Meet the Team : Christine Link

Meet Christine Link, an Esthetician at Auroraflow.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I am originally from Hickory, North Carolina; however, I have lived in Raleigh for 10 years now, and I have been an esthetician for 12 years. I am now attending UNC Chapel Hill as a part-time student and working full-time. 

Outside of work, though—before COVID—I would go to music events and festivals; now I'm more of a stay-at-home and recharge kind of person.

What inspires you? Whether it be an idea, a person, or anything!

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A lot of what inspires me and why I wanted to join AuroraFlow is being gender non-conforming and being able to create a safe space for other people who are as well. My wife—we’ve been together for 7 years—is a trans woman, and I’ve been with her since before her transition. I’ve been with her through everything, from the physically and emotionally difficult parts of the transition to the incredibly beautiful parts as well. It has taught me so much about gender as a spectrum and that gender is to be explored, not dictated by society. What inspires me is wanting to help other people feel comfortable exploring outside of societal norms, and it helps me discover more about myself.

As for my job, I’m inspired by wanting to help people feel comfortable in their own skin.

I am going to school so that one day I can work in some sort of environmental or social justice organization, so that’s a lot of why I’m driven to do work like this. I’m inspired by the people I want to advocate for.

What drove you to a career as an esthetician?

I actually found it randomly! I came back from a backpacking trip when I was in my early 20s, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was working in the restaurant industry, and my friend was in nail school. They had told me that I would be a great esthetician. I went to school, and I thought I could really do this. It was always the relaxation that really made me want to do it. I love giving people the pampering they need for self-care in this stressed-out world. I'm super glad I did it.

Why do you like your job?

I like that it helps others, but also myself, because it gives me time to just stop. A quiet space and a peaceful environment are so hard to find in our world. I love that no matter how busy I am, when I go to work, I am working, but it doesn’t feel like that. It can be so quiet and relaxing.

What are some challenges you faced during your career, and how did you overcome them?

In my career, it has been really frustrating and stifling because the spa industry is so whitewashed and heteronormative. I am a very visible, openly queer, and strong-willed person, so it’s been hard to be in an environment that is very masked. I haven’t been able to be authentic. I am really excited to be in a spa environment that is the opposite of that. It’s hard to be in a space where I can’t be myself, which is why I am so passionate about helping the environment at Auroraflow be welcoming and authentic for the "rest of us!"

What does a typical weekend look like for you?

“Depends. Sometimes it's a lot of school work and making tasty food with my wife. Other times it's hanging out with friends; maybe go to a club and dance to some music or hang out around a campfire.”

What is a quote you live by? 

Well, lately I am trying to live by “I am my inspiration!” by Lizzo. She is so empowering! I want to live a life that inspires me, not look to others to compare myself against, and she really believes that."

#queer, #polyamorous, #compassionate

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