This week’s Beauty Boss is Ani Sousamian, Founder of Ani Michele, a nail polish brand that is free from harsh chemicals (7-Free), cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. Sousamian, a third generation Armenian-American born and raised in Southern California, has had a passion for nail polish since she was a child, which eventually led her to launch her own brand.

The polishes come in a gorgeous selection of colors that are meant to inspire, empower and compliment the wearer’s beauty inside and out. Her inspirational motto appears on the bottoms of every bottle reading,  "Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen." We caught up with Sousamian to learn more about the collection, her journey, top beauty and wellness tips, and more. 

Tell us about your background and path to getting into the industry.

Nail polish has always been an obsession of mine. At an early age I would always have my nails painted. I would go from one extreme to another, from lights to brights to nudes to darks. I'm not big on makeup, so it's safe to say that nail polish is basically my makeup and my passion. Wanting to start my own brand was something I always spoke and dreamt about, but I never thought that day would come. I have no background in the industry, so this is something that I took a chance on and I'm so glad I did. 

When did you launch Ani Michele Nail Polish and what inspired you to create your nail brand?

Ani Michele was launched in December 2015. I started out with my 12 favorite shades which I love to wear, and now here I am going into my fifth year and the collection is up to 45 different shades. What truly inspired me to create my own nail brand happened one night while going through a bin full of different brands of nail polishes that I had purchased through the years. I figured it was time that I cleaned them out and get rid of the ones that I no longer used.

As I was going through the reds, I noticed that almost every red nail polish looked exactly the same. Here I was, thinking that each time I purchased a bottle of red nail polish I had found the perfect red I'd always been looking for. Well, I sure was wrong—that was the moment that I had said to myself that I was going to chase my dream and just go for it. With that being said, my first color that I started with was red and it is one of my favorites and my #2 best seller!

Tell us more about your line. Is there a hero product that you are known for? 

Ani Michele is 7-free of chemicals, cruelty-free, vegan, and made in the USA (California to be exact!) It is also long lasting and fast drying. I believe in staying positive and spreading positive thoughts around. You will find a positive saying on the back of every bottle of polish. I’m really big into quotes and anything that inspires one’s self. In the five years that I've had my brand, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with a couple of organizations to help raise funds for their charities.

The first one I launched was with The Sasha Project LA, which is a nonprofit organization and dedicated to raising awareness and funds at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, helping patients heal through art. The founder of The Sasha Project is 11-year-old Sasha Bogosian. She has been living with Cerebral Palsy since birth and to help Sasha manage and improve the physical challenges of her CP, she participates in art therapy at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Painting denim began as therapy and a fun craft to do outside in the springtime. As she began making art in her backyard, Sasha with the help of her mom came up with the idea to give back to her community—one painted piece of denim at a time. Sasha has made pieces for high-profile entertainers such as Paris Hilton, Katy Perry, Jack Black and Lionel Ritchie, to name a few. Sasha donates all proceeds of her denim splattering pieces to CHLA to help raise funds for their art therapy program, which has helped her so much as she was looking for a way to give back to a program that has done so much for her. 

When The Sasha Project LA reached out to me to do a collaboration, I was so excited as I wanted to help out in any way I could. We decided to launch a confetti-type polish with blue and pink speckles, which are the top choice colors that Sasha likes to work with when she is splattering on her denim pieces. Sasha wanted to name the polish "DJ Poppy Sparkles".  When a bottle of "DJ Poppy Sparkles" is sold,  20% of the sales of each bottle sold is donated to The Sasha Project LA, which in turn gets donated to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. 

I also collaborated with another wonderful organization called Caps for Kids, which is based in New Orleans. Caps for Kids is a national nonprofit organization that was founded in 1993 by Dr. Stephen Heinrich, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in New Orleans. Dr. Heinrichs' organization puts smiles on the faces of children with cancer by providing them with a ball cap autographed by their favorite athlete, actor, singer, or other notable person of their choice.

When Caps for Kids reached out to me I was so excited to help them out with their cause. Who doesn't love to help children out? Especially when they are going through something so severe and having to deal with hardship for them and their families. When these caps are handed out to these children, the smiles on their faces are absolutely priceless, and you can tell in their faces that whatever pain they are going through has been lifted for that moment.

The shade we decided to go with is a bright and happy shade of red. We wanted to do something that would make you smile, hence the name "Smile With Your Heart." 20% of sales from that goes to Caps for Kids. It truly makes me happy to work with organizations like these that help children out when they are dealing with these sort of illnesses and I'm happy to be a part of them! 

Where are your products sold?

Ani Michele is sold on our website. You can also find Ani Michele nail polish in the following nail salons and clothing boutiques:

• Johnny Jeans in Tustin, California

• Unique Boutique in Orange, California

• The Pomegranate Boutique in Sacramento, California

• Perle Holistic Skincare in Salem, Oregon

• Bel Kazan Los Angeles, California

• Bellacures in Studio City, California

• Pure Sole Nails in Rochester, New York

What are your must-do nail tips and are there any beauty secrets you can share?

• Clip your nails regularly.

• Do NOT cut your cuticles. I know many salons love to chip away at your cuticles, but it's something that shouldn't be touched. For healthy cuticles, push the cuticle back with an orange stick, which is specifically used for cleaning fingernails and pushing cuticles back. Your cuticle is what protects your nails and cutting them can lead to irritation and even infection.

• Use cuticle oil to hydrate your nails/cuticles.

• Do NOT bite your nails or the skin around it.

• Disinfect your nail tools.

• Protect your nails with a base coat, and finish your manicure with a top coat to protect the color and to give your manicure a wonderful shine.

• Every three days apply another top coat to your manicure, as it will last longer.

• Read the labels on your bottle of polish and know what you're feeding your body.

Who inspires you?

A couple of people inspire me, but I have to say the top off my list is my mom. She is the one I go to when I have an event to attend, need help naming a polish color, and when I can't decide on something. She helps me out with any challenge I have. 

My parents have six kids and I always wonder how my mom did it all of these years. Whenever I have a hard time making a decision on something or am simply just having a "bad" day, I always wonder, ."What would my mom be doing right now? Would she sit here and overthink everything? Or would she get up and conquer the day?” I really look up to her. 

My children also inspire me. I have two sons, ages 15 and 18, whom I hope one day will be able to run their own businesses. I want my boys to know that you can achieve anything you put your mind to and to just be the best you can be. My favorite is when they give me their ideas on products and what would be the best way to go about it. Whether it be how to advertise it or the best way to package the product. I can always count on them and I value their opinions. 

Lastly, I am also inspired by Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, who is one of the founders of OPI. I read Suzi's book "I'm Not Really A Waitress" last year and her story is so inspiring as she speaks about life before and during OPI, and it really pushed me to try harder. She really stresses on how women should pursue their own colorful dreams. I'm not a book reader at all, but I have to say that I had a hard time putting this book down. Suzi speaks so much about her life experiences and how with the help of her business partner she was able to run a multi-million dollar business. 

Secret to success?

Use rejection as motivation.

I can't tell you how many times I have been rejected by businesses to carry my polish. I have now chosen to use that as motivation to try harder and better. Just like the song "Try Again" by Aaliyah, she sings, "If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again." I am such a believer in these words and it has helped me to be successful in my own business. Not everyone out there is going to say "yes" to everything you have to offer. It has actually made me a stronger person and I learn by rejection. 

Great customer service.

Who doesn't love to deal with a company that is willing to go over and beyond for their customers? I have worked in customer service for 15 years and I have dealt with pretty much every kind out there. When someone reaches out to me, I make sure to give them the best customer service that I can provide them. They remember this and are the ones that truly make the best and most loyal customers. 

Wellness tip?

• Meditate! It truly helps with your everyday life and keeps you grounded. 

• Breathe. Breathing is so important. It feels so great to breathe deep when needed and to fill your lungs with air. I believe a lot of us forget to breathe every so often, as I know I wasn't paying attention to it until I started meditating. 

• Get enough sleep. It's so important to get the adequate amount of sleep every night. It helps us recharge for the next day and to think clearly. 

• Drink plenty of water to keep your energy level up and also to help with your skin, nails and hair. You need to hydrate and nourish your body to feel good.

• Exercise. There's nothing like a good workout. Even if it’s a 30-minute walk outdoors, make sure to breathe in the fresh air as well. 

Favorite ways to relax?

Receiving a massage, going away for the weekend, listening to music, hanging out with family and friends, and meditation. 

Best advice?

Whatever you do, give it 110%. With that being said, your heart needs to be passionate for whatever it is you choose to do. So find what you are passionate about and go with that. Take chances and don't be afraid to fail either. At least you tried while the person next to you was too afraid to take that chance. You never know, it may be something that changes your life for the better.

For more from Ani Michele, be sure to follow @AniMicheleNailPolish on Instagram and @AniMichele on Facebook.

Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy