Tag: New Online

Fashion With A Purpose 

Posted in Men Hustle Too, New OnlineTagged Leave a comment

A.R Crown has collided his love and passion to speak on HEALING, AFFIRMING, FORGIVENESS and MANNA FESTing to help him in creating a meaningful brand that aligns with biblical principles and manifestation. A Georgia native, A.R. Crown started his humble beginnings in Sunset Homes, a government housing project located on 15th Street in his hometown of Augusta. He was born the 4th child of 8. A.R. Crown contributes a great deal of his generosity, drive, and love for music to his parents, who were determined to raise their children in a better environment. They were prominent DJs in the club scene starting their careers in the 70’s: known as “The Black Casanova,” and “The Queen of Soul.” He has fond memories as a young boy of toting heavy crates of 12’s and 45’s into Augusta’s hottest nightclubs of the day. He remembers the budding spark of love upon hearing The Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.” Which grew into an inferno, following his first listen, of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five’s, 1982 social commentary track, “The Message.” With an innate strong passion for reading, he began crafting rhymes, and cultivating a variety of skills, in many different forms of art (not limited to painting, barbering, poetry, and fashion design). Following his graduation from T.W. Josey Comprehensive High School in 1992, he joined The United States Marine Corps with his best friend Terrence “Bobo” Turner, they grew up together, and no matter where his family settled, A.R. Crown always returned to High Street with Bobo and Thomas “Mayne” Demmons, who rounded out the trio. Most people say, “When you meet Crown, you will know it.” He boasts an unmistakable voice and diction, with a distinct personality and eclectic fashion style to match.  During his work as a barber, some of his more frequent customers would come by, not for a haircut, but for the pleasure of getting to see what he was wearing that day. Some of his heroes include Tyler Perry and Spike Lee. Both having their idiosyncratic ways of telling a story, inspired A.R. Crown to attend film school, where obtained the knowledge and proper equipment to produce his own visuals and movies. In addition, to those two, James Brown, who hails from his hometown, inspired his work ethic and Barack Obama, for giving him, “The Audacity of Hope.” For the last few decades, A.R. Crown’s Bat-Cave has been in Atlanta, but he is a world traveler. He is quoted as saying, “Life isn’t necessarily about WHERE you’re going, but the experience of getting there.” Now, age 48, A.R. Crown reflects that life has not been all roses. He had to fight several battles and spirits. Mental health, alcoholism, and other addictions almost destroyed him: but he is now proud of his war wounds and often muses, “God allowed me to walk through the fire, so I could come back, carrying buckets of water for those still in it.” A.R Crown uses his voice to speak on HEALING, AFFIRMING, FORGIVENESS and MANNA FESTing. After listening to some of his cogitations, you will be bestowed with a new mindset, a burning fire in your spirit, and the heart of MORE THAN A CONQUEROR! 

What inspired your career in the fashion industry?

I’ve always had an affinity for fashion and style, but I think that it is imperative to know, the clothes do not make the man, or woman. It is your heart, and spirit that does that. “CROWNITE!” APPAREL is a dream MANNAFESTed into reality. I made a VISION BOARD, close to 20 years ago, and it was on it, amongst other things, that I am currently living out today. I also feel that our attire is literally an extension of our very essence, and that we should innately LOVE who we are…so why not show it, in how we adorn ourselves?

What is the mission of “CROWNITE” and THE MANNA FEST STATION?

THE MANNA FEST STATION, is our umbrella company that covers all of our additional endeavors. “CROWNITE!” APPAREL is only one of them. Allow me to explain the logo, and utilization of the train as the focal point. As we may all know, “MANNA,” was the bread from HEAVEN that GOD used to feed those escaping Egypt in Biblical days. A “FEST,” is short for FESTIVAL, which is a celebration, or a gathering of people for a happy occasion. The word, “STATION,” means your position, or base, in life. TRAINS are used to transport people, goods, and services from point A., to point B. We want to use our talents, gifts, fashion, music, and all of our resources, to transport the SICK, to GOOD HEALTH. The POOR, to ABUNDANCE. The UNSTABLE, to SOLID GROUND. The WEARY, to REST. The DEPRESSED, to JOY. The HOPELESS, to HOPE. The DOWNTRODDEN, to UPLIFTED. The LONELY, to LOVED…and the SINNERS, to SAVED. Yes. That is the reason for our clothing line, to generate the funds, to BUILD THE KINGDOM, ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

What kind of products do you sell and what are their purposes?

“CROWNITE!” APPAREL is a clothing line that runs the gamut of fashion items. We have hats, tees, shoes, men’s full suits, athleisure wear for women, joggers, dress shirts, casual wear, formal wear, and many, many other items.

What challenges have you faced up to this point with your brand, and how do you plan to overcome them?

Well, my view of, “challenges,” may differ from others. In fact, nothing is “challenging,” when one has a contrite heart, and a made-up mind. It’s just like quitting smoking, which I am proud to say that I’ve done, if you really want something, you will do what it takes to have it. Now, let’s not forget the most important ingredient in that formula…FAITH. There is NOTHING TOO BIG for GOD…so, there are NO CHALLENGES, only OPPORTUNITIES to PRAY, PRAISE, and BELIEVE, MORE.

The illustration for your apparel is truly eye-catching. What was the process for creating this design?

Thanks. Our, “CROWNITE!” the logo has gone through many changes. This finalized version was posted to my social media page, and followers chose it out of, maybe, 4 or 5 different options. 

At first glance, most people do not realize that the “CROWN,” is comprised of the letters A.R.C. That’s an acronym for Always Remember Christ. “CROWNITE!” itself stands for, Christ Reigns Over Worldly Needs In The Earth. That means, ANYTHING that I need in this world, I simply just have to ask CHRIST. That goes back to that “CHALLENGE” question…If my SPIRITUAL FATHER owns the SUN, surely an OBEDIENT child can own a company, that is decent and in order.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start a business?

Starting a business is just like anything else, before you attempt to do it…research it. With the invention of the internet, that part has been made extremely easy. Study the how’s, the what’s, the people currently in it, the trends, investigate what it takes, the success ratio, your target audience, the market, and your potential business’ relevance. Now, please UNDERSTAND, those are just the motions, the most critical part is, KNOWING IF GOD WANTS THIS PATH FOR YOU, or not. Make PRAYER, part of your business plan, and have PATIENCE. 

I told you; this dream was on my VISION BOARD nearly 20 years ago. I always had it in the back of my mind, even when things seemed impossible.

I like to say, “Sometimes, DREAMS are best prepared in a crockpot. It may take longer, but when they are ready, they are fall of the bone delicious.”

Do you have any future projects that you are working on?

As far as future projects…the sky’s the limit, and we are even going beyond that. One of the other subsidiary companies under TMFS, is THE MANNA FEST STATION MUSIC COLLECTIVE. It is comprised of talented musical artists creating unique, soul-stirring, and spirit-driven gospel music of all genres. We have a few video shoots in the works, and some major announcements coming soon. 

“CROWNITE!” APPAREL has also been tapped to provide wardrobe for several film, and video productions, with a major fashion show on December 10th in Florida. GOD just continues to BLESS US, so yeah, even the sky isn’t a limit.

What is your ultimate goal?

Our ultimate goal is to transform the world into a better place. As in line with our logo, to bring us from point A, to point B. There are so many things wrong today in the world, and most of it is our fault. It doesn’t take a maniacal supervillain to spread evil, it only takes good people to do nothing, when we see it growing. 

We were sent to win SOULS, not ARGUMENTS. We were sent to LOVE, not HATE. We were sent to SERVE…and TRUE SERVANT, SERVE TRULY.

What is your definition of a Man who hustles?

Well, I view that entirely differently from others. I am a man who CONDUCTS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. I do NOT HUSTLE, nor do I hire them or work with them. The reason why is one day, they will try to HUSTLE me. Yes, I see that term much, much differently than most.

Follow us on ALL social media sites… 

twitter.com/@TMFSTATION

www.instagram.com/THEMANNAFESTSTATION/

www.tiktok/@themannafeststation

facebook.com/THE MANNA FEST STATION

Never Stop Learning & Never Stop Growing

Posted in New OnlineTagged Leave a comment
photo of people doing handshakes

When most of us left high school, we left with the idea that we had to work for someone. It was rarely instilled in us that we could become our own bosses; Entrepreneurs. No one took the time to express that you could start your own business and potentially have people work for us, gaining the appropriate knowledge of course.

 IT’S POSSIBLE! 

We prove how possible it is everyday we strive to become our best selves and create the best business plans and formats. College may not have crossed your mind but here is why you should rethink applying to adult learners programs. To achieve the key fundamentals it takes to not only start a business, run it successfully and keep it long term, a degree can help boost this method process.

Business Administration Details

Business administration is a broad field that includes many different roles, professional settings and opportunities for growth. In simple terms, business administration is the work of managing an organization’s resources, time and people.

Business administration professionals work to ensure that businesses and organizations are run effectively, efficiently and profitably. This is a balancing act that requires knowledge and skills in a range of disciplines.

Areas Business Majors Typically Study

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Marketing

Working in business administration requires quantitative skills and “soft skills” such as communicating ideas, influencing others, giving feedback and making effective and informative presentations. Business professionals generally need at least a basic understanding of accounting, finance, marketing, human resources and information technology, and they often specialize in a practice area.

People who are successful in business must also be clear and effective communicators. Business administration very frequently calls for working in teams and on collaborative projects. Handling the workload is only part of the challenge: being a team member your peers and supervisors can count on is a crucial part of business success.

A strong foundation in business practices, paired with relevant experience, can make you an asset to almost any type of company or organization. Whether you prefer interfacing with customers, solving problems or crunching numbers, there is likely to be a job in business that fits you.

If you are a “people person,” you might be interested in pursuing human resources. If you love competition, a sales role might be a good fit for you. If you love solving tough problems and coming up with strategies, you might be interested in becoming a business analyst or consultant. If you are a math whiz, you might explore possible paths in accounting or data analytics.

The details described are most of what it takes to run a business. Google hosts a worldwide list of schools that offer not only full time/part time classes but as well as online learning. With men dominating in multiple industries based on hand me downs from family members. Us women have to work three times as hard to be seen as adequate. We have to feel confident in all our work and it starts with educating ourselves first. Understanding that it is never too late to receive proper education, whether that be in an institution or another accredited foundation.

Ambitious is the word for Christianna Hurt

Posted in New OnlineTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

Christianna Hurt, is a seven figure-college graduate, travel and fashion influencer, who founded WealthyCollegeKid, and is the sole owner of it . Her online journey started on April 5th, 2016 the day she was fired from not one but multiple jobs.  She specializes in online traffic being driven toward e-commerce brands she has built over the last three years making multiple six figures in revenue monthly. Christianna, currently has over 50,000 thousand students enrolled in her digital courses, over 1,000 reviews of student success from her brand, Grossing her continuous network at 11 million. Now at just the age of 27 years old, Christianna has become a strong female entrepreneur and influencer on social media as well as being the face of eight figure brand The Boss Palace doing 10.4 million in 2020. In 2021, Christianna was inducted into the Forbes The Next 1000 class, making her inspirations to make the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class even bigger. Throughout her career she has helped create six-figure earners that expanded into brands of their own, as well as men and women who have been able to retire comfortably from the job they have worked all their life.  Recently, Christianna has also created a children’s clothing brand in honor of her tragic miscarriage in 2018 due to domestic violence, and she is now the owner of fantasy candles. 

If you could use five words to describe yourself, what would they be?
Consistency, Confident, Transparency, Durable, and Progression

When did you develop your passion and interest in entrepreneurship?
I never had a passion for entrepreneurship, to be honest with you, or any interest. I had bills that needed to be paid and another job had fired me. I was scared, stressed, and pressed for cash and I only had a few weeks. Like a photo, I developed in the dark, the darkest moments and times of my life are what pushed me to progress into the woman I am today. It’s so inspiring today to look at me and see the finished product but once upon a time, it was just straight desperation. I’m passionate about my sanity peace and happiness and I feel like what interested me was the authority over my life and the situations I got myself into being able to get myself out of.

What inspired the Wealthy College Kid brand?
I couldn’t think of a name to save my life, so I ended up looking in the mirror and trying to describe what I am Vs what I was basically at the time I was a broke college kid and I didn’t want to be rich because the word rich just seems short term to me. Wealth seemed like a lifetime difference in income so I described future me as a wealthy college kid.

You have navigated the workforce and entered entrepreneurship while staying true to yourself. What has been the biggest challenge thus far in your entrepreneurship journey?
Honestly maintaining social skills it’s easy for me to get consumed with texting and typing rather than using my words to communicate in real life. I’ve always struggled using my words to express my emotions my feelings in real life because I’m spending so much time online. And understanding money management and taxes making sure I do everything by the book and correctly.

What did your years in the workforce teach you about entrepreneurship and running your own business?
My workforce was serving captain and coke to beg for 20$ tips before happy hour ended, to be frank with you. But what it did teach me was presentation I’m very camera friendly and well-spoken on camera and in interviews, I think that played a part.

What tips do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own companies?
Consistency is the best tip because you can outlast the competition you can learn so much from trying everything possible and putting as much as you can in with your time before you ever must spend money.

What would you say is the key to longevity in entrepreneurship?
Consistency and the pure drive of having a work ethic.

What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles?
My definition of a woman who hustles is a woman who carries herself at the highest level possible while maintaining income-producing productivity.

Social media Handles: Website: http://www.wealthycollegekid.com
Www.Instagram.com/christiannahurt

Queen Latifah: The Queen On and Off Camera

Posted in New OnlineTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment
CBS.COM

Dana Elaine Owens who is better known as Queen Latifah has made quite the impact not only in Hollywood but to millions of women of color. Personally, I don’t remember a show, movie, or real-life interview of hers where I wasn’t left thinking “I wish I was as confident as her”.
Allegedly, her nickname “Latifah” was given to her at the age of 8 by her Muslim cousin, which means “delicate and sensitive” in Arabic.

This is clearly different than the characters she played or even how she is in real life. This isn’t to say that it’s not true. The way I see it is at some point in her life she was perceived as being “delicate and sensitive” and looking for those role models who could inspire her. She grew up to become an inspiration herself, to millions and broke barriers for women of color in the entertainment industry.
Right now, she is starring in this amazing show called “The Equalizer” and not only is she lighting up the TV with explosive female empowerment she is working alongside her female co-star Liza Lapira who is equally as empowering. This show screams empowering, motivating, and bada**. I highly recommend you watch it.
In 2021, Queen Latifah received “The Lifetime Achievement Award” at the BET awards and during her speech said, ”Together we stand stronger than when we tear each other apart”. Society has this way of having women compete against each other instead of raising each other up. Anytime I see Queen Latifah in interviews she exudes this powerful and empowering energy that makes women feel like we can work together to build a better future. As women in business, we face struggle after struggle to keep them going and thriving. We need to work together by forming relationships with others in and out of our business niche.
Queen Latifah continues to empower with her words, her shows, and her movies. If you haven’t seen much of her work then now is time to catch up. This is the time more than ever to feel courageous, empowered, and like a BOSS!


There is no one like her and remember there is no one like you!

Sources:
Biography.com

Kurdish Top Model Zarya Azadi, taking the Fashion Industry by Storm

Posted in Pretty Cover StoriesTagged , , Leave a comment

Zarya Azadi is an entrepreneur, model, and activist. She is the only working Kurdish Top Model walking runway show worldwide. Writing history for being the first of her kind published in magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire to name a few. With a height of 6ft, she is currently the tallest Kurdish model on the runway.

Zarya studied Management at Oxford Brookes University and decided to use fashion as a platform to raise awareness on social causes as she too belongs to an ethnic minority group, the Ezidis who was genocide by ISIS in 2014.

After several years of social media, Zarya decided to return and started her own projects also highlighting racism and exploitation in the industry. Zarya attended Jimmy Choo’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the World Fashion Week in Paris and got inspired. She is an ambassador for NGO Mundo Cooperate and Co-founder of Girlup Kurdistan, a United Nations Foundation Initiative.

In 2020 she launched her campaign, “Evolve Your Heritage” and published her editorial shoot “Red Ribbon” in various magazines. One of Zarya’s passions is representing Kurdish art and culture within the fashion and creating “The Hidden Beauty of Kurdistan” working with Kurdish designers.

This year she showcased her own collection in collaboration with Carat23 during London Fashion Week. Zarya Azadi is a well-established ambassador and cooperates partners with the Spanish NGO Mundo Cooperate. For years, she has immensely contributed to fighting against female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and forced marriage. Zarya’s initiative to eradicate fights against domestic violence and gender equality issues is reflected in her work through fashion walk in Milan, London, Paris, NY, LA, and Berlin.

She recently launched a new campaign, “Evolve Your Heritage,” to shed old traditions and customs that hinder the development of women and young girls. Apart from being a driven philanthropist, she is also a thriving co-founder of Girl Up Kurdistan, a women-driven business, that empowers women to be independent and provide for their families.

Her dedication and resilience have earned her a worldwide reputation that continues to make strides in her field. Currently, she is promoting the AZADI clothing line by Brusk Label in cooperation with the orphanage, Our Bridge e.V. in Khanke in Kurdistan. Part of the sales will be donated to the Ezidi orphans who lost their parents during the genocide by ISIS in 2014. www.zaryaazadi.com 

You are the only working Kurdish Top Model walking runway show worldwide. Tell us about your experience.

I have been doing modeling since I was a teenager. Over the years when attending international shows I have not once met another Kurdish model, male or female, walking the catwalk with me. I have worked with creative people from all around the world and it was and still is a great experience learning about different cultures and ethnicities. I have made some really good friendships over the years with people from the fashion industry. Most of them never heard much about my heritage and this was a reason for me to use the fashion industry to highlight my art and culture. 

You have been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire. What does this mean to you?

Being featured in these big magazines makes me proud of myself. I have worked with a great team in Paris during Paris Fashion Week this year and I am grateful for the opportunity. This allows me to speak about the lack of representation of Kurdish creatives in the fashion industry or at least to be identified as such. Me being featured in all these magazines was history-making and it shows the hard work that I have put in over the years. 

Where do you see your career in 2022? 

This year has already been a great start for me. I attended the fashion shows in London, Paris, Rotterdam, and Berlin and met some great new people talking about new ideas for the future. I worked with different photographers in each city for different photo shoots. I cannot wait to publish all my images soon. Me being featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, etc. was a great start for 2022 already. Of course, I would like to be featured in more magazines and preferably on the covers of the mentioned above. Who does not like to be covered in Vogue magazine (laughs)? 

The main reason for me to be able to achieve all that is to show representation and to raise awareness. I have been asked about doing acting roles in the past. I have never done anything in that field, but I would consider this if the opportunity would arise. 

What designers impress you the most?

There are so many beautiful and talented designers worldwide that it would be difficult to just name a few. I have worked with a lot of emerging designers over the years as well and the level of quality of their work is just impressive. This too is underrepresented in my opinion. I love to work with designers that use their creative work to highlight their culture. I do believe in the work of designers when using other cultures to highlight the beauty of that culture, this is called cultural appreciation, however, I do not support the cultural appropriation of some other designers. Be original but also respectful about the sources from which you get inspired. 

 What inspired you to do your own fashion collection to showcase during London Fashion Week at Fashion Finest in Feb 2022? 

Since I was preparing for a Kurdish Fashion Show in 2021, I got to work with a lot of talented Kurdish fashion designers. I had already created my own collection “Red Ribbon” to showcase equality for women and got more inspired to create a different collection to combine traditional Kurdish fabrics and patterns with modern style. I chose Kurdish colors, patterns, and style so it would look modern and new on the catwalk. I used a Kurdish headpiece for my showstopper dress that got the audience interested in my heritage. I also collaborated with the Dutch handbag designer Carat23 and added the newest styles of ‘the diamond, the rock, and the baguette’ handbags to my collection. Please have a look for yourself (smiles). 

Fashion Finest Link: https://www.fashionsfinest.com/gallery/item/6371-carat23-zarya-azadi-feb-2022 

Carat23 Link: https://www.carat23.com 

Zarya Azadi Link: https://www.zaryaazadi.com 

You are an activist against domestic violence and gender

equality issues. Tell us about your work. 

During the pandemic, gender equality issues against women were rising around the world. It was very unfortunate that the lockdowns started in March 2020 just after I had launched my campaign “Evolve Your Heritage” in February 2020 during London Fashion Week. I was using my creative work to raise awareness of these social causes in cooperation with the Spanish NGO Mundo Cooperate. 

Who would you like to work with in 2022? 

I would like to work with a lot of brands in the industry. If it had to narrow it down to the top five it would be brands like L’Oreal, Chanel, Burberry, Victoria’s Secret, and Cartier. I would love to get the opportunity to show some representation within the bigger fashion market as representation matters. 

Instagram: @zaryaazadi

Website:www.zaryaazadi.com

Photo Courtesy of Parlemeraude Photography
Photo Courtesy of Parlemeraude Photography

A Story of Hope: Meet Domo Jones

Posted in New OnlineTagged Leave a comment

Dōmo is a warrior who has experienced several obstacles: a walker, and a leg brace to assist in walking. After dealing with numerous surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, she wanted to target the disabled community by using her personal journey to show them THEY CAN BREAK THE STIGMA BEYOND OUR CONDITIONS! She has become a Master Certified Disability Confidence Coach, 2x Self-Published Author with three businesses, and in Aug 2021, she became the host of the very first disability talk show hosted by someone with a disability called “One Billion Brave”!

Her recent business “KnuYou Services” stemmed from all the groundwork she learned from her businesses now helping new small businesses with the custom basics of promoting their brands abroad. Once she realized she had a purpose, no hindrance could stop her until it manifests! You can’t tell her it can’t be done because she’s ACTUALLY doing it!!

What Inspired your start in entrepreneurship?
having a disability, we’re often viewed as persons who “can’t do” or “limited”, well I wanted to break that stigma. I saw my physical lack and mental and used what I could do and rocked with it.

What obstacles have you had to overcome to get where you are today?
I’d say, not really knowing how my body feels day to day. I have days where I have a boatload of energy, able to get stuff done. Then I have days where my body completely shuts down and all I have the strength to do is open my eyes.

What message of hope do you have for upcoming entrepreneurs?
don’t compare your gift to someone else. Your gift and talents are designed just for you and someone is waiting for you to do what you do because what you do is what they need.

What are your top 3 go-to songs for motivation to keep going after your goals?
“I’m Alive” by Richard Tolbert Jr., “Focused” by Tj Walker, “Mercy” by “IamSon

What is your definition of a pretty woman who hustles?
a woman that chooses to set goals and reach for them no matter how things look in front of you.

Follow Domo’s journey by connecting with her online at THEDOMOJONES.COM

A Story of Hope: Meet Shacarra Palmer

Posted in New OnlineTagged Leave a comment

Shacarra Palmer founded the Never Cry Alone Foundation after experiencing two consecutive perinatal child losses in 2016 and 2019.

In 2016, Shacarra Palmer went through some of the darkest times in her life when she lost her first baby. For two years, she struggled with grieving and suffered in silence because she felt alone in her trauma.

In 2018, she decided to seek help from God and a mentor, a decision that helped her find release from the pain and begin her healing process.

Shacarra Palmer suffered another loss in 2019, but this time, she was able to grieve healthily and recover from the loss.

In April 2020, she was a part of a business cohort whose assignment for that quarter was to touch lives through an anthology book. It was God who gave her the subject of infant loss. As she began what she thought was just a project she discovered how much she desired to share her story and to help women who have similar experiences find their healing through the power and grace of Jesus Christ.

Now, she is helping women all over the world deal with the pains and trauma of infant loss through her foundation. gain faith and hope from reading the accounts of other women who have experienced infant loss and have gone on to have their rainbow babies.

What Inspired your start in entrepreneurship? 

My journey to healing after pregnancy loss is what inspired me to start my 501c3 Never Cry Alone. After losing my first child to stillbirth, I did not grieve in a healthy way which caused me to lash out, to find other ways to numb the pain that led me into a deep depressive state that I did not even know I was in until I got better. Once I begin to heal and become a better me after loss, I did not want any other angel mom to have to experience what I experienced or more. Grieving is important but healthy grieving is necessary.

What obstacles have you had to overcome to get where you are today?

Depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, not being understood 

What are your top 3 go-to songs for motivation to keep going after your goals?

T.I. Motivation

Maverick City- Promises

Kevin LeVar- I will Restore

What is your definition of a pretty woman who hustles?

A pretty woman who hustles is a boss who is doing everything that God has given her with beauty and Grace. A woman who is able to take the vision and with God, faith, resilience, and perseverance she makes it come to fruition and make it look easy. 

Social Media Handles

Instagram: shacarramonet

Instagram: nevercryalone 

Facebook: Shacarra Monet

Facebook: Never Cry Alone

Website: www.nevercryalone.org

You Are Never “Too Old”

Posted in New OnlineTagged , , , , Leave a comment

Netflix Show: Grace & Frankie * spoilers ahead *

I have been a huge fan of this show since day one and although it has officially come to an end, the impact this show has had will never fade. The characters, played by Lily Tomlin (Frankie) and Jane Fonda (Grace), have been thrown a curveball after both women are left by their husbands after 40 years of marriage. They have to figure out how to make a steady stream of income but also have to rediscover the people that they are individuals, outside of their marriages. The Emmy nominated series ran for 7 seasons and in the funniest, most empowering way, it hit the nail on the head in terms of what people fear the most about aging.

For some reason, society seems to give women a timeline for just about every milestone in life. There comes a time when we start to feel the pressure to get married, have a baby, and have a solid career plan.

So what do you do after your 40-year marriage falls apart? You befriend the annoying woman who you wouldn’t have guessed you would ever be friends with and start not one but two companies with her. Grace and Frankie give a middle finger to anyone who doubts them or stands in their way. They embrace their age with confidence and use it while working in their companies. Grace even had a very successful business before the divorce but ended up handing over the reins to one of her daughters. This was not an easy thing to do because she was once the face of the products but when her daughter took over she immediately wanted to remove her mother from the packaging.

Throughout the seasons, Grace and Frankie are both seen through some very difficult times especially in trying to reach their financial goals with their companies. I think we all can find a lesson or two in this series when it comes to working on our businesses. Nothing happens overnight and we can’t be sure of what life has in store for us. We can’t be concerned about reaching milestones at a certain point; flowers take time to bloom. No matter what age we are, it is never too late to follow our dreams and I hope one day I have the confidence and personality these two women have.

Wellness, Fitness and Fitcations with Gabrielle Mazar

Posted in Pretty FeaturesTagged Leave a comment

With over 15 years in the fitness industry, Gabi’s journey is one of entrepreneurship, dedication, and triumph – from her early years interning back in 2007, to becoming an active trainer, and opening up a gym in 2012 – Health Body Works in Tempe, AZ – Gabi was able to build up a loyal client base tripling her business. With business booming, she purchased another gym, Pilates Tempe in 2019 and, started yet another company that combined her love for both fitness and travel in the same year. The new venture, Destination Fitcations.

Destination Fitcations is a worry-free, stress-free, all-inclusive luxurious vacation for travelers who love to stay active. Destination Fitcations allows the opportunity for clients to experience the comfort of an all-planned out, and an unforgettable pampered trip to exotic places where one can go and recharge, return home and not feel the need for another vacation after the vacation.

Every year, Destination Fitcations offers an experience like no other. A new exquisite location is carefully vetted to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience. From pristine beaches surrounded by lush greenery, high-end resorts, delightful meals, and breathtaking adventures such as hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, excursions, yoga, and massages…these are just a few of the amazing features planned for an epic exotic getaway.

Gabi’s vision is to make fitness fun again but also develop and maintain sustainable self-care practices for her clients. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, she realized how important it is to encourage each individual on their health journey, as they work towards living better lifestyles,

“We are all made differently. Every ‘body’ is different. We all have different body types, differently-abled in their own beautiful makeup, and we should see fitness and nutrition not as an unrealistic factor to attain but one to live out and enjoy.

Gabi is a rare breed of a trainer who truly cares about every one of her clients. Gabi’s passion is helping people live their best possible lives. Watching her clients flourish in life beyond their physical health is an especially personal and professional fulfilling satisfaction Gabi gets to enjoy regularly.

When did you realize you held a passion for fitness and wellness?

I have always loved fitness and have been around it my entire life, but it wasn’t until college that I realized I was truly passionate about it and considered it as a career. I was pre-business at ASU and was really lost. I took a semester off to take a mental break as well as use the time to do things I enjoyed. Exercise, nutrition, and wellness piqued my interest and I have never looked back since.

With over 15 years in the fitness industry, what has been the most rewarding and challenging part of your journey?

 The most rewarding part of the last 15 years would have to be the impact on people that I never expected. Even as clients leave you, move, or move on, I have had so many people reach out to me and tell me that I made an impact on them. You know your clients in their most vulnerable times and the happiest of times but when they tell you that something you said or did really stuck with them, as trivial as I may have thought it was, it meant something to them. That is priceless. 

As far as the most challenging part of my journey…it would have to be the up and downs of being an entrepreneur. There are many times you want to give up or doubt yourself and your abilities. It isn’t easy running your own business, especially in the beginning. There are no guarantees, no benefits, and no personal hours because you are working all the time. But at the end of the day, all your hard work is worth it. Each challenge teaches you a lesson and pushes you to grow personally and professionally. 

As a successful entrepreneur, what message do you hope women walk away with?

 Each industry has its challenges. Many are very male-dominated, mine included, and we can sometimes lose our voice. I hope that women can find a voice and speak up, keep pushing, and don’t let little failures stop them from achieving their dreams. We need to be each other’s cheerleaders and lift each other up. 

What can women expect when joining Destination Fitcations, describe the experience?

When joining one of my fitcations, you not only have an all-inclusive luxury vacation that is planned out for you, but you have the opportunity to share it with like-minded people. Each destination is carefully selected to be safe, beautiful, and a vacation your dreams are made of. Our next fitcation to Nicaragua is at a beautiful luxury ecolodge with private pools, ocean views, gourmet food is grown right on the property, active excursions, and fitness classes that are catered to you while overlooking the beach. 

What’s next for Gabrielle Mazar?

The world is my oyster! I hope to be able to bring the greatest experiences to people ready to take on the world. I also would love to expand my Pilates studio and be able to bring fitness and Pilates to as many people as I can. 

Connect with Gabi and explore your fitcation experience by visiting http://www.destinationfitcations.com

Summer looks on the GO…

Posted in New OnlineTagged Leave a comment

Stylish and free is the way to be!

Are you thinking of going Natural? Women all over the world are tapping into their inner beauty and doing the BIG CHOP ! 

The saying is “Once a woman cuts her hair, that’s how you’ll know she is ready to change her life”.

Are you ready for change? Ready to be free? Ready to let go of the past? Cutting off all dead ends is symbolic to all those things. This summer’s new look should be free and lightweight. Maybe an updo or ponytail will suit you. 

A protective braiding style will also help maintain your hair growth. And will last for a month or two for those that just want to get up and go. Very low maintenance 

Hair care is very essential to every woman and sometimes it can be a drag trying to figure out what styles to get. Whether you choose to do the big chop or rock some stylish braids you’ll be sure to keep cool.