At 55, I walked into a high-end bridal salon, excited to try on wedding dresses for the first time. As a proud Hispanic woman, I felt confident—until two young saleswomen looked me up and down, their polite smiles quickly fading into judgment. When I asked to try on a lace gown, one said dismissively, “That one’s over $10,000,” and suggested I check the clearance section instead.
Before I could respond, the salon manager, John, approached and asked what was going on. One of the women brushed it off, claiming they were just “protecting the dresses.” That’s when John revealed the truth: my fiancé and I had just purchased the salon. Their expressions shifted instantly from smug to stunned.
Rather than firing them on the spot, I decided to teach them a lesson. One was assigned as my personal assistant to understand the importance of treating every bride with respect. The other was tasked with learning every fabric and style in the store, so no customer would ever be judged based on appearance again.
Their attitude began to change. When I finally tried on a dress, one of the women gently suggested a better-fitting style. “I think a sweetheart neckline would suit you beautifully,” she said. That moment, small as it was, gave me hope—and reminded me that respect and kindness should never come with conditions.