Latinas are not to be pigeonholed. In our monthly Modern Muze Spotlight series, we will talk to successful businesswoman that continue to inspire us. Today we’re celebrating Dominican-American wellness entrepreneur and author Deisy Suarez-Giles—who not only founded and owns DESUAR Spa but also published her children’s heartfelt book alongside her son.
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, Suarez-Giles is the center of this month’s Modern Muze spotlight. Why? Because this Muze does many things at once. She is successfully building a business, raising her family, and pursuing her passion for beauty, wellness, and entrepreneurship. And on top of it all, she’s also promoting her newest book, When the Sky Lost Its Colors, which she wrote about the “loss, uncertainty, and resilience” of navigating last year’s tragic Eaton Fire—through a child’s perspective.
“I want children to walk away with hope and the understanding that even after devastating events, life can still be filled with color again,” Suarez-Giles said about her goals with this new book.
To get a better insight into how she balances it all and her inspiration behind her moves, Modern Muze talked to Suarez-Giles about her Latina roots, her ongoing projects, and the advice she gives to young entrepreneurs.
Where are your parents from?
My parents are from the Dominican Republic. They came from modest backgrounds and built a life through determination, sacrifice, and hard work. My mother worked long hours in a factory, and my father took on various handyman jobs to support our family. Watching them work tirelessly taught me the value of resilience, humility, and perseverance.
Those lessons became the foundation of my entrepreneurial journey. While we didn’t have much financially, my parents gave me something even more valuable: a belief that through hard work and dedication, it was possible to create a better future.
How do your Latina roots influence your esthetician journey and your new book, When the Sky Lost Its Colors?
My Latina roots are at the heart of everything I do. In our culture, beauty is about more than appearance; it is about self-respect, confidence, connection, and caring for others. Those values inspired me to create a wellness experience that treats the whole person, not just the skin.
The same cultural foundation influenced When the Sky Lost Its Colors. Family, resilience, and hope are central themes in the book. As Latinas, many of us grow up learning how to find strength during difficult times, and that perspective helped shape how I approached telling our family’s story after experiencing the Eaton Fire.
Can you tell us more about When the Sky Lost Its Colors?
When the Sky Lost Its Colors is a children’s book inspired by my son Henry’s real-life experience during the Eaton Fire in January 2025. The story follows a young boy as he navigates confusion, fear, and uncertainty during a natural disaster while discovering courage, resilience, and hope.
The book was inspired by a national live television interview that unexpectedly went viral. During the interview, Henry shared his memories of the night of the fire with a level of honesty, logic, grief, and innocence that deeply moved people across the country. He spoke about losing his home, including the chimney where Santa Claus used to bring him gifts. As he tried to make sense of everything that had happened, he said something that stayed with all of us:
“Everything lost its colors.”
Those simple words captured the emotional impact of the experience in a way that both children and adults could understand. It became the inspiration for the title of the book because it perfectly described what loss, uncertainty, and sadness can feel like through a child’s eyes.
The book was written to help children process difficult experiences and understand that even in life’s darkest moments, there is always hope ahead. It encourages important conversations between parents and children about resilience, emotional healing, and community support. It also includes fire safety awareness to help families feel more prepared and empowered in the face of emergencies.
At its core, the story is a reminder that even when life seems to lose its colors, love, courage, and hope can help bring them back.
Your son is part of this project. Tell us why it was important to include Henry Giles. What did you learn from each other through this journey?
This book was created by my son Henry, with my help and blessing. Including Henry was not only important, it was essential, because this is his story. I wanted to give his words a place to live forever and make sure it would never be forgotten.
The story is told through a child’s perspective, so it was important for his voice to remain authentic. Henry experienced the fire alongside our family, and his emotions, observations, and questions helped shape the book in a way only a child could. His honesty gave the story its heart.
Through this journey, I learned how deeply children absorb the world around them and how important it is to give them space to express their feelings. Henry reminded me to look at difficult situations with honesty, curiosity, and hope.
I believe I helped teach him that even painful experiences can be transformed into something positive, something that can help other children and families feel seen, understood, and less alone.
What was the moment you knew you needed to dive into intersecting beauty, wellness, and entrepreneurship?
There wasn’t one single moment. It happened naturally as I realized that people were coming to me for more than skincare treatments. They were seeking confidence, relaxation, healing, and self-care. I saw an opportunity to create spaces where people could recharge physically and emotionally while building a business that empowered others.
As an entrepreneur, I wanted to elevate wellness experiences and make people feel cared for. The combination of beauty, wellness, and business allowed me to do that on a larger scale.
What makes your approach different from others?
I focus on personalization and human connection. Every client who walks through our doors has a unique story, and I believe wellness should be tailored to individual needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach. I also focus on experiences and wellness transformation.
At DESUAR Spa, we combine results-driven treatments with genuine care and hospitality. My goal has always been to create environments where people feel seen, supported, and rejuvenated. That same philosophy extends to my writing and community work.
What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs as a Latina in the wellness and publishing industries, respectively?
For wellness entrepreneurs, never lose sight of why you started. Relationships, trust, skills, and authenticity are your greatest assets. Focus on serving people well and building a reputation based on integrity. For aspiring authors and publishers, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Share your story. Your experiences may help someone else heal, learn, or feel less alone. The stories that resonate most are often the ones that come from a place of truth and vulnerability. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to take up space. Your voice matters.
How do you keep up with your life, projects, and being a mother on top of it all?
I won’t pretend it’s easy. Balance is something I continuously work toward rather than something I’ve mastered. Being a mother is my most important role, and everything else has to fit around that priority. I’ve learned to focus on what matters most, delegate when possible, and give myself grace when things aren’t perfect. My family, my team, and my faith help keep me grounded. I’ve also learned that self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.
What challenges have you faced as a Latina entrepreneur?
Like many Latina entrepreneurs, I’ve faced challenges related to access, representation, and being underestimated. Coming from a family that lived paycheck to paycheck, I didn’t have access to wealth, business connections, or financial resources that many entrepreneurs take for granted.
I had to build everything from the ground up. There were moments when people doubted my abilities, questioned my vision, or underestimated me because I was a Latina woman. Instead of allowing those obstacles to discourage me, they fueled my determination. Every challenge became motivation to prove that where you come from does not determine where you can go.
Today, one of my proudest accomplishments is knowing that I broke a cycle of financial struggle and created opportunities for others through my businesses. That journey wasn’t easy, but it taught me that resilience, persistence, and faith can open doors that once seemed impossible.
Anything else you’d like to include?
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that your circumstances do not define your future. I came from nothing, I grew up in a household where money was tight, and every paycheck mattered. Watching my parents work tirelessly taught me the value of hard work, but it also inspired me to pursue a different path and create opportunities that weren’t available to us growing up.
Losing our home during the Eaton Fire reminded me that material things can disappear in an instant, but resilience, family, and community cannot be taken away. Whether through wellness, entrepreneurship, or storytelling, my mission is to help people recognize their own strength and understand that even the most difficult chapters can become part of a powerful story of hope and transformation.
