“They tried to break me. I used the pieces to build a clinic, a brand, and a life I’m proud of. I did not build SHASHA to prove anything to the world. I built it because I refused to let my pain be the end of my story.” - Dr. R. Faritha Sabeena
Introduction
In a world where success is often measured in titles and trophies, the story of Dr. R Faritha Sabeena serves as a powerful reminder that true greatness lies in the grit that goes unseen—the long, quiet battle to rise, rebuild, and rise again. Today, she stands tall as the Founder and CEO of SHASHA Dermatological Skin & Hair Clinic, one of Coimbatore’s most respected names in advanced aesthetic and dermatological care. But the road to this milestone was anything but easy. It was forged in adversity, sharpened by betrayal, and fuelled by an unshakable belief that her circumstances would never define her destiny.
SHASHA was not born out of luxury or inherited wealth. It rose from pain—and from purpose. It began in a single rented room, led by a woman with the courage to rewrite her own story—and, in doing so, help others do the same. Every brick of this brand is laid upon a foundation of lived experience: of abandonment, abuse, and hardship—but above all, of unrelenting hope. What makes SHASHA unique isn’t just its clinical precision, but the soul behind its mission.
Dr. Sabeena’s journey into skincare and aesthetics didn’t begin with prestige. It began humbly—behind a counter in a supermarket, where she watched, listened, and learned. What she lacked in opportunity, she compensated for with passion. What she lacked in privilege, she replaced with persistence. Her dream was never about beauty in its superficial form—it was about restoring confidence, the very kind she once had to fight to reclaim for herself.
This biography goes beyond celebrating the milestones of a self-made entrepreneur. It dives deeper—into the woman behind the brand, whose calm authority masks storms weathered in silence. Building SHASHA meant battling societal judgment, enduring personal trauma, facing financial setbacks, and beginning again—not once, but repeatedly. Yet, through it all, Dr. R Faritha Sabeena remained anchored in her values. Ethics, empathy, and excellence became not just words, but the pillars of her business philosophy. In an industry often driven by vanity, she built a brand founded on authenticity. And in a world that frequently sidelines women, she created a sanctuary where women are not just employed—but empowered.
Phase 1 : A Childhood on Fire
“The most delicate flowers grow from scorched earth. My roots drank hardship, yet I bloomed not in spite of it, but because of it.” – Dr. R Faritha Sabeena
Dr. R Faritha Sabeena was born on April 8, 1990, in the industrious city of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu—a land where the mechanical rhythm of textile mills beats in sync with the aspirations of hardworking families. But while the city pulsed with opportunity and growth, her own life began amidst the dissonance of a fractured home. Her childhood was not cocooned in comfort or consistency; instead, it unfolded against a backdrop of emotional chaos and broken societal norms.
Her parents had defied tradition by marrying across religions—a bold move rooted in love, but one that struggled to survive the trials of everyday life. That love, once vibrant, slowly unraveled into emotional distance and growing discord. Her father, once filled with potential, fell into alcoholism, and with it came violence, volatility, and deep wounds—some visible, others not. The soundscape of her early life was not one of lullabies, but of shouts, slammed doors, and suffocating silences.
What should have been a sanctuary became a battleground. Her father, often drunk, unleashed his frustrations in bursts of rage. Her mother, a woman of silent strength, endured the abuse with stoicism, doing all she could to shield her daughters from its worst impacts. But even steel bends under constant pressure. At her lowest point, in a moment of desperation and isolation, her mother sought emotional refuge in a bond with another man. When this was discovered by her father, their already fragile home collapsed entirely.
At just nine years old, Dr. Sabeena witnessed the implosion of her family. A time when most children are mastering multiplication tables or playing hide and seek, she was navigating abandonment, confusion, and trauma. After the divorce, her mother took her younger sister and left. Whether by legal decree or emotional paralysis, Dr. Sabeena remained with her father. That separation, at such a critical age, etched itself into her being—leaving scars not visible on the skin but etched deep into the heart.
Dr. Sabeena’s emotional vocabulary evolved beyond the language of pain to include empathy, courage, and quiet conviction. She became more than just a survivor—she became a guardian to her younger sister, a pillar of strength for her grandmother, and a silent vow to herself that her future would not mirror her past.
“People often say a diamond is just coal under pressure. But I was never coal—I was always light trapped in glass. Life didn’t shape me; I carved my own edges.” – Dr. R Faritha Sabeena
That child—shattered by circumstances, healed by love, and hardened by adversity—would eventually become far more than anyone could have imagined. Her ascent was not a result of life becoming kinder, but of her becoming stronger. The scars of her past didn’t hold her back; they illuminated her path.
And so, the story of Dr. Sabeena truly begins—not in privilege, not in comfort—but in the heart of a storm. And as storms often do, they didn’t just test her—they revealed her strength, her purpose, and her light.
Phase 2 :Degrees of Determination
“When the door to a classroom closed, I built my own school out of questions, courage, and unwavering hope.” – Dr. R Faritha Sabeena
For many, education is a straight road—one grade after another, a schedule mapped out in years and milestones. For Dr. R. Faritha Sabeena, that road was barricaded early, yet she carved a path forward through the unpaved terrain of grit, self-discipline, and silent sacrifice.
After completing her Grade 10 with commendable scores, the dream of continuing her formal education came to a sudden, painful halt. There were no school fees, no money for books, no crisp uniform waiting for the next academic year. Her brilliance—praised by teachers and reflected in her report cards—could not cover the cost of her education. Once again, financial hardship loomed large over her aspirations.
At an age when most teenagers worry about board exams or college entrance forms, Dr. Sabeena was thrust into the adult world of survival. But instead of yielding to despair, she adapted—with grace and startling clarity for someone so young. She understood that if education was momentarily out of reach, experience could become her new teacher.
She joined Nilgiris Supermarket, a well-known retail chain in South India, and began working at the Lotus Cosmetics kiosk as a Beauty Advisor (BA). It was here—surrounded by skincare products and customer queries—that her academic rebirth quietly began. Her workdays were long, often blending physical fatigue with emotional strain, but they were also filled with insight. She didn’t just sell skincare—she studied it. She observed skin conditions, noted customer behavior, and slowly began to understand the intersection of confidence, care, and cosmetic science. Each conversation became a crash course in dermatology, consumer psychology, and trust.
Her interest in skincare wasn’t born from vanity—it was born from curiosity. Long before she earned any certificate or degree, Dr. R. Faritha Sabeena was already a student of skin and self-worth. She read the fine print on product labels, stayed up at night researching ingredients, and gradually became an expert in what made people feel not just beautiful—but seen. Without the walls of a formal classroom, she stepped into a living laboratory of human behavior and applied science.
“I couldn’t afford to sit in a classroom, but the world itself became my syllabus. The store was my lab, the customers my case studies, and the mirror—my teacher.” — Dr. Sabeena
Years passed. Though she carried herself with grace, the yearning for formal education never faded. The girl who once topped her class hadn’t disappeared—she had simply paused, waiting for her moment to rise again. And when the time came, she didn’t just return to education—she claimed it. After years of self-learning, experience, and relentless passion, she pursued what had long called to her: a degree in cosmetology.
In 2024, Dr. Sabeena accomplished what once seemed impossibly distant—she completed her Master’s in Cosmetology from the International Education Board, United Kingdom. For someone who was forced to leave school at the age of 15, this was not just an academic milestone—it was a victory over every circumstance that tried to silence her dreams. That degree wasn’t merely a certificate—it was the embodiment of late nights, overtime shifts, quiet resilience, and unwavering belief.
Her academic journey wasn’t linear; it was layered with detours, responsibilities, and real-world lessons. But she carried no resentment. Instead, she honored every delay as divine timing, every detour as deeper learning. Dr. Sabeena became a living proof that education is not a race—it’s a revelation. She turned rejection into reflection, gaps into growth, and obstacles into opportunities. Her story reminds us that real learning isn’t confined to institutions—it’s fueled by purpose.
Phase 3 : The Making of a Professional
“I built my career not in boardrooms or classrooms, but in the corners of supermarkets, the pain of betrayal, and the determination to never fall again.” – Dr. R Faritha Sabeena
The world rarely makes space for women who have been broken and betrayed. But Dr. R. Faritha Sabeena didn’t wait for space—she carved her own. With bare hands, a bleeding heart, and an iron will, she transformed every setback into a stepping stone. Her journey from a Beauty Advisor to the Founder and CEO of SHASHA Dermatological Skin & Hair Clinic wasn’t merely professional—it was spiritual, emotional, and deeply human.
In the formative years of her life, Dr. Sabeena had already witnessed the collapse of her childhood, the betrayal of trust, and the burden of responsibilities that would overwhelm most adults. When financial hardship forced her to discontinue her education after Grade 10, she didn’t surrender. Instead, she stepped into survival mode and took up a job at Nilgiris Supermarket. At the Lotus Cosmetics kiosk, she worked as a Beauty Advisor—carefully listening to customers, diagnosing concerns, and recommending solutions.
To outsiders, it may have seemed like just another retail job. But to Dr. Sabeena, it was the beginning of a personal and professional awakening. She wasn’t selling skincare—she was absorbing the science, studying the patterns, and building her own knowledge system. Her sincerity and expertise soon earned her a promotion to the Revlon counter, where she gained both better pay and greater visibility. Even as a teenager, she demonstrated emotional intelligence, discipline, and a level of professionalism that set her apart.
Yet just as her career began to find footing, life delivered another blow—one cloaked in false promises. An older man, 21 years her senior, approached her grandmother claiming he would offer security, stability, and care. Unknown to all, he was already married—his first wife pregnant and estranged. He concealed his truth and manipulated trust. Young and hopeful, Dr. Sabeena entered the marriage with faith.
Yet just as her career began to find footing, life delivered another blow—one cloaked in false promises. An older man, 21 years her senior, approached her grandmother claiming he would offer security, stability, and care. Unknown to all, he was already married—his first wife pregnant and estranged. He concealed his truth and manipulated trust. Young and hopeful, Dr. Sabeena entered the marriage with faith.
“The world sold me promises in beautiful packaging. But I learned the hard way that the label means nothing if the contents are poison.” — Dr. R. Faritha Sabeena
What followed was not a marriage—it was another form of captivity. Behind closed doors, she faced emotional manipulation, deception, and isolation. The trauma she had tried to bury resurfaced in silence. And still, she endured. Not out of weakness, but out of a deep desire to find hope in hopelessness, and to transform her suffering into strength.