Seeking deeper change Melbourne based MISS FOX is so much more than just a spa. Owner VICTORIA FOX shares her story, and how beauty therapy services must start with self-care.
I
certainly didn’t enter the beauty industry to change the world. But a cosmetic treatment gone horribly wrong set me on a journey to deliver a ‘better kind of beauty therapy’. My background is academic, and my career background corporate. I had never thought of the beauty industry as a ‘real job’. In fact, I had never even had a facial before I opened my Day Spa. I always felt out of place at beauty and pampering venues, and on honest reflection I didn’t truly value (nor understand) what they did. As an executive for a multi-national company, I felt like I was “too busy” for selfcare and couldn’t see the return on investment. How things change. An unfortunate experience with a cosmetic doctor ended up permanently scarring me, physically and emotionally, and propelled me to learn more about this mysterious world of beauty and wellness. Recognising the highly vulnerable state people may be in when they seek beauty therapy, and driven by a desire to offer a safer, more caring service, in 2008 I started a non-invasive clinic for body and skin enhancement (called Shrinc). Whilst the clinical results we were achieving were phenomenal, the feeling I got from seeing people’s confidence improve was everything. We had women (and some men) finally begin to bring attention and affection towards body parts they had previously ignored, 38 | SPA+CLINIC
or completely hated. They were reconnecting with their body, they were regaining comfort in their appearance. But most of all, they were beginning to accept themselves just a little more. Something magical was happening and I could see progress on an outer level, and an inner level. Having struggled with my own body image issues, there was a deep element of care and compassion delivered in the ‘style’ of beauty therapy at Shrinc. I could relate to my clients’ struggles and I could deliver the words of encouragement I knew they needed to hear, because it’s what I had needed to hear before I booked into that silly cosmetic procedure all those years ago. The clinic naturally evolved into a holistic service encompassing nutrition, weight management, skincare and detoxification. But when people resonated with our style of service so much that they started asking for nails, waxing and more, we realised we might need to expand. Such was the success and the demand for this type of care, that it inspired an entire beauty and wellbeing wonderland, which manifested as MISS FOX. MISS FOX was born in 2010, based on a dream of a magical beauty destination where one could experience their highest nature, and decadent nurture. It had been inspired in part by my travels — the polished service from sophisticated boutique department
