Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Waters.
Hi Brenda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey has really been about service, growth, and helping people feel good from the inside out.
I started my career in nursing 36 years ago, and that path led me into the United States Air Force, where I served for three decades. I worked in areas like neonatal intensive care, surgery, pediatrics, and eventually moved into medical leadership. Over the years, I went from bedside nurse to leading large medical teams and hospital operations. The military shaped my work ethic, leadership style, and heart for people.
But throughout my career, I noticed something important, healing isn’t just physical. So many people struggle with confidence, stress, and how they see themselves. That really stayed with me.
After retiring from the Air Force, I decided to combine my medical background with my passion for beauty, wellness, and education. I went back into training, earned advanced certifications, and stepped into entrepreneurship. Now I run a nurse-led beauty and wellness business where we focus on helping people feel confident, cared for, and empowered. For me, it’s not just about how someone looks, it’s about how they feel when they leave.
Today, I’m a healthcare professional, educator, entrepreneur, wife, mom, and grandmother and all of those roles connect. Everything I do still comes back to serving others and creating spaces where people feel valued and uplifted.
This isn’t just a business for me — it’s purpose work!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road.
Being a Black woman from Barbados serving in the U.S. military, I often had to work twice as hard to be seen as capable, even though I knew I was more than qualified. There were moments when I walked into rooms where I was the only woman, the only person of color, and the only one with my background. That can be isolating, and it forces you to develop a thick skin, confidence, and a deep belief in your own worth.
There were leadership challenges, cultural barriers, and times when I had to prove myself over and over again. I also carried the normal pressures of military life- long hours, high responsibility, deployments, and the emotional weight of caring for others in intense medical situations. Balancing that with being a wife and mother was not easy.
But those struggles shaped me. They built resilience, empathy, and strength. They taught me how to lead with both authority and compassion. They also gave me a heart for mentoring, especially for women and people from under-represented backgrounds because I know what it feels like to walk a path that wasn’t always built with you in mind.
Even in entrepreneurship, the road hasn’t been effortless. Starting over after retirement, going back into training, and building a business from the ground up takes courage and faith. But I’ve learned that challenges don’t stop you, they prepare you.
Every obstacle added another layer to who I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about KQ Bawi LLC?
My business, KQ Bawi LLC, is a nurse-led beauty and wellness company built at the intersection of healthcare, confidence, and education.
The name itself means everything to me. KQ Bawi stands for Kings & Queens: Beauty and Wellness Inspired. It reflects how we see every person who walks through our doors — worthy, valued, and deserving of care fit for royalty. It’s about restoring confidence, honoring inner and outer beauty, and reminding people of their worth.
After spending decades in nursing and military medical leadership, I created a space where clinical knowledge meets advanced esthetics and wellness innovation. What we do is about more than beauty, it’s about helping people feel whole, confident, and cared for.
We specialize in services like permanent makeup, advanced skin rejuvenation treatments, microchanneling therapies, and wellness technologies designed to support the body’s natural healing and regeneration. My background as a nurse plays a huge role in how we operate. Safety, anatomy, infection control, and client education are non-negotiables for us. Clients know they’re in skilled, knowledgeable hands.
What really sets us apart is the experience. We treat every client like royalty, not just in words, but in how we care for them. We take time to educate, to listen, and to understand their goals. It’s never one-size-fits-all. Every treatment plan is customized, and we focus just as much on how someone feels emotionally as we do on the physical results.
I’m especially proud of the educational side of the brand. I mentor, teach, and help other beauty and wellness professionals grow their skills with a strong foundation in health and professionalism. Empowering others in the industry means just as much to me as serving clients.
What I want readers to know is this: our brand stands for empowerment, excellence, and care. We combine science, beauty, and heart. When people leave us, they don’t just look refreshed, they feel seen, valued, and confident.
That’s the real transformation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t really see my journey through the lens of luck, I see it through faith.
There were too many moments in my life and career that couldn’t be explained by chance. From opportunities in the military, to leadership roles, to the transition into entrepreneurship, I’ve always felt guided. Doors opened at the right time, lessons came when I needed them, and even challenges had purpose behind them.
That doesn’t mean the road was easy. There were setbacks, disappointments, and seasons that felt uncertain. But instead of calling those “bad luck,” I see them as preparation. Those moments strengthened my faith, stretched my resilience, and shaped my character.
In business, especially, you quickly realize you can’t control everything. You can plan, work hard, and stay disciplined but there’s still an element of trust involved. For me, that trust is in God. I believe obedience, prayer, and perseverance matter more than luck ever could.
So when something good happens, I don’t call it luck, I call it favor. And when something hard happens, I don’t call it bad luck, I call it growth.
Faith has been my foundation in every chapter of my life.
Pricing:
- Here’s a general idea of our pricing structure at KQ Bawi LLC (exact pricing can vary based on individual needs and consultations): • Permanent Makeup (Brows, Liner, Lips): Typically ranges from $400–$700, depending on technique and customization • Brow Touch-Ups: Around $200–$300, based on timing and previous work • Advanced Skin Rejuvenation / Microchanneling Treatments: Generally $250–$400 per session • Skin Care Treatments & Facials: Usually $120–$250, depending on the level of treatment • Wellness Patch Technology: Options vary, with starter kits typically beginning around $150+, depending on the program selected We also offer: • Customized treatment plans • Package pricing for multiple sessions • Occasional promotions and client loyalty options Because every client’s skin, goals, and health history are different, we always start with a consultation to make sure services are safe, appropriate, and tailored specifically to them. Our focus is always on value, education, and results — not just a one-time service.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kqbawi.com
- Instagram: @KQBAWI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KQBawi/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-waters-45239a87
