A young woman is fast becoming an icon of the beauty and skin care industry with her three salons and a beauty school attracting celebrities and enthusiasts in Auckland and Wellington.
Seeing men and women happy, healthy and beautiful is among the objectives of Ronita Sharma, Director of ‘Forever Shine Beauty Therapy,’ which operates from three locations – Mt Eden and Karangahape (K) Road in Auckland and Century City Hotel in Wellington.
An increasing number of women in both cities find her holistic approach to health and beauty a refreshing experience, saying that her honesty and integrity are the best attributes of the beautician.
From threading to facials to waxing (including Brazilian waxing), trimming and perming, her salons offers comprehensive services, while her ‘International College of Beauty,’ opened at the Mt Eden shop in July this year, aims to go far, not only teaching beauty therapy to enthusiasts but also in helping to launch their career in the art.
Source of joy
Her long list of clients goes beyond television personalities to include, actors, models, students and even Rugby players.
“The joy of seeing people glowing and smiling as they leave the precincts of ‘Forever Shine’ is inexplicable. There is a certain state of satisfaction which cannot be reached with money alone,” she said.
Born in Ba (Fiji), Ronita evinced interested in beauty, skincare and wellness from her formative years, which took her to the South Pacific Academy of Beauty Therapy in Suva, where she graduated with 100% Honours. Armed with the experience of managing a beauty therapy spa in Nadi, she was ready to scale greater heights in the profession in a more sophisticated market.
A two-week holiday in New Zealand in 2005 fuelled her ambition to hone her skills and a find a place of distinction in the beauty industry.
The beginning
Seeking employment in an Ayurvedic Clinic, Ronita advanced her education but it was not until 2009 that she found the right opportunity to open a salon on K Road in Central Auckland.
True to the adage, ‘Nothing succeeds like success,’ the growing demand for beauty therapy under her able care and leadership encouraged her to establish the second salon at Mt Eden.
Journalists and producers from local television stations are her regular clients and many of them expressed a need for a similar establishment with professionally qualified staff in Wellington.
“I was thrilled to receive such accolades and after considerable thought, decided to open the second branch in Wellington in 2010. She is happy that the salon enjoys patronage of well-known personalities.
It was the passion to impart her skills to the younger generation and women that prompted Ronita to establish the ‘International College of Beauty,’ at the Mt Eden facility, offering short and long-term courses.
Immense potential
Expansion plans are at hand and Ronita hopes to implement them with appropriate official approvals including that of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
“I hope that our courses will also appeal to school and college students, women who are interested in wellness and mothers without jobs to seek self-employment. I am also confident that the College will have universal appeal,” she said.
She gains strength from the motivation and encouragement that she receives from her husband Aklesh who works for a freight company and both seek joy and satisfaction from their eleven-year-old son Rishil and four-year-old daughter Aashta.
“There is immense potential to grow. ‘Forever Shine’ offers an extensive range of beauty therapy treatments and uses only natural, organic and chemical-free products,” Ronita said.
Ronita Sharma teaches and practices beauty therapy
