Ever felt knocked flat by burnout, public criticism, or self doubt?

In this raw and honest chat, Kelly Christie, aka The Skin Queen and also owner of The Facial Bar on the Gold Coast, joins Samara and Jen to share the unfiltered truth behind building two successful businesses. From the realities of online hate to the behind the scenes lessons of leadership, resilience, and growth. This episode is packed with wisdom for every beauty business owner.

💬 Inside:

• The hardest lessons of leadership, staff culture, and finding her style
• How public criticism almost broke her (and what helped her rebuild)
• Balancing multiple businesses while protecting her mental health
• The mindset shifts that helped her step into her power
• What she’s doing differently now to create thriving teams and success

If you’ve ever wondered how to stay strong and grow through the toughest seasons of business—this one will light you up.

🎧 Hit play to feel seen, supported, and inspired to rise through it all.

00:00 Episode Disclaimer

02:44 Navigating Client Cancellations

04:52 Guest Introduction: Kelly, the Skin Queen

05:59 Kelly's Journey to Becoming Skin Queen

08:38 Challenges of Running a Salon

12:38 The Importance of Leadership in Business

15:29 Maintaining Team Morale and Culture

24:21 The Emotional Impact of Leadership

36:11 Rebuilding and Finding Flow

40:16 Facing Industry Backlash

41:14 Dealing with Online Criticism

43:29 Mental Health Struggles

44:59 Finding Strength and Purpose

47:02 Rebuilding and Moving Forward

54:14 Business Growth and Future Plans

1:08:58 Final Thoughts and Reflections

💛 A HUGE Thank You to Our Podcast Sponsors

We’re so grateful to be supported by two icons from the industry: Timely and KEVIN.MURPHY.

✨ Timely – Your dream booking system

We’ve partnered with Timely to bring you something special:

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If you've been thinking about levelling up your salon systems, this is your moment. Timely is designed specifically for salons—helping you manage bookings, clients, staff, and more with ease.

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💇‍♀️ KEVIN.MURPHY – Redefine Colour with KEVIN.MURPHY+CODE

Are you ready to experience the innovation behind KEVIN.MURPHY+CODE—the permanent colour powered by skincare?

We’ve teamed up with KEVIN.MURPHY to bring you the Code Intro Pack. An exclusive limited time offer designed to elevate your colour game and future proof your salon.

✨ Here’s what you’ll receive:

• 17 x 100ml shades of CODE, including CLEAR
• 5 x 1L Cream Activators (1%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%)
• 💰 Valued at $677.25, available to you for just $209

This is your chance to explore cutting-edge colour technology with a skincare twist—without the big upfront investment.

Head to KM Code Offer to access this exclusive offer before it’s gone.