Moms to Know: Corina Kowalski, Bubbles & Blowouts

In a month of giving and gathering, I am proud to highlight a local mother who pours into our Tampa Bay community, her hard-working team, and every person that walks through the doors of Bubbles & Blowouts – not just because it’s good business, but because she believes that giving back and creating community are what we are all meant to do.

With a heart of gold, an abundance of gratitude and a kid-friendly sanctuary with all the girly glamour we could ever want, Corina Kowalski is a mother who is an honor to know.

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How did you come to open a salon in South Tampa?

Corina Kowalski: I was born and raised in Sarasota and moved to South Tampa after meeting my husband in 2016. Like all women, I love to feel beautiful. I always enjoyed getting my hair blown out, but I found that the products that other places were using weren’t right for my hair, and I couldn’t bring my son to these places.

After years of dreaming about it, I decided that I could create something that would offer different products for different hair types and also make space so that children felt welcomed while their moms got treated. With a background in medical sales for 12 years, I had never owned a business, but I knew that my idea was different, and I was excited to offer a unique experience for women in Tampa.

Describe your proudest moment as a business owner.

Corina Kowalski: Establishing a business was a major milestone, but finding the team I have now – that are like family – makes me proud every single day. Some of my favorite moments as a business owner have included being a small part of someone else’s special day. From hosting birthday parties or baby showers to getting a woman ready for a bridal shower or gala event, those days are unforgettable.

Our relationships with the community and our clients are what we truly treasure most. It makes us feel like we are doing something right in the experience we provide when we build trusted connections and lasting friendships.

How does Bubbles & Blowouts represent you as a mother of two boys?

Corina Kowalski: As a mother of two boys, our workplace culture is built around family. It comes first always for my staff and me too. Bubbles & Blowouts as a business allows me to be the mom I want to be so that I never miss time with my sons. Bubbles & Blowouts as a space also represents me as a mom because we have created something that is welcoming for a mother-child experience.

In fact, you may see me holding a client’s baby or changing diapers when you come in! This culture is truly what sets us apart.

Tell us about your sons and how you stay so involved in their activities while also remaining committed to your team and clients.

Corina Kowalski: My younger son, Liam, is 13 years old and an avid football player. He is in middle school in South Tampa. He’s a great kid with a competitive fiery spirit, but also very compassionate and kind. My oldest is Gavin. He is a very outgoing 15-year-old freshman high school football player who is also passionate about history. Gavin is calm and confident.

I’m able to attend their games, volunteer at school, chaperone field trips, get to know their teachers and friends and also help my husband run his business as an expert witness, neurosurgeon and mechanical engineer all because of my incredible team. My manager, Kelsey Whitt, has been with us for two years and is a wonderful leader.

November is a month focused on giving and gratitude. You have always been deeply involved in supporting the community. What causes are you most passionate about, and what inspires you to give?

Corina Kowalski: I was raised by a single mother who worked so hard and yet still remained so involved with at-risk populations. She still is! She’s a huge inspiration for me. I have people in my life that suffer from mental illness that I have taken care of (as a guardian). It’s something that I want to do.

My husband is also very charitable, so now giving back is what we do together, and I feel like it’s why we are all here: to take care of one another.

I am most passionate about causes that focus on children. Some of my favorite organizations are: Mary Lee House, Children’s Cancer Center, Wee Macree, Metropolitan Ministries, Humane Society, Redefining Refuge, Coastal Recovery in Sarasota, local sports teams and local schools.

What do you love to do most with your boys in Tampa Bay?

Corina Kowalski: We love to be outside together! We ride bikes on Bayshore, throw the football, go fishing, visit area museums and go out to eat and experience new cuisines together! We are so lucky to live in a place with such beautiful weather.

Photo Credit: Andi Diamond Photography | Originally published in the November 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine