There are meetings that make you stop and rethink your life – where you find
your strength when challenges arise and when your hands are ready to fall.
Especially when you’re sitting across from a young, energetic, and determined
woman whose inner strength and quiet resilience truly inspire.
Milana Aranbaev is one of those women who can
turn trials into fuel for growth. She was there at the very beginning of one of
Queens’ most welcoming and beloved spaces for women – Beauty MD,
a salon where not only your appearance, but also your inner balance, is
restored.
I came to meet her and found myself in a place where every corner radiates care. The scent of essential oils, the soft lighting, the kind faces – and behind it all, something more than just good organization. There is a belief here: a woman should feel not only beautiful, but loved – first and foremost, by herself. This is the environment Milana created – with a team, with faith, and with a personal story built on trials, perseverance, and a touch of the miraculous.
– You were born into an immigrant family. What feelings come to mind
when you think about your childhood and your family’s journey in America?
– My family came to America from Tashkent in 1989. I was only two months old.
My father, Robert Yakubov, worked in construction, and my mother, Maria, was a
nurse. They were just starting their life together. My father’s family came
with us, so we lived with my grandparents. I remember how, during the hardest
moments of immigration, our family was incredibly close-knit: everyone
supported one another and celebrated even the smallest success.
Later, my brother Nerik, my sister Rakhil, and my youngest brother Nathan were born. Today, Rakhil lives in Minnesota, where she’s studying to become a doctor, and her husband is already practicing medicine. My brothers are jewelers, building careers on Manhattan’s famous 47th Street.
– You began your career in law, aiming to become an attorney. Why
that path, and what inspired you at the time?
– After graduating from Cardozo High School, I decided to become a lawyer and
enrolled at St. John’s University for my pre-law degree. Later, I passed the
LSAT. At the time, I had been working for several years as a paralegal in Ilona
Djangarova’s office. I loved the profession – I learned quickly, I was
successful, and I felt I was in the right place. And then… I met my future
husband, Khanan Aranbaev.
– That’s when you ventured into business together. What united you
then, and what were your first projects?
– We were young, full of energy, and dove into business: we opened restaurants
and became partners in building non-profit housing in the Bronx through a
government program that supported young developers. My dream of becoming an
attorney faded – business was bringing in income, and studying no longer seemed
necessary.
Then our first child was born, and the
challenges began. We were both strong, dominant personalities, unwilling to
yield to one another. Misunderstandings and hurt feelings piled up… and
unexpectedly, my husband and I separated. Everyone was shocked: “How? You’re such a beautiful couple!”
– How did you navigate that family crisis, and what helped you save
your marriage?
– Our parents saved our marriage. They were the positive catalysts who helped
us keep our family together. And they didn’t blindly defend their own children,
as parents often do – instead, they took the other side. I still remember how
my mother would tell me I needed to learn to compromise, that we weren’t
enemies, and that you can’t change another person – you have to become more
flexible yourself. The same was happening in my husband’s family.
So Khanan and I decided to try again – to
start over, to learn how to be together, to listen and understand one another.
One by one, more children came along. Today, we have five: three girls and two
boys.
– What has motherhood and married life taught you most?
– I often see young couples whose parents take their child’s side, almost like
hawks – and that’s a big mistake. Young people are ambitious; everyone wants to
be in charge, and it becomes a tug-of-war over “Who’s the boss in the house?” This is one of the main
reasons for so many divorces today.
I’ve learned that the secret to a happy
marriage is in the ability to truly hear one another and to stand by each other
not only in joy, but in hardship. Love isn’t just a feeling – it’s daily work,
care, forgiveness, and support.
– You went through a severe life crisis during the pandemic. What
did you have to overcome, both physically and emotionally?
– 2020 was a very difficult year. COVID. Everything collapsed. Our restaurants
closed. Our construction business stopped when the government froze all grants.
But the worst was that my youngest son fell gravely ill. We were in one of the
best children’s hospitals, but even there the doctors were at a loss: “We’ve never seen anything like this…”
After two weeks of antibiotics and IV
treatments, there was no improvement. Then one day, the head of the department
approached me and essentially told me to prepare for the worst. I was
devastated. Why? Why me? Why my child? I
remember crying and praying…
– Was that your first prayer to G-d? How did it change you?
– Yes. I wasn’t religious at all, but I begged G-d: “Help me! I will do everything for You. I will never wear pants
again, I’ll cover my arms, I’ll cover my head. I’ll give up my beautiful hair
– my pride – just help my son!” I went
home, opened my closet, and threw away all my revealing clothes. I came to Him
– with complete faith in His miracle.
My son was so weak, right on the edge. But
when we returned to the hospital, he suddenly asked for food – for the first
time in ages. They took his blood for tests.
The next day, the department head returned:
– We’re discharging you.
I panicked: “Is it that bad?”
He smiled: “Quite the opposite. Everything
suddenly turned out fine. All his tests are normal
– as if he had never been sick. He’s completely healthy.”
That was the Miracle!
Even now, I feel that G-d speaks to me – through
friends, through little signs in life. For someone like me, once far from religion,
this journey became a profound step toward understanding the meaning of life
and finding inner peace.
– Milana, what does it mean to you to be a Woman – in the deeper
sense? How did the idea to open a beauty center come to you, and why did you
see it as your calling?
– I simply wanted to do something I truly loved. Opening a beauty center for
women was always my dream. It’s no secret that many women are busy with work,
home, and children – leaving almost no time for themselves.
Yet a woman must take care of herself: clear,
healthy skin, well-styled hair, a neat manicure and pedicure, light and
tasteful makeup, a delicate fragrance. Even from a religious perspective, a
woman should please her husband, dress beautifully, and not shy away from
wearing jewelry. It’s important – for self-esteem, for harmony in the family,
for inner confidence.
At our beauty center, we don’t just offer
treatments – we also hold educational lectures with therapists and
psychologists. We teach women how to fight for a healthy, fulfilling life, how
to care for themselves, and how to prevent illness. This is a place where women
rediscover their strength, beauty, and worth.
– You initially opened the center for Jewish women, but now you have
American clients too. How do you explain that interest?
– Yes, at first I envisioned it as a health and beauty center specifically for
Jewish women, with programs that included yoga and Pilates. But American women
began coming to us as well – and it’s no surprise. We have very high standards
for our staff: professionalism, a positive attitude, warm energy, and the
ability to make every client feel truly comfortable.
– What treatments do you offer, and which are most popular?
– We have a wide range of facials:
• Classic European Facial
• Acne Facial
• Mini Facial
• Anti-Aging Line – a comprehensive program with deep cleansing, a collagen
mask, RF heat therapy, red and green light therapy, hyaluronic acid, anti-aging
serum, and vitamin C.
Among our most popular procedures is
ultrasonic lifting for the face, neck, and décolleté, which helps restore skin
firmness and tone by stimulating collagen production – the protein that keeps
skin youthful and elastic.
– And what unique technologies set your center apart from others?
– We offer the Carbon Laser Facial CO₂ – a highly effective treatment for deep
cleansing and evening skin tone that can noticeably improve texture in just one
or two sessions.
Our fractional CO₂ laser is one of our “star”
procedures. This technology works on a cellular level to improve skin density,
smoothness, and tone, reducing wrinkles and post-acne marks. It can:
• Smooth wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes and mouth
• Even out tone and minimize pores
• Reduce pigmentation and sun damage
• Tighten and firm the skin
• Combat signs of aging
We also offer laser hair removal, body
sculpting, cellulite reduction, and skin tightening. In addition, we provide
vitamin IV drips for overall wellness, and our specialists perform Botox and
filler injections to restore freshness and smoothness to the skin.
Come Visit Us!
Our salon is a true oasis of happiness and peace – a place where you leave
recharged and uplifted. You’ll want to come back again and again!
Address:
8015 188th Street, Hollis, NY 11423
Phone: (929) 666-2445, (917) 500-5870
Website: beautymd.fit
