Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Esposito Mojica.
Hi Jennifer Esposito, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I never imagined that one day I’d own multiple businesses or develop products used by professionals across the country. My journey started 16 years ago with one spray tan machine in my garage and a simple goal: to build a life that gave my family stability while helping people feel confident in their own skin.
Before entrepreneurship, I earned a degree in psychology and worked in the corporate world. While those experiences taught me valuable lessons about people, communication, and resilience, I always felt called to create something of my own. I took a leap of faith, started offering spray tans, and quickly realized I had found my passion.
As my client base grew, so did my vision. What began as a side business evolved into a full-service beauty bar (Beauty Bar by Tanimals and eventually into Tan Tonic Sunless Solutions, where I formulate professional spray tan solutions that are now distributed to artists and salons across nearly every state. Creating my own products allowed me to combine my love of aesthetics, science, education, and business into one brand. Every formula is intentionally crafted with high-quality, skin-loving ingredients because I believe beauty should enhance the skin—not compromise it.
Entrepreneurship hasn’t always been glamorous. I opened my first storefront just before the COVID-19 pandemic, navigated economic uncertainty, balanced motherhood with growing businesses, and learned that success is built through consistency far more than perfection. Every obstacle became an opportunity to adapt, innovate, and become a stronger leader.
Today, I’m proud not only of the businesses I’ve built but also of the community surrounding them. I mentor beauty professionals, have a Sunless Spray Tan Academy and support women in business, serving on the board of Girls Inc., and partnering with organizations that help children, foster families, and underserved communities have become some of the most rewarding parts of my journey. I believe success isn’t measured solely by revenue—it’s measured by the lives you impact along the way. My life goal, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.
Looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t wait until everything felt perfect before getting started. My story began in a garage with a dream, and it continues to evolve every day. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that resilience, authenticity, and a genuine desire to serve others will always open doors you never imagined.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s what has shaped both the person and the leader I am today.
Behind every milestone in my business has been a season of personal hardship. I survived domestic violence, experienced the heartbreaking loss of a child, navigated pregnancy and motherhood during the uncertainty of COVID, and continued building my business through some of the most traumatic chapters of my life. There were many days when simply showing up felt impossible, but entrepreneurship became part of my healing. It gave me purpose when life felt uncertain and reminded me that I was capable of creating something beautiful, even during the darkest seasons.
Opening my storefront just before the pandemic brought another set of challenges. Like many small business owners, I had to adapt quickly, make difficult decisions, and find creative ways to keep moving forward. Those experiences taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of trusting myself, even when the future felt uncertain.
What I’m most grateful for is that those struggles changed the way I lead. They gave me a heart for women who are trying to rebuild their lives. Throughout my journey, I’ve been passionate about creating opportunities for others—whether that’s mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, helping women rebuild their confidence, or giving second chances to women reentering society after incarceration. I know what it feels like to start over, and I believe everyone deserves someone who believes in them. My business has become more than a place to provide beauty services—it’s become a place where women can grow professionally, regain confidence, and realize they’re capable of more than they ever imagined.
Looking back, I don’t see my obstacles as setbacks. I see them as the foundation of my purpose. They taught me that resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship—it’s about choosing to move forward despite it. If my story can inspire another woman to leave an unhealthy situation, pursue a dream, or believe that her past doesn’t define her future, then every challenge I’ve faced has had a greater purpose.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, I wear several hats, and I truly love every one of them. I’m the founder of the Beauty Bar, a collaborative beauty collective that brings together independent beauty professionals under one roof. Together, we offer custom spray tanning, hair, body waxing, lashes, brows, nails, makeup, skincare, and teeth whitening in an environment built on inclusivity, collaboration, and confidence. Our mission has always been simple: “Every body is a spray tan body.” Beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all, and we’ve intentionally created a space where people of every age, skin tone, body type, gender, and background feel welcomed, valued, and celebrated.
I’m also the founder of Tan Tonic Sunless Solutions, where I formulate and manufacture professional spray tan solutions used by artists and salons across the country. After more than a decade of working directly with clients, I recognized an opportunity to create products that not only delivered beautiful, natural-looking color but also prioritized skin health. Working alongside world-renowned chemists, I developed skincare-inspired formulas using carefully selected ingredients that nourish the skin while producing exceptional results. Each solution is named after a member of my family, making every formula deeply personal and a reflection of the people who have supported me throughout this journey.
Seeing our work extend beyond our local community has been incredibly rewarding. Spray tans performed with our techniques and professional solutions have been featured on fashion runways, appeared in Times Square, supported contestants at pageants across the country, and been showcased through national campaigns and publications. Those moments are exciting, but what they really represent to me is how far a dream that started in my garage has grown.
Education has become another passion of mine. Through the Sunless Spray Tan Academy, I train and mentor beauty professionals who want to build successful businesses of their own. We’ve partnered with local colleges to provide internship opportunities, giving students real-world experience while helping bridge the gap between education and entrepreneurship. Nothing is more rewarding than watching someone gain the confidence to build a career they once thought was out of reach.
Everything I’ve built has been completely self-funded. Every step of our growth has come from reinvesting in the business, staying hands-on, and never losing sight of the people we serve. Whether I’m developing a new formula, teaching a certification class, mentoring my team, meeting with a new wholesale customer, or working directly with clients, I believe leadership starts by staying involved.
What truly sets us apart isn’t just our services or our products—it’s our commitment to people. Community involvement has always been at the heart of our mission. We proudly support organizations serving women, children, foster families, and individuals rebuilding their lives. We donate services, sponsor charitable events, mentor women entering the beauty industry, create opportunities for those reentering the workforce, and believe every successful business has a responsibility to give back. Making a difference in our community has always been just as important as growing our business.
At the end of the day, I don’t want our businesses to be remembered simply for beautiful spray tans or exceptional beauty services. I want them to be remembered for creating confidence, opening doors for others, investing in our community, and proving that a business can be both successful and deeply rooted in purpose. That’s the legacy I’m most proud of building.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Honestly, I was a wrecking ball growing up. I was independent, determined, and learned many of life’s lessons the hard way. Looking back, those experiences shaped the resilience and work ethic that I rely on every day as an entrepreneur.
I moved out on my own at just 16 years old and started college early. At a young age, I also experienced the loss of close family members, which forced me to grow up quickly and taught me not to take time or relationships for granted. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for hard work, perseverance, and creating stability for myself and my future family.
Education has always been important to me. I earned my bachelor’s degree and later returned to school to pursue my teaching certification because I’ve always loved learning and helping others grow. During that time, I started spray tanning on the side simply because I enjoyed it and wanted to earn extra income.
Around the age of 25, I began my career in the corporate world. While working full-time, I continued spray tanning evenings and weekends. I wasn’t chasing overnight success—I was building it slowly. I saved every dollar I could, reinvested in myself, and stayed disciplined until I had enough to open my first storefront.
Looking back, I realize every chapter of my life prepared me for entrepreneurship. The independence I developed as a teenager, the discipline I learned in the corporate world, my passion for education, and even the hardships I experienced all became the foundation for the businesses I’ve built today. I truly believe there are no wasted experiences if you’re willing to learn from them.
Pricing:
- Sunless Spray Tan Academy – $1,500 (includes professional equipment, hands-on training, business education, and certification)
- Professional Spray Tan Solutions – Sample sizes starting at $20; gallon sizes up to $220. Available for licensed professionals nationwide.
- Private Mentorship & Business Consulting – Available by request for beauty professionals looking to grow or scale their business.
- Brand Partnerships & Sponsorship Opportunities – Available for events, influencers, educators, and industry collaborations.
- Beauty Bar Services – Services are individually priced by our independent beauty professionals. Visit our website for a complete service menu.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tanimals.org also www.tantonicsunless.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautybarbytanimals
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18rPLDR44a/
