During the pandemic, 14-year-old Shea Curtin faced a choice between scrolling on her phone or having her mom throw it out the window. Now a junior majoring in education under the Multiple Abilities Program, she remembers the last thing she saw before giving up the device: a video of cupcakes.
Shea La Vie Cupcakery, Curtin’s cupcake business, started completely by accident after her phone dilemma inspired her to go bake something. It wasn’t until she suddenly had extra time during the pandemic that she discovered her love for baking. Much to her surprise, after her mom posted pictures on Facebook, orders quickly started rolling in.
“Since starting my business, I’ve learned so much through trial and error,” Curtin said. “I’ve gone from making boxed mixes for fun to developing my own recipes, experimenting with different techniques and learning all the little details that go into creating a cupcake.”
Her menu now holds over 40 flavors inspired by her favorite desserts, random ideas from friends and things she sees in her daily life. It includes Alabama-themed flavors such as Dixieland Delight which combines red velvet and cookies and cream.
The name Shea La Vie came from a family friend’s suggestion, a play on the French phrase “c’est la vie” that translates to “that’s life.”
Since starting college, Curtin has catered for events across campus. She said she enjoys creating custom cupcakes that match the theme of the events, including birthdays, holidays, football games, business collaborations and even dead week.
“You definitely don’t need a special occasion to order cupcakes,” Curtin said. “Sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up, and I think that’s a perfectly good reason to treat yourself.”
Balancing her business, schoolwork and student teaching is a challenge, but she’s learned how to organize, plan ahead and be flexible when plans fall through. She also said she prioritizes taking breaks and time for herself.
“My planner is quite literally my lifeline,” Curtin said. “I’ve learned that I really have to be intentional with my time.”
Despite its challenges, Curtin said she is grateful for the people she has met through running Shea La Vie, and that she didn’t expect a cupcake business to introduce her to some of her best friends.
Her advice to aspiring student entrepreneurs is to find your passion and “just run with it.” She said taking small opportunities is crucial, because something seemingly small might lead to unexpectedly bigger things.
Beyond college, Curtin hopes her cupcakes will champion a cause. She plans on teaching early childhood special education for a few years post graduation before opening a storefront for Shea La Vie, offering employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Much like the personal touch she strives to put in every order, Curtin hopes the next few years with Shea La Vie will bring stronger relationships within the community and opportunities for people with disabilities to build skills and confidence.
“I truly believe everyone deserves the opportunity to shine, and I would love for my business to be a place where that happens every single day,” Curtin said.
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