From Breakouts to Breakthroughs: How My Battle with Bad Jewelry Turned Into a Brand You'll Love
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Hey, everyone! I’m Leticia Prates, the Brazilian-born dreamer and founder behind MONALIZA. If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d end up creating my own jewelry line, I probably would’ve laughed in your face. I mean, come on—I’m a science nerd with a degree in Human Biology and a minor in chemistry. Plus, I come from very humble beginnings; I grew up in a small city in Brazil called Naviraí (and trust me, no one ever knows where that is). At 17, I moved to the United States, thinking I’d go down a pretty straight path—premed degree, graduate, and then work in healthcare.
But then 2020 happened. I graduated in the middle of a pandemic—no cap and gown, just sweatpants and a Zoom screen! I jumped straight into the workforce, doing every healthcare job you could think of: research assistant, medical assistant, clinical coordinator, medical translator, medical interpreter, and even translating scientific articles for big-name Journals . And that's just the tip of the iceberg. But there’s something else you should know about me—I’ve got ADHD, which means my brain is always on the go, jumping from one thought to the next. I’ve always needed more than just the regular 9-to-5 to keep me engaged.
So, while I love all the other nerdy parts of me, there was always this itch (pun intended) to do something different, something that made me feel alive and challenged. I crave creativity and new challenges—something to channel my energy into and keep life interesting. Speaking of itches—let’s talk about jewelry. I’ve always loved it, but my skin? Not so much. Being allergic to metals like brass and nickel is a nightmare when all you want is to wear some cute earrings without ending up with itchy, swollen ears. For years, I’d buy jewelry that promised to be “hypoallergenic,” only to end up with an itchy rash or worse. And forget about wearing my nice solid gold earrings; I am way too clumsy for that—I’d lose one earring in the gym locker room or drop another down the drain. So, I just stopped wearing earrings altogether. It was a bummer, but I didn’t see another option. And let’s be honest, I needed that extra bit of sparkle to add to my very basic outfits.
So one day, there I was, packing for a trip to Puerto Rico, desperately wishing I had some earrings to add a little nice touch to my basic outfits. But when I opened my jewelry box, it was a sad graveyard—full of pieces that either made me itch like crazy or lonely single earrings missing their partners. That’s when it hit me: "What if I made my own jewelry?" I mean, why not? How hard could it be to create pieces that are both stylish and actually safe for sensitive skin?
Well, turns out it’s not as easy as I thought! But I was up for the challenge. With no background in business and no idea what I was doing, I started from scratch. I researched metals, learned about jewelry design, and figured out how to start a business one YouTube video and Google search at a time. And you know what? I loved it. I was finally doing something that combined my passion for science with my need for creativity.
That’s how MONALIZA was born in 2022—out of a mix of curiosity, necessity, and a bit of stubbornness. I decided to focus on stainless steel and PVD 18k gold because they’re perfect for sensitive skin, durable, and don’t break the bank (yes, even more resistant than sterling silver—hehe). I wanted to create jewelry that people could wear every day—without the itch, without the fear, and without the high price tag.
Building this brand has been a journey full of twists and turns, late-night ideas, and a lot of learning by doing. But every step has been worth it. I love knowing that I’m creating something that solves a problem so many people have faced. It’s about more than just jewelry; it’s about feeling good in your skin, being able to express yourself, and adding a little sparkle to your everyday life.
And here's the Thing: I’m just getting started. I’ve got a million more ideas of where this one came from, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next. I want to keep pushing the boundaries, keep creating, and keep finding new ways to solve problems and bring a little joy to the world.
Thank you for being here, for supporting this adventure—from a small Brazilian city to building a business that’s all about beauty, comfort, and confidence. I hope you find something in my collection that makes you feel amazing because that’s what it’s all about—feeling good, inside and out.
So, here’s to daring adventures, bold challenges, bringing our wildest ideas to life, and making the most of our one and only life.
But then 2020 happened. I graduated in the middle of a pandemic—no cap and gown, just sweatpants and a Zoom screen! I jumped straight into the workforce, doing every healthcare job you could think of: research assistant, medical assistant, clinical coordinator, medical translator, medical interpreter, and even translating scientific articles for big-name Journals . And that's just the tip of the iceberg. But there’s something else you should know about me—I’ve got ADHD, which means my brain is always on the go, jumping from one thought to the next. I’ve always needed more than just the regular 9-to-5 to keep me engaged.
So, while I love all the other nerdy parts of me, there was always this itch (pun intended) to do something different, something that made me feel alive and challenged. I crave creativity and new challenges—something to channel my energy into and keep life interesting. Speaking of itches—let’s talk about jewelry. I’ve always loved it, but my skin? Not so much. Being allergic to metals like brass and nickel is a nightmare when all you want is to wear some cute earrings without ending up with itchy, swollen ears. For years, I’d buy jewelry that promised to be “hypoallergenic,” only to end up with an itchy rash or worse. And forget about wearing my nice solid gold earrings; I am way too clumsy for that—I’d lose one earring in the gym locker room or drop another down the drain. So, I just stopped wearing earrings altogether. It was a bummer, but I didn’t see another option. And let’s be honest, I needed that extra bit of sparkle to add to my very basic outfits.
So one day, there I was, packing for a trip to Puerto Rico, desperately wishing I had some earrings to add a little nice touch to my basic outfits. But when I opened my jewelry box, it was a sad graveyard—full of pieces that either made me itch like crazy or lonely single earrings missing their partners. That’s when it hit me: "What if I made my own jewelry?" I mean, why not? How hard could it be to create pieces that are both stylish and actually safe for sensitive skin?
Well, turns out it’s not as easy as I thought! But I was up for the challenge. With no background in business and no idea what I was doing, I started from scratch. I researched metals, learned about jewelry design, and figured out how to start a business one YouTube video and Google search at a time. And you know what? I loved it. I was finally doing something that combined my passion for science with my need for creativity.
That’s how MONALIZA was born in 2022—out of a mix of curiosity, necessity, and a bit of stubbornness. I decided to focus on stainless steel and PVD 18k gold because they’re perfect for sensitive skin, durable, and don’t break the bank (yes, even more resistant than sterling silver—hehe). I wanted to create jewelry that people could wear every day—without the itch, without the fear, and without the high price tag.
Building this brand has been a journey full of twists and turns, late-night ideas, and a lot of learning by doing. But every step has been worth it. I love knowing that I’m creating something that solves a problem so many people have faced. It’s about more than just jewelry; it’s about feeling good in your skin, being able to express yourself, and adding a little sparkle to your everyday life.
And here's the Thing: I’m just getting started. I’ve got a million more ideas of where this one came from, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next. I want to keep pushing the boundaries, keep creating, and keep finding new ways to solve problems and bring a little joy to the world.
Thank you for being here, for supporting this adventure—from a small Brazilian city to building a business that’s all about beauty, comfort, and confidence. I hope you find something in my collection that makes you feel amazing because that’s what it’s all about—feeling good, inside and out.
So, here’s to daring adventures, bold challenges, bringing our wildest ideas to life, and making the most of our one and only life.