Zulay’s Roadmap for Finding Your Muze: Beauty, Balance, and the Power of Self-Care
In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, cultivating confidence and achieving balance are paramount. For Zulay Henao, CEO & Founder of Modern Muze, beauty is a narrative, a cultural bridge, and a professional tool.
As an actress and entrepreneur, Henao juggles life in the spotlight while leading a business focused on empowering Latinas to become the best version of themselves and be their own muze. To help others find the intersection between self-care and the hustle, Henao and Elena Garcia-Romo, a licenced esthetician and owner of Luminous Beauty by Elena, shared their best advice for entrepreneurs on embracing self-care with Modern Muze.
Together, they illustrate how beauty and well-being are not just external pursuits but fundamental aspects of personal and professional success.
Beauty as storytelling, empowerment, and internal nourishment
For Henao, beauty is a powerful form of storytelling, deeply rooted in her Latina heritage.
“Beauty has always been a form of storytelling for me,” she says. “As a Latina, it’s how I honor my roots and express myself before I speak. With Modern Muze, I use beauty as a tool to connect and show that you can lead in business and celebrate your femininity. Whether it’s a bold lip or natural skin, it’s about showing myself fully. That authenticity builds trust and opens doors.”
Similarly, Garcia-Romo follows a similar philosophy, emphasizing a “less is more” approach to self-care.
“I make sure to give myself time every morning and night a few minutes to peacefully do my skincare routine. I reflect in the mirror how far my skin has come from my teen acne day struggles. Realizing that the beauty is already within me and nourishing it how it comes to life,” she tells Modern Muze. “Taking care of my skin with the correct routines, consistent facials, taking care of my body and mind, has truly let my self-confidence soar.”
Cultivating confidence while instilling self-reflection
As Latinas, finding their voice, place, and footing hasn’t always been easy for Henao and Garcia-Romo. Despite the changing tides for Latina entrepreneurs today, it wasn’t always the case. Now, they’re part of a group leading some of the greatest economic growth the United States has seen in decades.
Henao found her source of confidence rooted in her Colombian heritage. “Embracing my culture changed everything. When I stopped hiding parts of myself and became really at peace with myself and all the things that make me, ME, I found a deeper confidence,” she says.
Since starting Modern Muze, Henao has led a community of women seeking inspiration in themselves.
“At Modern Muze, we celebrate being our own MUZE!  Owning my Latina beauty helped me show up unapologetically, whether on set, or on conference calls. It’s powerful and truly magical when you lead with who you truly are. That has given me strength both in life and in business.”
On the other hand, creating a wellness routine has been a cornerstone of success for Garcia-Romo. Particularly when it comes to feeling confident while leading her business. As an esthetician, she encourages clients to look beyond expensive skincare products and focus on how they are nourishing themselves inside and out.
“Taking care of my body both inside and outside is key to my self-confidence and well-being. I could apply the best skin care products out in the world, but if I don’t nourish my body internally, my skin will have nothing to show for it, ” she explains. “The skin is the largest organ we have, it mirrors our insides. Having a healthy diet, exercising, self-love, it does make a difference.”
Some practices she’s instilled into her daily routine include eating healthy, keeping her gut check in health, and moving her body daily.
“Whether it’s going to the gym, walking my dogs, or even a dance party in my room. My skin care routine is a must morning and night; that is one step of my day I won’t skip,” she says. “Those are the minutes in the day where I speak kindly to myself, reflect, and just give myself a moment to give myself the love I pour to others daily. Although I work in the beauty industry, I am not someone who does these extravagant routines daily for self-care. As I previously mentioned, less really is more sometimes.”
Grounding, leading with presence, and attracting success while feeling beautiful
At Modern Muze, beauty is a pillar of growth, embracing authenticity and opening an essential door to confidence. For Henao, “Beauty is business.”
She adds, “My daily routine is an act of self-respect. Whether it’s skincare or a red statement lip, it’s how I ground myself before I lead. When you feel good, you do good! At Modern Muze, we continuously talk about showing up as your own Muze, your highest self,  and this is part of that. Feeling good in my skin helps me lead with confidence and clarity. It’s not about vanity—it’s about presence and power.”
Garcia-Romo shares this sentiment, taking time each day not only to make sure her clients feel empowered by beauty, but embracing it herself.
“Look good, feel good. Pretty cliche I know but it is that simple sometimes. The more I poured into my cup and gave myself the same amount of love I give to others, I noticed a shift in my mindset and everything else followed,” she says. “Your appearance is the first impression you give others, as shallow as it may seem sometimes. It is also the impression you give yourself when climbing towards success.”
She also claims that mental and physical self-care are essential to attracting the right connections.
“When I took a look at the new people I began to associate myself with, I took note of how they carried themselves and how success just oozed out of them,” she asserts. “Not only with their physical appearance but how they have educated themselves in their field, staying humble and modest apart from their obvious success. As I started applying these small but impactful practices in my own life, I saw a total shift in my journey towards success. The confidence within has grown and comes effortlessly now when it comes to my business.”
