In the wake of the global pandemic, various industries were ravaged without any hopes of recovery. The subsequent lockdowns have forced many businesses to close down in the past two years, both temporarily and permanently. The world economy has undoubtedly hemorrhaged a lot of its resources due to the looming global health crisis, and we are still reeling from the effects to this day.
The spa industry is one of the massively damaged industries since lockdowns have forced business owners to temporarily close down their spa establishments. Ashley Henderson and her business partner and sister, Raven, were not spared from this ruling. They were forced to close down their first location of Bella Sorella Body Image, but Ashley did not let it faze her.
Bella Sorella Body Image was established in 2019, shortly before the pandemic broke out. Once the global pandemic hit in 2020, they had to close down their establishment’s first location. Ashley saw the closure of Bella Sorella Body Image’s first location as a temporary setback. Together with her sister, they created a strong master plan, one that had taken pandemic restrictions into consideration.
This plan was poised to be their explosive comeback, and this time, they would be better and stronger. Bella Sorella Body Image made a tremendous return when the pandemic restrictions started to ease. Nowadays, Ashley and Raven own an entire building with eight suites dedicated to catering to their unique clients.
Apart from Bella Sorella, Ashley Henderson also owns several other businesses. She initially started her entrepreneurial journey in 2009, right about the same time she was just starting out in her modeling career. She also owns a broadcast/multimedia company, a car rental business, and short-term rentals. She confessed to being quite a shy lady, so she chose to focus on her businesses more than her modeling.
In 2018, a celebrity photographer reached out to Ashley, inspiring her to step out of her comfort zone and be open to modeling again. In 2019, Bella Sorella was born out of Ashley and Raven’s combined expertise and creativity. Seeing as they were both licensed professional aestheticians, it was the only natural progression that they established a spa together. The spa offers facials, waxing, teeth whitening, scalp massage, dermaplaning, beard treatments, and body treatments to promote relaxation. It is a place where people can go to let go of their worries, unwind, and feel great.
“We want anyone to feel welcome despite gender,” Ashley shared. “Bella Sorella is a place where anyone can come to feel better about themselves. I’ve been in spas where it’s heavily geared towards women, and there might not be services available for men. We’re working towards an inclusive environment,” she added.
Throughout the ravaging effects of the global pandemic, Ashley Henderson has stayed resolute and managed to come out on top stronger than ever. “Throughout this time, I have been able to maintain my business and clientele. Social media has been a fantastic resource throughout the life of Bella Sorella. I believe being able to sustain a business in its early stages when there were established businesses who went through turmoil is a testament to the work I’ve put in since the beginning,” Ashley shared.
“I was able to maintain Bella Sorella while continuing my career in modeling and running multiple businesses, all while being a mother. As a young black woman entrepreneur, I’ve had to overcome a lot in order to be at this point, and my business is only growing from here.”
Ashley Henderson is a testament to working relentlessly and achieving one’s goals. As a thriving Black entrepreneur who is chasing her dreams passionately, she hopes that her story can serve as an inspiration to other women who work hard to provide for their children just as she does. Her perseverance knows no bounds, and it is one of the prime reasons why she is enjoying the success that she deserves right now.