Today’s very sad😭news!! Bringing Up Bates Josie Bates shares the heartbreaking reason why she decided to close effortless beauty

Josie Bates Balka is entering a deeply personal new chapter.

The Bringing Up Bates alum has officially decided to close her beauty business, Effortless Beauty, choosing instead to devote her time and energy to life at home with her growing family. The decision marks a major shift for Josie, who has successfully balanced entrepreneurship, motherhood, and public life for years.

💗 Choosing Family First

Sources close to Josie say the choice was not made lightly. As a mother of four young children, Josie felt a strong pull to slow down and be more present during this demanding season of life.

“Josie has poured her heart into Effortless Beauty for years,” an insider shared. “But right now, her priority is being at home — soaking in these early years with her kids.”

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A Full and Busy Home

Born August 4, 1999, Josie Kellyn Bates is the 10th of 19 children of Gil and Kelly Jo Bates. She married Kelton Balka on October 5, 2018, and together they’ve built a busy, love-filled household.

The couple shares four children:

• Willow Kristy (born July 2019)

• Hazel Sloane (born June 2021)

• Miles Kelton (born February 2024)

• Brooks Hallum (born December 6, 2025)

With two toddlers and two babies at home, friends say Josie has been navigating sleepless nights, school transitions, and newborn life — all while reevaluating her long-term priorities.

💄 A Successful Beauty Career Comes to a Pause

Josie graduated from Crown College with a degree in cosmetology in 2018 and went on to co-found Effortless Beauty Company, a well-known bridal beauty brand specializing in wedding hair services and hair accessories.

The company quickly gained popularity, especially among brides across Tennessee and neighboring states, and became a respected name in the faith-based influencer space.

Even in 2025, Josie had continued expanding the business, including hiring additional staff to help manage demand — a move that made her eventual decision to step away even more emotional.

🌿 Life Beyond Business

While Effortless Beauty is closing, Josie is not stepping away from the public eye entirely. She remains active on social media, where she continues to share beauty tips, motherhood moments, and glimpses into daily life with Kelton and their children.

Fans say they admire her honesty and vulnerability in choosing family over hustle — especially after welcoming baby Brooks just weeks ago.

✨ A New Season, Not a Goodbye

Those close to Josie emphasize that this is not the end of her creative journey — just a pause.

“Josie knows seasons change,” one family friend said. “Right now, her calling is at home. The rest can wait.”

As she closes the chapter on Effortless Beauty, Josie Balka steps fully into her role as a mother of four — embracing a quieter, more intentional life centered on faith, family, and the moments that matter most.