In a world where the beauty industry is often as cutthroat as it is glamorous, Raquel Lugo’s journey is a reminder that persistence, passion, and the right support can turn dreams into something truly radiant. The owner of Bronze and Bubbles located at 705 W Magnolia Ave., Lugo’s success story is as golden as the tans she expertly creates, and her path to success is anything but conventional.
Raquel, whose love for all things beauty runs deeper than just a career — it's a calling — has become a standout in Fort Worth’s beauty scene. But the road to where Bronze and Bubbles is today was hardly straightforward. A native of California, Raquel’s early years were spent alongside her grandmother, a successful real estate broker. It was a world she felt destined to inherit, with every expectation pointing toward her eventual takeover of the family business. But the pandemic of 2020 shattered those assumptions, as it did for many, forcing her to ask the question: “Who am I?”
After a breakup and a return to her parents’ home, Raquel made the leap to Texas — a state she had never visited before. At the time, the idea of Dallas had been painted by the glitzy allure of the “Real Housewives of Dallas,” but she was drawn to something deeper. She soon found herself living in a new city, remote-working, and rethinking everything she thought she knew about her future.
“I realized I didn’t know who I was without my family’s expectations,” Raquel says. “I was newly single, had financial stability, and finally had the freedom to choose my path.”
It was during this time that a seemingly casual hobby — spray tanning — caught Raquel’s attention. The instant gratification of a golden glow and the confidence boost it gave her became more than a fleeting interest. It was a passion. She soon began exploring how to turn this love into a business, one that required both courage and a push from those who believed in her vision.
Armed with her family's encouragement and a desire to build something of her own, Raquel plunged headfirst into the world of airbrush tanning, a service she saw as more as a treatment than a cosmetic. She started small, leasing a 75-square-foot salon suite in northern Fort Worth. It was barely enough space to turn around in, but it was a start.
The business grew fast. Within months, Raquel was outgrowing her tiny space and looking for a larger home. What’s remarkable is that it wasn’t the success of the business that pushed her forward; it was the doubts of others. One of her early mentors, a salon owner with a far more established business, suggested that she slow down, focus on her clientele, and not get ahead of herself. Instead, Raquel decided to prove him wrong.
“I didn’t want to be someone who had to rely on someone else’s advice. I wanted to build my business my way,” Raquel admits. “Two months later, I was bursting at the seams. I needed more space.”
By the summer of 2023, Raquel decided to move to a larger 100 square-foot locale in downtown Fort Worth. But as fate would have it, she soon outgrew that space as well. By October of 2024, Bronze and Bubbles had officially come into its own, after Raquel made the decision to find her very own space.
Equipped with two treatment rooms — one for airbrush tanning and the other for red light therapy, her new 600-foot space was a dream turned reality. The small business she started in her spare time was now thriving, serving clients from all walks of life.
What sets Bronze and Bubbles apart is not just the luxurious airbrush tans that leave clients glowing, but the atmosphere Raquel has carefully curated. She prides herself on offering more than just a quick tan; her treatments are immersive, designed to make every client feel pampered and confident.
“I don’t want people in and out in 10 minutes,” she says. “We take our time. We talk about what the clients need and what they want from the experience. It’s a treatment, not just a service.”
And people are listening. Raquel’s business, which initially catered mostly to moms and women who wanted to look their best for luncheons and social events, has started to attract a younger crowd, including students from nearby TCU. But it’s not discounts or gimmicks that draw them in — it’s the quality and consistency.
Raquel’s commitment to offering premium services is evident in every detail of the business. She doesn’t believe in nickel-and-diming clients with extra charges for things like rapid tan solutions or add-ons. Everything is included in the price.
“I want clients to feel like they’re getting their money’s worth,” Raquel explains. “I’m not just selling a tan, I’m offering an experience.”
That philosophy has paid off. In just over a year, Raquel has gone from having zero clients to building a loyal customer base that’s grown into the thousands. She credits much of her success to the incredible support system she’s built in Fort Worth. From her family to fellow business owners, everyone has had a hand in her rise.
And as for the future? Raquel is already thinking bigger. She’s bringing on more help and possibly opening a third room in the coming months. The ambition that once felt like a far-off dream is now her reality.
“I never thought I would be here,” she says. “But now that I am, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Fore more information about Bronze and Bubbles, visit: bronzeandbubblestanning.com
