimes all you need is the courage to begin.
Sophia’s story is a reminder that success isn’t always about following the expected path. By trusting her instincts, staying consistent and embracing every opportunity to learn, she has built a business centred on genuine relationships, creativity and confidence. Her journey is an inspiring example for current students that with passion, resilience and the courage to take the first step, it’s possible to create a career you truly love.
If you’d like to support Sophia, her business is The Studio by Soph.
- Alumni Spotlight, beauty business, beauty industry, career inspiration, Mercy Values, Perth alumni, Santa Maria College alumni, student success, Women in Business, young entrepreneur
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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Sophia, Building Beauty, Confidence and a Business
Santa Maria past student Sophia Whimp (2022) has built a successful home beauty business by combining creativity, resilience and a commitment to authentic client relationships. In this Q&A, she reflects on the lessons she learned at school, the challenges of starting a business at a young age, and the advice she has for students hoping to turn their passion into a career.
