CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte spa owner, who says she "was told I couldn't do it," fought through discrimination to launch a successful business.
Priti Patel says she faced discrimination in her industry when looking for work. She started her own business, Le Petit Spa, and reached higher levels of success than she ever imagined.
Patel moved to Charlotte from Montreal 14 years ago and as an Indian woman, she says it wasn’t an easy transition.
"Just trying to navigate through life every day; even just the simplest thing of going to SouthPark Mall back in the day was different if I wore Indian attire," Patel recalled.
An experienced esthetician, Patel wanted to open her own spa but faced some naysayers.
"I was told when I decided I was going to open up that I couldn’t do it," she said. "It was just comments you would hear on a continuous basis and I used to call my husband and say, 'I have to fight this. I have to navigate this.'"
She persevered, and her persistence eventually paid off.
She won a Charlotte Magazine Best of the Best award her first year in business at her SouthPark shop and continues to win every year since. Five years ago, she opened a second and larger location in Ballantyne.
"It's an emotional roller coaster that you go through," she explained.
She says ultimately, Charlotte has become her home – and a welcoming one at that.
"There's a lot more diversity now. There’s a lot more acceptance," Patel said. "It's been wonderful Charlotte embraced me with open arms. I can walk through SouthPark Mall wearing an Indian outfit and not have a concern but when I first moved that was a big concern."
Patel is now writing a book with skincare tips. She was inspired to write the book during the COVID-19 pandemic when she did her job over zoom.
"I never thought I'd be where I am today, truly a dream come true!"
Patel said she is doing so well and expanding to a third location in the new year.
Contact Michelle at mboudin@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.