How I Built Hailey Bieber’s Favourite Beauty Brand In My 30’s (They Thought I Was Just Pretty!)

Mari Fonseca breaks down what it really takes to build a brand with no formal business education or understanding of finance – and why she walked away from a long, successful career as a model. Mari Fonseca is a former international model and the founder of Gente, a body care company focused on lymphatic drainage and wellness rituals - now Hailey Bieber’s favorite brand in this space. In this conversation, she shares why she dropped out of college at 16, how she became an entrepreneur, and the practical steps, mindset shifts, and challenges she faced turning her idea into a real business. Mari also opens up about her relationship with Drew from The Chainsmokers, and why building a business felt like the only path that truly aligned with her ambitions. She explains: . The hidden reality of the modeling industry . How she shifted her mindset from short-term cash to long-term ownership . The early struggles of raising money with no business background . Why smaller, dedicated audiences beat big influencers for growth . What aging taught her about self-worth and identity . The low point in her journey: a disaster that nearly wiped out her first product run . How she’s building a wellness brand that becomes a daily ritual ------------ 00:00 Intro 2:19 Growing Up in Brazil & Leaving Home At 16 To Model 5:32 Reliving Your Childhood as an Adult 6:33 The Harsh Reality of the Modeling Industry 9:57 Breaking the “Pretty, Not Smart” Stereotype As A Model 11:27 From Cash to Equity: Rethinking How to Build Wealth 13:51 Why I Feel More Confident In My 30s Than I Did In My 20s 15:40 The Hardest Part About Leaving Modeling for Business 17:48 Why I Don’t Enjoy Modeling Anymore 18:17 How People Treat Me Differently as a Business Owner 19:38 Fundraising as a Female Founder: What I Learned 23:15 Why Big Followings Don’t Always Drive Sales 24:37 Hailey Bieber Favorite Brand: The Halo Effect 26:20 How Long It Takes to See Gente Lymphatic Results 27:30 My Lymphatic Drainage Routine & Glow Tips 29:08 Turning Gente Into a Self-Care Ritual 30:42 The Most Effective Way to Glow Up 31:49 How I Manifested My Beauty Brand Into Nordstrom 33:10 The Lows of Starting My Business 35:01 The Boundaries Every Business Owner Needs 38:47 Rapid Fire: From “I Didn’t Want a Wedding” to Latest Purchase 45:29 Gente Discount Code & Where to Follow Mari HSR Angels get 20% off at Gente with code HSR20 at gentebeauty.com ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram:   / hotsmartrich   Tiktok:   / hotsmartrich   Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram:   / maggiesellersreum   Tiktok:   / maggiesellersreum   LinkedIn:   / sellersmaggie   Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/magg... ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesel... ⸻ Follow Mari Fonseca & Gente Beauty: Instagram:   / mariannefonseca   Website: https://gentebeauty.com/ ⸻ Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers Reum, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays.