October was Women's Small Business Month and what better way to close it out than a local woman's small business being named best in New York State.

"When we heard our names we went crazy, we couldn't believe it, we actually won," says Melitza Roman, owner of Stiletto Goddess.

Roman opened Stiletto Goddess in Morris Park three years ago hoping to create a nail salon unlike any other she had worked in during her 18 years in the industry.

Turns out, she nailed it. This past weekend, Roman and her team were named the 2019 Nail Salon of the Year at the inaugural New York Hair and Beauty Awards, organized by Creative Oceanic.

"I cried, I was so proud at that moment, caught me off-guard. It's a wonderful feeling. To be Latina and to be able to bring something home and representing the Bronx, born and raised here, is just wonderful," says Roman.

The salon, the only one from the Bronx in the category, was nominated by one of Roman's clients. Which one, has remained a mystery.

"It makes me feel proud of myself. Proud of my staff, my team and proud to be a Bronx girl," says Roman.

Roman and her staff continue to grind away, providing both traditional services and complex and creative nail art, ensuring no two clients have the same nails. However, that's not why she thinks they won.

"I think it's the interaction we have with our clients. We treat them like they're family. They're loyal to us, we're loyal to them. And every time they come we deliver the same service, with the same five stars, same quality and we just improve as we go," says Roman.

A credit to her polished staff, which Roman says she shares this honor with proudly.

"I am where I am because of them, because of their hard work, their dedication, they always support me, they're right there with me, you could say we're a family," says Roman.

A family that has worked hard together from day one, showing that a Bronx business can get state-wide recognition.

"It just shows that being from the Bronx, you could be successful, and you could achieve anything you apply yourself to," says Roman.