The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, interviews Claudia Valdez, Co-Founder & Global Beauty Director of Beauty Unscripted Media and former Vogue Beauty Editor. Claudia shares her perspective on the meaning of beauty through her writing, her afterlife connection to her mom, and an incredible career at Vogue Mexico. Mexico-born and LA-based, Claudia Valdez has spent more than 15 years turning beauty into cultural currency. For eleven of those years she led the beauty pages of Vogue México y Latinoamérica. Later, as Beauty & Fashion Director at a top celebrity agency, she outfitted red-carpet stars and shaped the message behind every look, helping talents project an image that matched their true voice. Today, as Co-Founder and Global Beauty Director of Beauty Unscripted Media, Claudia guides brands toward storytelling that becomes a beacon for the industry. Claudia blends journalistic rigor with visionary strategy to champion inclusion, self-esteem, and purpose-driven leadership worldwide.Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together. **This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, interviews Denise Vasi, Founder of Maed Beauty. Denise shares about her brand, the importance and significance of being a mother, and how beauty can be self-care when done with intention. Brooklyn native and Los Angeles-based Denise Vasi is the founder of Maed Beauty, a clean beauty brand that centers the importance of daily beauty rituals for people who lead multifaceted lives. Everything Maed Beauty creates and champions is through an elevated, experiential lens. The debut collection prioritizes the ritual of lip care with a modern, skincare-first approach. Denise’s career began in the fashion industry, where she graced the pages of iconic magazines such as Vogue, Glamour, and Elle. As a model, she gained invaluable beauty experience, working with top makeup artists and photographers, which honed her understanding of the beauty industry. Transitioning from modeling to acting, Denise made her mark on television as the star of VH1’s scripted show “Single Ladies.” Her exposure to the beauty and fashion worlds continued to grow, further solidifying her expertise and influence in these spaces. Denise went on to launch Maed.co, an editorial website dedicated to clean beauty, wellness, and intentional living. Through Maed.co, she built a vibrant social media community by sharing her expertise in clean beauty, health and wellness routines, and self-care rituals. Thanks to this ever-growing community, her honest and intentional approach has garnered significant anticipation for the launch of her Maed Beauty collection.In 2018, Denise was recognized as one of Create & Cultivate’s Top 100, an annual list honoring 100 inspiring and successful women disrupting the digital industry. She was further celebrated in 2020 as one of the Boss Women of the Year, highlighting female entrepreneurs of color who are paving new paths for all women to succeed. Denise splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City with her husband, Anthony, and their two children, continuing to inspire and lead with authenticity and passion. Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together. **This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

The Beauty Anonymous — A New Series from The Beauty Manifest!

Welcome to The Beauty Anonymous, a new series within The Beauty Manifest podcast where we dive even deeper into the connection between beauty and mental health. In each episode, licensed mental health expert Dr. Christine Coleman answers real questions submitted by our listeners—no filters, no judgment, just honest conversations.

Whether you’re struggling with self-image, identity, comparison, confidence, or emotional wellness in a beauty-obsessed world, this is your safe space to explore how what’s on the inside shapes how we see ourselves on the outside.

Got a question for Dr. Coleman? Submit anonymously via The Beauty Manifest Instagram DMs and be part of the conversation.

New episodes drop once a month. Subscribe to The Beauty Manifest and never miss a dose of insight, healing, and real talk.

 Dr. Christine Coleman is the Founder and CEO of Cura Wellness, a consulting and private practice firm specializing in the intersection of mental health and equity-centered leadership. With over 15 years of clinical experience, Dr. Coleman supports high-achieving diverse leaders and the organizations committed to their growth and retention. Her work equips companies to embed psychological safety, belonging, and cultural care into their leadership strategies—so their teams don’t just perform, they thrive. Grounded in deep clinical expertise  and evidence-based approaches, Dr. Coleman partners with people-driven companies to build cultures that sustain both innovation and well-being.

 Dr. Coleman has trained leading companies like Pinterest, Business Wire, Coursera, Udemy, Mulesoft by Salesforce, and the Major League Baseball Network. Dr. Coleman has been a featured contributor to prestigious media outlets including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Vogue, MSN, and Huffington Post. Dr. Coleman is an internationally recognized speaker and has spoken at Yale’s Mental Health Conference, UC Berkeley, the American College Health Association (ACHA), and more. 

Dr. Coleman received the University of San Francisco’s “Living the Mission” award for her dedication to serving women and girls. Dr. Coleman is the Founder and Executive Director of Sol Sisters Inc., a nonprofit with a mission to help women overcome societal barriers by providing educational and empowering experiences that promote personal and professional evolution. Dr. Coleman is also an Executive and Performance to diverse, influential leaderswho desire to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing.

Dr. Coleman holds a B.S. in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University, a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco, a license to practice Marriage and Family Therapy in California, and a Ph.D in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern University. 

Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together. 

**This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please formally seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, interviews Kelby Adam, makeup artist and creative visionary. They chat about what it is like building a MUA career in Los Angeles, Kelby’s experience doing makeup for Lady Gaga’s Abracadabra music video and Doechii’s Grammy’s performance, and the importance of staying true to yourself.

Kelby Adam (Cult of Kelby) is a Los Angeles–based freelance makeup artist and creative visionary with over 13 years of experience. He has collaborated with major names like Urban Decay Cosmetics, Lady Gaga, Doechii, Slayyyter, Rolling Stone, Jeffrey Campbell, Interview Magazine, Gen V Magazine, Depop, and Quiksilver. Through his Cult of Kelby persona on social media, Kelby shares bold, authentic beauty content and pop culture commentary, showcasing his expertise, creative, and one-of-a-kind aesthetic.

Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together.

**This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please formally seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.

Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, interviews Adriana Alejandre, Licensed Trauma Therapist and Speaker. They discuss trauma, the connection between beauty and mental health, and offer tools you can take with you throughout your days.

Adriana Alejandre is a Licensed Trauma Therapist and Speaker from Los Angeles, California. Adriana owns her own bilingual practice of 8 Latinas, EMDR and Trauma Therapy Center. Her practice specializes in individuals and families who struggle with anxiety, complex trauma, grief, and PTSD. She has done disaster relief work for Hurricane Harvey, Woolsey Fire and Las Vegas shooting providing Psychological First Aid to survivors in shelters. Adriana’s work and expertise has been featured in USA Today, New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times, among others.

She is also the founder of internationally recognized, Latinx Therapy, a national directory and bilingual podcast that destigmatizes mental health myths & provides education to combat the stigma online and offline.The inspiration to create Latinx Therapy in 2018 derived from her experience as a single, teen mom with postpartum depression, and her later frustration in finding relatable, relevant resources for her Latinx clients as a therapist. Her podcast has been featured in iTunes’ Top 200, Spotify’s Top 30 Latin shows and has been heard in over 112 countries.

In 2019, she won Hispanizice’s TECLA award for Best Social Good Content award, in 2020 she won the #YoSoy Instagram and Hispanic Heritage Foundation Award as one of 5 Latinx influencers of the year creating social change.

Adriana founded a non-profit charity organization in 2021 with her community members called the Alejandre Foundation, which focuses on increasing mental health equity for Latinos by fundraising to create therapy scholarships. In 2022, they awarded their first cohort of recipients. This effort was created to combat the systemic delay in access tomental health therapy services.

In 2022, She was selected to win the Jim Preis Memorial award by the Mental Health Advocacy Series, an award honoring individuals who advance the rights of people with mental disabilities.

Adriana was born and raised in a lower socioeconomic area of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. She was raised by a strict Guatemalan mother and a Mexican father who both had many side-hustles since they immigrated from their countries. Adriana looked up to them and grew up knowing that she, too, wanted to be an entrepreneur. Adriana’s mission in the spaces she has established is to create spaces in the real world, and virtual world to spark dialogue about mental health struggles and strengths in the Latinx community. Adriana currently lives in the San Fernando Valley with her husband, 12-year old son, 14-year old step-son and their two dogs.

Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together.

**This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.

Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, interviews Alex May, Influencer, Speaker, Writer, Plus Model and Creative Director. 

Alex Michael May has built a brand on being the virtual bff every woman needs—from cheerleading her followers to believe in themselves through practical
exercises, humor, inspiration and honesty to helping them navigate life’s roadblocks and become best version of themselves.
A creative director by trade, Alex takes brand collaborations and content creation to the next level, working with a team of female creatives in her downtown Los Angeles studio on photo shoots, videos, events and more.
Alex has collaborated with and creative directed for brands like Coach, Movado, Eloquii, Dunkin Donuts, Forever21 and more, and been featured in Allure, the LA Times, Glitter Guide and Yahoo! Style. She recently creative directed a photoshoot for Premme and regularly consults for fashion and lifestyle brands both large and boutique. As an influencer with 45K+ combined followers, Alex has worked with top brands like Eloquii, Nordstrom, Aerie, Coach, Fossil, Hourglass Cosmetics and Marc Beauty.

Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together.

**This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.

Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and professional speaker, interviews Courtney Claghorn, Founder of Sugared and Bronzed. Courtney shares about Sugared + Bronzed, her intuitive approach to entrepreneurship, and unbelievable stories of success with natural health remedies. Courtney Claghorn is the Founder of SUGARED + BRONZED — and the living proof that your biggest insecurities can spark your boldest ideas. Despite being Italian, she was the one in the family who didn’t tan easily. While that used to drive her crazy, it eventually led her to embrace the faux glow — and fall in love with what it did for her confidence. After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Courtney landed in Santa Monica with her now-husband and business partner, Sam Offit. She quickly realized she was shelling out too much for subpar spray tans and even worse experiences. So, with zero experience in the beauty industry but a vision for something better, she launched the business — and never looked back. A fourth-generation female entrepreneur, Courtney combined her passion for skincare with her love for a sunless tan, introducing sugaring to the mix — a natural, ancient technique that felt refreshingly modern. Today, SUGARED + BRONZED has 36 locations and extensive product line, with a lot more in the works!Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together. **This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

The Beauty Manifest host, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and content creator, interviews Shani Darden, expert esthetician and founder of Shani Darden Skincare. Shani shares about her love for animals stemming from her childhood, her experience with agoraphobia, and they discuss how acne is emotional.

Considered the secret behind Hollywood’s most flawless faces, expert esthetician Shani Darden sets herself apart with her results-oriented approach to skin care. Her passion for simple, yet effective solutions has earned her clients’ trust and respect in a town where beauty, health, and wellness standards are high.

Shani trained as an esthetician under a leading dermatologist, eventually going out on her own. She developed a passion for creating products she could not find, sending clients home with custom-made formulas between visits. Her Retinol Reform® serum quickly built a huge celebrity following. Today, Shani is sharing her proven formulas and trusted expertise so people everywhere can achieve their best skin.

In June 2019, Shani opened her first flagship studio in Beverly Hills where she treats clients, develops high-performance formulas and shares her expertise with her followers on social media.Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty together.

**This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-patient relationship. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please seek the advice of a licensed mental health professional. The information provided in this podcast is not a substitute for professional advice, and you use it at your own risk. We do not guarantee any specific outcomes or results from using the information provided.

Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

The Beauty Manifest hosts, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and content creator, along with Natasha, international beauty entrepreneur, award winning artist, and philanthropist, interview Kubbra Sait, celebrated author, actor, and host. Kubbra gets real about her own personal growth throughout her acting career, shares how she practices self-awareness, and opens up about her prior narcissistic tendancies. 
Kubbra Sait is an actress, television host, and author known for her bold and diverse roles. Born in Bengaluru, she crafted a beautiful career in entertainment. She gained acclaim for playing Kukoo in Netflix’s Sacred Games, and later appeared in Apple TV+’s Foundation. Beyond acting, she has hosted major events and published a memoir, Open Book, in 2022.Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty and authenticity together. **This episode of "The Beauty Manifest" contains discussions about sensitive topics including mental health challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues, please consider seeking support from a professional or contacting a crisis hotline. Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL

The Beauty Manifest hosts, Melinda, Sephora Beauty Director, mental health advocate, and content creator, along with Natasha, international beauty entrepreneur, award winning artist, and philanthropist, interview Danielle Robay, TV host, journalist, and content creator known for her open-hearted and compelling interview style. She talks about chasing your dreams, never giving up, and questioning everything along the way. Dubbed The Queen of Questions, Danielle recently added founder to her resume with the best-selling card game, "Question Everything."Recognized by Forbes as a “game changer,” Danielle is best known as the host of QUESTION EVERYTHING, Hello Sunshine’s The Bright Side, and E!’s While You Were Streaming.Like her mentor Larry King, she has interviewed Hollywood’s biggest names, Fortune 500 CEOs, politicians, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. Her goal? To help us live better through each other’s stories. *If you catch her in real life, ask her what book is currently on her nightstand. Subscribe now, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation as we redefine beauty and authenticity together. **This episode of "The Beauty Manifest" contains discussions about sensitive topics including mental health challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues, please consider seeking support from a professional or contacting a crisis hotline. Edited by Nicolas Spearman: https://bit.ly/4eXMGqL