So, I sort of stalked this striking beauty while shopping at downtown's Spectacle Gallery. Intrigued by her sense of style and self-confidence, I couldn't resist approaching her for an In the Glow feature. And here's what I learned. 

Nearly five years settled into Sarasota, DeAndri Maitre is a proud scholar with multiple degrees in business, psychology, pre-law studies and human resources. That's an impressive résumé for anyone—but DeAndri also has more than four years of experience in athletics and fitness, and she specializes in motivational speaking, particularly about what it takes to transform the mind and body into a total wellness machine.

DeAndri comes by the latter honestly. Previously weighing in at 270 lbs. and claiming to have poor self esteem, she's proud of the woman she's transformed into today.  Now her plan is to use her experience and knowledge to help others achieve the same success. She recently quit her job to pursue a dream of opening a private gym that collectively feeds the mind, body and soul of its clients. It's clear this millennial has a lot to teach the world.  With that, here's the indomitable DeAndri Maitre....

Describe your morning makeup routine.

I woke up this beautiful! The two products I use are L’Oreal powder concealer (C8) and any Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink. The powder is used to even my skin tone, while the matte lipstick maintains my poppin' lip color, rain or shine. Mr. Clean himself couldn’t remove the color from my lips!

What did your mother/mother-figure teach you about beauty?

It’s internal. True beauty is never brushed up, cleaned up or touched up. You walk with it. It is closely tied to the confidence you lie down with every night and wake up with every morning. All that extra stuff is just extra.

How do you nourish your beauty from the inside?

Every day I’m given the opportunity to be introspective. That manifests itself in a daily walk, usually with my headphones blaring my favorite Neo-soul music. I’m usually dropping into local thrift stores and art galleries—places that exercise my creativity and identity. Knowing who you are as a person is what feeds your confidence and therefore your beauty.

Any treatment that you outsource?

Nope! I find the most pleasure in captivating the beauty within me. Ultimately, I have no need or desire to outsource any treatment, product or service. While it may work for others, for me it's a waste of resources, energy and time.  

How about your nighttime skincare ritual?

Wash, rinse, and repeat. The only other nighttime ritual I should mention is the kiss I blow my reflection right before bed. If I’m feeling extra frisky that night, I also throw in a wink!

Do you have a signature scent and what do you love about it?

I love the smell of my cocoa butter body moisturizer. It reminds me of the island life. Being half African-American and half Haitian, I love the subtle reminder of the island. No particular brand or maker, so long as it's cocoa butter.

What is the biggest beauty blunder people make?

Avoiding getting dirty because you look “too cute.” Play in the mud, break a sweat and mess up your hair a little bit. These experiences are what build character, confidence and inner beauty. It’s OK to pile on the make-up, but it’s more important to flaunt the real you! 

More women should…

Reflect and define themselves by their true desires.