At 21 I Took My 3 Cousins on a Budget-Less Trip to Disney World

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aaliyah Arnold, Founder and CEO of BossUp Cosmetics. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I was a little girl, my single mom, who was working paycheck to paycheck at the time, took me to Disney World. Although magical, I remember we had to be aware of what we were spending money on.

Now, at 21, I have made enough money through the sales of my makeup business (the business brings in six figures most months) to not only return to Disney on my own, but to take three of my cousins, and to do it without a budget.

I started my business at 14

I started my brand, Boss Up Cosmetics, in 2018 when I was only 14, with a goal of being able to provide for my large, very close family, and to do what I love — making makeup. I initially worked out of my grandma’s three-bed, one-bath house.

I come from a family of entrepreneurs — my dad used to own a gym, my grandma does catering, and my grandpa has his own moving business. Starting businesses is in our blood.

Four years after I started the business, the brand went viral. My mom quit her job to work with me full-time to run the business. She quickly became the heart of the company. While I bring in the orders and create all the content, she does literally everything else.

Now, my aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings work as my employees. I love being able to give back to my family — it’s a huge part of this brand.

I wanted to take my cousins on a real vacation

This year, I told my mom I’d like to take my cousins, ages 11, 10, and 8, to Disney. They’d never been on a plane, never had a real vacation, and never been out of Texas. It would be such a big thing for them — magical.

It all happened very spontaneously. My mom and I got everything sorted to take my cousins. We would spoil them, all thanks to the income from the business.

To start, I bought them each a personalized suitcase and backpack, packed with fun extras like a Mickey Mouse fan and autograph book.

Having never flown on a plane before, my mom and I had to explain to my cousins what it was like to go through an airport and board a plane. From our first-class seats on the plane, we met the pilot, who gave them little pins to wear.

We booked an Airbnb with an extremely extravagant pool. It had an arcade, and each room was Disney-themed, with a slide from each bed.

They thanked me all throughout the trip

Before we went around Disney World and Universal Studios, we explained there would be a lot of walking, riding rides, and meeting Disney characters.

One of my cousins asked if she could bring her book to read. “You’ll be very occupied — you’re not going to need your book,” I told her.

Several times, when I asked them if they wanted something, they replied that it was too expensive. “Don’t worry about it,” I’d say. Do you want it?”

The whole trip, they kept thanking my mom and me for bringing them. They were so grateful. They had never experienced anything like that trip.

The trip has put into perspective just how big our brand has grown. It’s mind-boggling that I, a 21-year-old, can take her cousins to Disney with absolutely no budget. I feel so grateful and blessed.

One day, I’d love to take my entire family — all 60 of us — to Disney. Not only do the kids in my family deserve, all my family do. It’s definitely possible.