Photo: Dolly Monroe
TAMPA, Fla. – As August marks National Black Business Month, the Dolly Monroe Beauty Academy (DMBA), the area’s only nationally-accredited esthetic and makeup artistry school allowing graduates to obtain their esthetic license in as little as seven weeks, is projected to gross $1 million in revenue in 2021.
According to Dolly Monroe, the 27-year-old founder of Dolly Monroe Beauty Academy, the school is investing much of their revenue back into the institution, including renovations to their New Tampa campus and improving their virtual courses ahead of students returning for standard and advanced beauty programs on Aug. 30.
Located at 10359 Cross Creek Blvd. in Tampa, the school’s renovations include an overhaul of its wax, facial, makeup, and lash classrooms, as well as a beautification of its lobby and core classroom, including a flower wall and custom mural designed by local muralist Rachel Scholer.
As a Black business owner, Monroe says the timing of the school’s updates couldn’t be better, and believes surrounding her students with modern and artistic designs, as well as a revamped virtual curriculum, will fuel their creativity.
“The fact that we’re able to provide our students with all of these improvements and amenities during National Black Business Month makes this all the more special,” said Monroe, affectionately referred to by her pupils as Miss Dolly. “We needed our classrooms and studio space to resemble what Dolly Monroe is all about. We needed our interior to evoke and inspire beauty and creativity.”
Additionally, DMBA plans to implement an interactive “podcast-style” platform for instructors to better engage with students enrolled in the blended program, accommodating students with busier schedules.
Originally from Greenville, N.C., Monroe graduated from the University of South Florida in 2015 and continued her education by obtaining her esthetician license. According to Monroe, it was the process of pursuing her beauty career that inspired her to establish an educational institute of her own.
Today, the academy boasts five classrooms and a core building, which houses a storefront and makeup room area. According to Monroe, DMBA is planning to release their own line of cosmetic makeup products later this year.
DMBA, which has helped 266 students receive their esthetics licenses since 2018, provides students with hands-on training in multiple specialties with instructors that have a combined 40 years of experience.
Students of DMBA can choose between three different programs — a 300-hour program and 600-hour program, as well as a blended program that offers a mixture of online and in-person training.
According to DMBA, the 300-hour program will build a strong foundation for entry-level estheticians, while the 600-hour advanced program allows students to gain expertise in advanced treatments and makeup artistry. The blended model, which was instituted in March of this year as a result of COVID-19, allows busier students to learn coursework online and complete their hands-on training on predesignated Saturdays.
The next blended class will begin Sept. 13.
DMBA is currently in the process of obtaining Title IV certification, which will allow for students to utilize federal financial aid programs to pay for their education.
Enrollment is still available for the Aug. 30 and Sept. 13 classes. Those interested in earning their esthetician license or would like more information are encouraged to visit www.dollymonroe.edu.
Founded in 2018, Dolly Monroe Beauty Academy is an esthetician school certified by the state of Florida offering education in the field of beauty esthetics, professional makeup artistry, facials, waxing, lash extensions, microblading and more.
