Interview · 30 August 2026
Knowledge doesn't stop at the degree. It is a continuous process of growth that never ends, and I believe that is also the beauty of our profession
Alexandra Gianni
Interview by Eleni Lazaridou
From studying Aesthetics & Cosmetology in Athens to building her own business on Milos. 5 Stigmes welcomed Alexandra Gianni, owner of Aestheticare, a modern aesthetics centre on the island, and put 5 questions to her about her decision to return to Milos for good, the importance of continuous training in the beauty industry, and what a woman entrepreneur needs in order to stand out in a small community.
Question 1
Alexandra, you studied Aesthetics & Cosmetology in Athens and then set up your own business on a small island. How did you come to that decision, what was the biggest challenge at the start, and what would you advise someone who wants to succeed professionally outside a big city?
Alexandra
Yes, I studied Aesthetics and Cosmetology at the University of West Attica. Throughout the years I spent in Athens studying and working, I knew that at some point I would want to come back to Milos for good. I missed the calm of the island and the way of life here. So in 2022 I made the decision to open Aestheticare.
At the beginning, the biggest challenge was getting people to know us and to trust us. That, of course, doesn't happen overnight. It takes time, consistency, and proving every single day, through your work, that you deserve that trust.
To anyone thinking of taking the same step, I would say not to see a small community as a disadvantage. Here, people don't just choose your services, they choose you. If you are a proper professional and you genuinely care about the person in front of you, that is what ultimately sets you apart.
Question 2
The aesthetics field is constantly evolving, with new technologies and treatments. How important do you consider continuous training to be, and how does it shape a professional's path in the beauty industry?
Alexandra
In our field, continuous training isn't just important, it's essential. New technologies, new products and new scientific findings are coming out all the time. If a professional wants to offer high-quality, up-to-date services, constantly evolving has to be a priority.
So knowledge in no way stops at the degree. It is a continuous process of growth that never ends. And I believe that is also the beauty of our profession.
Question 3
As a woman entrepreneur in the more close-knit community of a small island, what qualities do you think a woman needs in order to build her own professional identity and stand out?
Alexandra
On a small island like Milos, people know you not only as a professional but also as a person, and that carries even more weight. So if I had to single out some qualities that I consider very important for an aesthetician's personality and professional identity, they would be seriousness and respect towards every aesthetic concern, discretion and courtesy.
That was my goal from the very first day Aestheticare opened. To create a place where people feel at ease, where they feel there is genuine care, and where our aim is not only to provide solutions to their needs but also to help them feel more beautiful and better about themselves.
Question 4
What was the biggest difference between the life and opportunities Athens offers and the reality of running a business permanently on an island? Was there ever a moment when you questioned your choice?
Alexandra
In Athens there would certainly be easier access to training, to our partners and to our suppliers, especially in the winter months. On the other hand, on a small island the market is clearly far less saturated, which can offer more opportunities to a young professional. Of course, that alone is not enough. It takes proper work and patience to earn people's trust.
As for whether I ever questioned my choice, the answer is definitely no. Difficulties exist everywhere; they simply take a different form. For me, what matters is that every year I see Aestheticare evolving and growing. That gives me the certainty that I am exactly where I want to be.
Question 5
For a young woman who loves the beauty industry but hesitates to take the first step, what is the most important piece of advice you would give her, drawing on your own journey from your studies to creating your own business?
Alexandra
I think it's perfectly natural to have doubts when you start something new. But what I would say to a young woman is not to rush into opening her own business simply because she wants it so badly.
I believe the most important thing is to invest first in proper training and to gain as much knowledge as she can. Then, to work alongside people with experience, because that is where she will learn things she would struggle to find in a book or at a school.
When the time comes to open her own place, she will feel far more ready and confident in her choices. For me, this order matters a great deal: first knowledge, then experience, and then entrepreneurship. That way you build stronger foundations and can create something that will last.
