MCISD graduate celebrates three month milestone for beauty salon

After graduating, most graduates look forward to starting a college education. However, with the help of the Careers and Technical Education program at Mission Consolidated School District, 18-year-old Lilian Arellano received the opportunity to become Mission’s youngest brick-and-mortar nail salon owner after opening her salon in January.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always liked the beauty industry. Hair, make-up,” said Arellano. “I’ve liked the business side as well. I like the numbers, going to the hair salons to see how it’s run.”

Lily’s Beauty Lounge, located at 722 E. 8th Street in Mission, specializes in nail art, pedicures, facials, waxing, blow-out hairstyling, and eyelash perming.

However, Arellano’s business wouldn’t be possible without her certification from Mission CISD’s CTE program, which she received during graduation in May 2023.

The program involves 27 study programs divided into 14 clusters. In addition to Cosmetologist topics, programs include Agribusiness, Animal Science, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity, Digital Communication, Marketing & Sales, and Nursing Science. The district also offers 29 Articulated and 22 Dual Enrollment courses.

Arellano began her cosmetology career during her sophomore year, her heart weighing the choices of becoming a teacher or beautician in middle school.

There, at Mission High School, she enrolled in the CTE program to begin her journey as a cosmetologist specializing in beautician fortes and nail art.

While studying amid the start of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Arellano had limited access to models, leading her to practice hairstyles, nail art, and facials on her mother and younger brother.

“My little brother didn’t want to put on nails,” she said, recounting how her brother was her model due to her mother caring for her great-grandmother. “It was hard.”

Her brother remained her model for a year, rotating through different cosmetology services such as pedicures, braids, and manicures each month.

Returning to an in-person learning environment in 2021 gave Arellano more leverage to utilize different models and focus on peer learning. There, she socialized with students and learned hands-on skills that were difficult to learn via a computer screen.

“It was way more exciting,” she said. “I got to meet my teacher, Ms. [Jackie] Zapata.”

Zapata, MHS’s Cosmetology teacher, taught Arellano about beauty service standards and regulations for patient safety, skills Lily’s Beauty Lounge holds in high regard.

“She taught me which businesses ran it correctly [and] which ones follow state laws. She’s also taught me how to run my own business,” said Arellano. “She’s been to my salon a couple of times.”

Almost a year after receiving her Cosmetology certificate, Arellano celebrated the opening with the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony.

There, Arellano takes pride in pampering her customers and helping them feel like their best selves.

“The way I run it, I want everyone to have the best time that they can,” she said.

And despite only being eighteen, Arellano plans to expand her franchise and place a second location in Dallas, close to remote relatives who reside outside the Valley.

“It’s just an idea. I don’t think it’ll be a [fleshed out] plan until maybe December of next year,” she said. “Probably open Lily’s no. 2.”