Octavia's interest for the beauty industry began when she returned home from training as a Emergency Medical Technician (combat medic) in the United States Army Reserves. After returning home from boot camp in 1995 she stopped by to visit a childhood friend who recently opened her own nail salon. This long time friend knew Octavia started doing her own acrylic and gel nails in 1984. Faye asked Octavia to come and work with her in her nail salon. In 1996 Octavia graduated from Milwaukee Area Technical College where she earned her Nail Technician diploma and  was licensed as a Nail Technician in the state of Wisconsin. This was the beginning of her love affair for both the beauty and medical industries. In October of 2004 Octavia was formally educated and trained in the art of Cosmetic and Medical Tattooing at Biotouch International in Miami Florida. In 2013 she received her Esthetic diploma from Aveda Institute of Beauty and Wellness and her Wisconsin Estheticians state license. In 2017 she was trained in Medical and Oncology Esthetics at True U University in Chicago Il. June of 2018 Octavia received her diploma from Universal Spa Training Academy and her Illinois state license  as an Esthetics Teacher.

In 2020 Octavia served as the Lead Esthetics Instructor for Tricoci University in Chicago, IL. Also known as Tattoo Tavi, Octavia plans are to share her passion and the knowledge she acquired over the past 21 years for all things tattoo through her academy that will open in the spring of 2024. Her passion for the beauty industry is only surpassed by her faith in GOD and her love for her three children, twelve grandsons, three granddaughters and three great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter. She is also an ordained minister.