Cosmetology Student Success Story: Liliana Ruby De La Torre

About Liliana

Before EBC, Liliana Ruby De La Torre was finishing her time at A.C. Davis High School. She was involved in just about everything: Jazz Choir, Drama Club, M.A.S.H. (a K-pop dance cover group), Film Productions, Stage Crew, G.E.M.S. (a fashion modeling club), and even Japanese! She had a love for performing and learning new things, and that energy is still here today. In her free time, you will find her singing, dancing, and posting fashionista content on her personal page. Liliana puts her all into everything she does, and through her cosmetology journey, her character really shined.

The love for beauty started at home. Growing up, her brother Jonsi was the one who did hair for the entire family. He would color and style her brothers’ hair, her mom’s hair, and Liliana’s as well. Liliana loved the sleek pony her brother would do and wanted to take it a step further, asking her mom to get her hair colored. Of course, mom would say no, up until 2020. Liliana was 12 years old and finally got the colored hair she always wanted. This became the biggest turning point of her journey. She started watching YouTube videos and used her hair as her own canvas. She has always known she wanted to do something fun with her career, and cosmetology was the perfect fit.

When it was time to choose a school, Liliana did extensive research. Evergreen Beauty College stood out right away for the positive reviews and everything the school had to offer. She could not wait to sign up. Meetings were set up with her Admissions Representative, Amahalea. Hearing Amahalea’s own story and experiences with EBC made Liliana even more excited to join. “I loved how welcoming everyone was,” she says. From that first conversation, she knew she was in the right place.

The Evergreen Experience

Hair Layers by Liliana

At EBC’s Yakima campus, Liliana found her favorites fast. Layered haircuts and color are where she comes alive. With layers, she loves adding texture and showing clients the different ways they can wear their new look. With color, it is all about that moment when the results finally come together. “The reaction that my clients have when I achieve the results they were wanting,” she says. “It’s so fun to do!”

But the most valuable part of her training has not been a technique. It has been the people. One appointment has stayed with her since the day it happened. A client came in who had just reached her one-year anniversary of sobriety. She shared her story: a struggle with alopecia and substance abuse that had taken all of her hair, leaving her wearing wigs every day. She had recovered, and sitting down with Liliana was her very first salon experience since. She asked Liliana to make her feel like a woman again. And Liliana did exactly that. “It was then that I realized that you never know how much you can impact someone’s life by a haircut,” she says. That appointment changed something in her, and it has shaped the way she shows up for every client since.

When you book with Liliana, you are walking into a space that is safe, comfortable, and completely yours. She has a bubbly personality and a genuine commitment to making sure every person in her chair feels happy and taken care of. “Building a safe environment is important to me,” she says. “Everyone is accepted.”

The Next Step

Hair Layers by Liliana

After graduation, Liliana’s plan starts in Yakima. She will get a job in the hair industry, build her skills, and save up her money. From there, her eyes are set on a bigger city like Seattle, where she hopes to work alongside her brother Jonsi, who is a licensed barber currently at Cesar Caro Salon. Beyond the city life, Liliana is thinking even bigger. She has a study trip coming up in July and will be heading to Japan! Eventually, Liliana sees herself traveling abroad as a cosmetologist. “I have plenty of things planned for myself and my journey, so stay tuned,” she says.

Her advice is simple and honest: “Reach for your dreams. Do what feels right for you and what you are passionate about. Don’t procrastinate. Live in the now.”

Liliana Ruby De La Torre is expected to graduate from EBC’s Yakima campus in December 2026. Follow her personal journey at @dollxylili and her hair work at @bowsbylili. We cannot wait to see where she goes next.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the beauty industry, check out our Cosmetology program or Schedule a Virtual Tour at one of our campuses: Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, North Seattle, Renton, Olympia, and Yakima.