Mellanease “Mell” Miranda: Stirring Confidence, Serving Purpose

Kami Redd
Jan 23
3 min read

A Journey from Service to Self

Mellanease “Mell” Miranda has never fit into just one box. She’s a U.S. military veteran, a certified life coach, and a seasoned bartender. She’s also a mother, a motivator, and the founder of The Above Avg, a brand rooted in healing, reinvention, and celebration. Her entrepreneurial journey wasn’t linear—it was layered, honest, and deeply human.

After leaving the military, Mell became a stay-at-home mom and struggled with identity loss. “I was just going through the motions,” she recalls. Seeking a spark, she enrolled in bartending school in 2014. That decision reignited her spirit and launched a decade-long journey through hospitality, eventually earning her Thumbtack’s Best Bartender in San Antonio for Customer Service.

But it was a layoff from her IT job that gave her the push she needed. She turned her side hustle into a business and officially launched Mell the Bartender.

Crafting a Brand from Experience

As Mell’s bookings grew, so did her confidence. She wasn’t just making drinks—she was creating moments. Her mobile bartending became a hub for connection, service, and empowerment. But in 2024, health issues made her reevaluate. Bartending, though fulfilling, was physically demanding. She knew it was time for another shift.

That’s when The Remedy & The Recipe was born—a blend of her two passions: bartending and life coaching. “Bartending is life coaching with alcohol,” she jokes. But the concept runs deeper. Through curated drink menus, affirmations, and themed experiences, Mell creates spaces for both celebration and reflection.

The brand evolved to include motivational eBooks, personalized coaching, and events that merge mixology with mindset work.

The Remedy & The Recipe

The Remedy & The Recipe isn’t just a catchy name—it’s a philosophy. For Mell, healing doesn’t always look like silence, solitude, or serious therapy. Sometimes, it’s in shared laughter, crafted cocktails, and real conversation. She sees the bar as a place where people unwind, get honest, and begin to heal.

She envisions launching The R&R Bar—a concept lounge centered around intentional drinks and intentional dialogue. “We’ll design cocktails that align with emotional states—like calm, clarity, confidence—and pair them with affirmations or coaching moments,” she explains.

Coaching from Lived Wisdom

Mell’s coaching is rooted in personal experience and practical wisdom. She’s helped women build businesses, leave toxic jobs, and rediscover joy. Her clients are mostly Black women, and she takes pride in offering culturally relevant coaching that emphasizes softness, growth, and realness.

“I’ve been coaching for years—just not always for money,” she laughs. “Now I help others recognize their value and move accordingly.”

She blends spiritual alignment with real-world structure. Whether helping someone outline a business plan or rewire a limiting belief, Mell’s guidance is rooted in clarity, humor, and truth.

Building Through the Hard

Starting out wasn’t easy. Bartending required equipment and supplies she couldn’t afford, so she worked events through catering agencies and freelance apps to build capital. With coaching, the hurdle was intangible: how do you sell an “invisible product”? Mell learned by working with spiritual mentors and human design coaches, realizing the product was always her. “Once I believed in myself, others did too,” she says.

As a military child and veteran, Mell was no stranger to change. Constant relocations taught her how to adapt, connect, and lead. That early training prepared her for the pivots of entrepreneurship.

Balancing Life and Business

Mell is also a mother of three and credits her partner for making her business possible. “They are my biggest cheerleader,” she says. “If the door is closed, they know I’m locked in.”

Balance comes from communication, structure, and boundaries. She doesn’t glamorize hustle. Her tagline, “Have the Experience You Deserve,” applies to everyone—from clients to family.

Mell integrates flexibility into her business so she can still show up fully at home. “I run my business around my life, not the other way around,” she explains.

Black Woman Power, Unapologetically

Being a Black woman in business isn’t a barrier—it’s her superpower. Mell is intentional about working with and coaching other Black women. “It’s about uplifting each other, by any means necessary,” she says.

Her brand highlights excellence, healing, and presence. She challenges stereotypes while creating spaces where softness, celebration, and ambition coexist.

Her message to other Black women: “Do it tired. Do it scared. But do it. Betting on yourself is never a losing bet.”

Looking Ahead

Mell’s long-term vision includes consulting in beverage and bar design with a wellness focus. She’s also developing coaching programs for high-performing women looking to align purpose with lifestyle.

Whether it’s a cocktail class or a coaching session, Mell wants every experience to feel intentional and unforgettable.

Her message is simple but strong: You don’t have to choose between your talents. You can blend them, own them, and serve the world exactly as you are.