Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Doan.
Hi Ariel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My love for baking began long before I ever dreamed of owning a bakery. As a little girl, I spent hours in the kitchen with my grandfather making apple pies. Those are some of my most treasured memories. I lost him to Alzheimer’s at a young age, but every time I bake, I still feel connected to him. He unknowingly gave me more than recipes, he gave me a passion that would shape the rest of my life.
I never outgrew that passion. As I got older, I fell in love with both baking and cooking, and at 15 years old I got my first job in the restaurant industry at Rogues Harbor in Lansing, New York. I started by cleaning the restaurant simply because I wanted a foot in the door. From there I worked my way up; bussing tables, helping at the bed and breakfast, and eventually earning a place in the kitchen, where I prepared desserts and helped prep for dinner service.
It was there that Chef Larry changed the course of my life with a piece of advice I’ll never forget. He told me, “Anyone can cook, but not everyone can bake. If you have that talent, you should follow it.”
The summer after my first year of school at Johnson and Wales University, I landed my first bakery job at Baked Euphoria in Endwell, New York. I started as an assistant cake decorator with very little experience, learning something new every single day, eventually becoming their head cake decorator.
In 2014, life brought me to Virginia Beach, where I joined Twisted Sisters Cupcakes as the head cake decorator and general manager.
Then, in 2021, I was given the opportunity to purchase the bakery that I had built my career at.
Owning a bakery has been everything I dreamed it would be and so much more. It’s been exhausting, rewarding, terrifying, and fulfilling.
This bakery has never been just about cupcakes. It’s about creating joy, celebrating milestones, building community, and proving that even after life knocks you down, you can rebuild something beautiful.
And as long as people keep believing in Twisted Sisters Cupcakes, I’ll keep fighting for the dream that started with a little girl, her grandfather, and an apple pie.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Owning a small business has never been a smooth road, but it’s a journey I’ll always be grateful for.
In my second year of owning the bakery, my entire world changed. My marriage ended, and overnight I found myself trying to make sense of a life I no longer recognized. I was grieving, rebuilding, and learning how to stand on my own while also trying to keep the bakery alive.
For a long time, I poured every ounce of energy I had into simply surviving. Some days that meant showing up for my customers even when I didn’t know how I was going to show up for myself. I gave the bakery everything I could; but when you’re running on empty, sometimes everything you have still doesn’t feel like enough.
Now, for the first time in years, I finally feel like myself again. I’ve healed, I’ve grown, and I have the energy and passion to give this business everything it deserves. Ironically, just as I’ve found my footing again, the economy has become one of the biggest challenges small businesses have faced in years.
But if there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that I’m stronger than I ever imagined.
I’m not ready to give up.
I truly believe we can bounce back; with the incredible team that stands beside me, the loyal customers who have supported us through every season, and a community that believes in shopping small.
Every cupcake you buy, every order you place, every post you share, and every recommendation you make helps write the next chapter of our story.
And I’m determined to make it our best one yet.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When people ask what I do, I usually say I’m a cake decorator/ bakery owner… but it’s so much more than that. I get to take someone’s idea, memory, hobby, or biggest milestone and turn it into something edible that makes people stop and smile. Every cake tells a story, and being trusted to create a small part of someone’s celebration is something I’ll never take for granted.
Of everything I’ve accomplished in my career, I’m most proud of how far I’ve come as a cake artist. I started with very little experience, learning through long hours, practice, mistakes, and determination. Looking back at where I started compared to where I am today is one of my greatest accomplishments. It’s proof that talent can only take you so far; growth comes from showing up every day and never stopping the desire to learn.
At Twisted Sisters Cupcakes, creativity has always been at the heart of everything we do. While we love making beautiful traditional cakes, what truly excites me are the projects that make people say, “Can you actually make that?” Those are the cakes I look forward to the most.
We’re proud to be one of the few bakeries in Hampton Roads that specializes in carved custom cakes and out-of-the-box themes. I love the challenge of figuring out how to bring ideas to life. Around here, “sweet but twisted” isn’t just a slogan; it’s the way we approach every custom creation.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
The reason I do this has never been just to make something delicious. My goal is for people to leave with a memory, not just something sweet. I’ve never wanted Twisted Sisters Cupcakes to blend in. I want people to walk through our doors and immediately feel like they’re somewhere different; a place that’s fun, creative, a little unexpected, and comfortable.
Opening a bakery was never just about selling cupcakes and cakes. It was about creating a place where people feel welcome, where milestones are celebrated, and where both customers and employees feel like they’re part of something special.
One of the things I’m most proud of isn’t just the cakes we’ve created; it’s the team we’ve built. My employees aren’t just coworkers; they’re family. We’ve celebrated together, leaned on each other through some incredibly difficult seasons, and lifted each other up when life got hard. That sense of support and belonging is part of what makes our bakery so special.
The last few years tested me in every possible way, both personally and professionally. They taught me resilience, adaptability, and that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. Every obstacle I’ve faced has made me a stronger leader, a better business owner, and given me an even greater appreciation for the people who have stood beside me along the way.
At the end of the day, people often think I sell cakes, but that’s really not what I do. I help people celebrate some of the biggest moments of their lives. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, baby shower, retirement, or any other milestone, our cakes become part of memories that families will look back on for years. Being trusted with those moments is a privilege, and it’s something I’ll never take for granted. That’s the reason I still love what I do every single day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://twistedsisterscupcakes.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/twistedsisterscupcakes
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/twistedsisterscupcakes
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/twistedsisterscupcakes
