She’s Pretty and Black Owned: Meet Belinda Irby

Belinda is the Owner and CEO of Queen B Fitness, Queen B Productions, The Queendom Experience Yoni Spa and The Queendom Experience Retreats. Belinda’s entrepreneurship career started in 2011. Belinda has used her passion for dance and fitness to inspire and help others live an active/healthy lifestyle. She took her passion for line dance fitness to another level in 2016 by traveling to St. Thomas Virgin Islands to teach fitness on the beach. In 2019 Belinda was featured in Dallas Voyage Magazine. In 2021, Belinda traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and Cancun Mexico to teach line dance fitness and brand her business.
In 2021, Belinda understood her assignment and her calling when she started hosting self-love retreats. The Queendom Experience is a non-judgmental “safe” space where we come together to provide empowerment. We discuss topics such as spiritual health, forgiveness, healing, generational curses, mental health, physical health and more. We bring in professionals that can help us implement ways to become a better-heeled version of ourselves.
It’s a weekend “getaway” to self-love, self-care, to get away from outside distractions, and EXPERIENCE a refreshing & renewing environment with like-minded Kings and Queens.

What inspired the start of “Queen B Fitness, Productions and more”?
What inspired me to start Queen B Fitness, 2009 I gave birth to my last child. I have always been very physically fit, a cheerleader in middle and high school and worked out.
I wanted to start a fitness class doing something I love to do which is dance. I started teaching line dance fitness classes in 2014. I had several locations that I taught at. I later started being a health coach training clients. Queen B Destinations was started because I love to travel. Traveling is self-care for me so I decided to get paid while doing something I enjoy. The Queendom Experience Retreats was started in 2021 when I understood my assignment and aligned myself with God’s purpose for my life. All of my businesses were started by me stepping out on faith to bring people together for a greater purpose than myself.

What has been the biggest challenge of running a brand like ” Queen B Fitness, Productions and more “?
The biggest challenge for me has been funding my business. I do good in business however there are more programs and things I would like to implement. My other challenge is knowing I need to hire an assistant to help with the daily functions of a business. This year I’ve been very prayerful about who to allow on my team. I’m now creating a team for The Queendom.

How does ” Queen B Fitness, Productions and more ” impact the community?
Queen B Fitness has impacted the community in many ways. I was the first fitness trainer in 2014 to offer fitness classes for my neighborhood and residents. A few months later I started hosting classes at a local church for members of the church. My impact in the community has opened many doors for me. I’m helping people live healthy lifestyles.
I taught fitness classes during health fairs at elementary, middle and high schools. I host fitness events bringing everyone together for a day of fitness.

You recently joined the hosting world by creating The Queendom Experience Retreat, can you tell us about the work you are doing through this new avenue?
I love what I’m doing with The Queendom Experience Retreats. As the teens say, I understood my assignment and my calling in 2020. I did a personal sabbatical where I prayed to God asking him to help me in different areas of my life. I begin to do self-development, self-love, and self-care. I had to go through the healing process myself before God could use me for His Kingdom work. My retreat’s mission is empowerment & healing. I created a “safe space’ where men, women, and teens can come together in a non-judgment environment to self-love/self-care. I hosted 4 retreats in 2020 with women learning how to say YES to themselves. As a woman/moms, we spend so much time caring for others. I started implementing ways to focus on myself more. I live by this quote ” Self Care is so important, when you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel. This year I started opening my retreats up to teens as well. The “village” is needed for this generation to help love and guide them. Teens are exposed to so much more these days. April 29th-May 1st will be my first retreat including men. I’m excited about The Kings and Queens Retreat. God’s plan and design for the family have gotten lost. I will have amazing speakers, a panel of professional men & women that will implement ways we can be a better version of our healed selves.

Where do you hope to see your brand in the next 3-5 years?
I would love to see my brand in the next 3-5 years well established on a larger platform. I’m thankful and humble for my small beginnings.
I do believe & trust that my brand is bigger than me because I surrender and told God yes.
My obedience and following his path for my life will open doors that I could never imagine. I’ve been blessed to be internationally known and travel to host my fitness classes.
The Best is Yet to Come.

What advice do you have for the next generation of entrepreneurs?
I would tell the next generation of entrepreneurs to pray about everything. Love what you do and do what you love.

What does being “Pretty and Black Owned” mean to you?
Being Pretty and Black Owned means a lot to me because the torch can be passed on to other girls that look like me. It gives them a sense of hope that they can be pretty and black-owned as well.