YOU ARE Women's History
Studies show that being Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) basically means living with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused not only by one's lived experiences but also by our ancestors' experiences. When you couple this with societal injustice, a person's habits, practices, behaviors, perspectives, and fears are deeply affected. This Women's History Month, we are highlighting Colored Girl stories of trauma, adversity, perseverance & resilience to unite the BIWOC community, heal us from our traumas, and reshape the narratives BIWOC was taught to believe.
Through our new logo reveal and the “You Are” campaign launching on March 8, 2021; International Women’s Day, our goal is for girls and women to believe that truly, you are enough, you are worthy, you are brilliant, and that your life matters and the world needs you.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
You are going to make it and on your own terms. Get out of your head and get after it!
I was born into a middle class black family in Africa, living in Botswana where my parents worked as lawyers. We were a family of 5 with a dog called Rocky. All that changed on 13 September 2001 when my mother, 2 little brothers and our nanny were murdered by my uncle. My world fell apart alongside millions affected by the collapse of the Twin Towers. Twenty years later, I am a lawyer, Ivy-League graduate and a tech startup founder living in NYC. Mine is my story of resilience and rebuilding from ruins which is very relevant right now as millions of lives have been upended by death, loss and sudden changes. It also comes a time of deep mistrust, truth seeking and deeper understanding. I am a person that survived, is figuring out how to thrive and eventually I want to nourish others. I am grateful for my faith and community that saw me through the challenges. I have had mountaintop experiences and deep valleys of loss, and God has journeyed with me through them all.
Love who you are, there’s no one like you, the rest will fall into place.
I am daughter of parents that met in the army from 2 very different worlds. I am constantly navigating through the world trying to find my place. I come from 2 cultures, both beautiful in so many ways. They often leave me wanting more from both, allowing me to explore where I fit in. My mother is black and my father is Ecuadorian. I am a mother. I was chosen my an amazing little boy I get to share my journey with. I enjoy writing most. Yoga everyday and spreading love unconditionally.
You Are Worthy
I am a Dominican Afro-Latina with a masters in higher education administration. Created my IG with my daughter to help her embrace her natural hair as I did not growing up. In 2016 I lost my mom to Alzheimer’s, in 2017 I lost my 40 year old brother suddenly and 2018 I lost my other younger brother from an asthma attack that was really a natural Suicide as he could not handle the others passing. So I lost my family in a period of 36 months. I fell into clinics depression, anorexia and suicidal ideation. I was hospitalized but miraculously and due to my 2 adult children and husband, and medication, was able to overcome it and lead a functioning life. Never thought I would know the true meaning of depression like I do until my experiences.
Embrace everything that you are.
After many years of suppression in the entertainment business I feel like I am at a point in my career where I can share some of my experiences .At one point I had to change my last name .I felt like I wasn’t a certain esthetic that was excepted and hid my heritage in order to make a living as an artist at one point . I would like the fact that I am indigenous and Hispanic to be validate just as much as every other part of me . It’s hard enough as a woman in the industry .
You are beautiful. You are exotic. You are smart. You are a queen.
I was born in West Africa, Senegal and came to the US when I was six. I was bullied very badly because of my really dark complexion. Ive had people make jokes , calling me dirty, and ugly...just being very hostile. I had to learn by myself to love the skin I am in. Also I am muslim so I have dealt with hate crimes. I remember being 11 or 12, walking outside with my hijab on and having a rock thrown at me. It was very traumatizing and I was so confused. I love who I now, and especially my skin. And I want others that look like me to love who they are.
You are an example
I am a black, single mother to four beautiful daughters living in Brooklyn, NY. My oldest is a 14 year old young woman, my second is 12 and already strong and I have two twin daughters who are 7 and more fun than I could ever imagine. I married young at only 22 years old to a man that could only be described as a great guy and the father of my beautiful girls. We met in high school and quickly became friends. After that, we enrolled in college and that’s where our love truly started to flourish. Four years went by fast but we started a wonderful life together. I was College Admin and he was an officer for the NYPD. Married, a walk up in Brooklyn and a baby on the way and even a poodle. Baby number two came and a new home border-lining of Queens and Brooklyn. Couldn't go too far, I'm a Brooklyn girl. Two cars in the driveway, great jobs and happily married... One evening with a handful of other small situations occurring before this particular night a "girlfriend" calls me to say that they saw my husband kissing another man at a gay bar. With one phone call my entire life changed. To make matters worse, Hurricane devastated New York. What I though was a fairytale was actually a covert operation and I was bait. However faith is funny... I believed him when he said “No, I love you and our family. We can make this work.” I got pregnant with twins and there was that great guy again, reassuring me that everything was going to be ok. Unfortunately, it was short lived. Approximately 10 month went by to be honest the twins birthday is October 22nd and he was gone in spirt by the 31st. My life took a turn to what I thought was the worst, two new born babies, healing from a c section and hysterectomy. Two school age girls who only really understood our family dynamic and my new found life. The Husband and man I knew died. He was reborn and forgot his past. He stop seeing our children became aggressive verbally and stop providing for our family. He wanted us out of our home, he claim he couldn't provide unless he rented it out from one scheme to the next … I made up my mine to grab peace, as much as I could and I left to struggle even more. However, with love and the support of my mother we began to smile again! It’s not easy and life never is but it’s ruff to live someones struggle when you started out as friends and only wanted to love and be loved… but as he always says im the lucky one… One day I will believe that in totality. But for now I’m running the race in Brooklyn of being a women, mom and a Brooklyn NY kinda lady! The brief version. Cause he’s not a Cop anymore and our house was sold. I didn’t see and ounce of money from that sale and I don’t get child support. But my house is nicked name the Sorority House and I have pledge to be the best den mother ever!
You are more than enough
I am a 24-year-old, black woman evolving in a society where it’s still normal for a woman, to be the first of her kind. I’ve always created space to give a voice to the voiceless, even if I struggled to find my own voice at the time. I educate, I create and my total wellness comes from inspiring others. While imposter syndrome sometimes occupies space within my life, it cannot control me. I’m still learning and unlearning, and hope to be a vessel for anyone that Wants to see change but doesn’t have the blueprint. I want to constantly remind them that they are the blueprint.
You are enough just by being you
I'm a girl who dealt with a lot and had to be courageous enough to learn to start to love herself.
You are Beautiful
I am a 36 year old, newly business owner. I started a non profit for young girls because I have had a desire to help assist them in life, as I have had some privilege to receive. I come from a abusive household where my siblings and I had to see my father abuse my mother and it was hard. It did a lot of trauma to me. Although I have had that experience, I turned the negative into positive and try my best to always mentor and assist other women with my testimony to be greater than anything they have endured. In the past I have encountered countless toxic situations because I didn’t understand my worth and my own value, that’s why I felt the need to start a program for young women. I’m thankful for the story that lives in me that I get to share, sometimes daily to overcome.
You are Hard on yourself now but will basque in your greatness later
I’m a Black cosmetic chemist seeking to redefine what it means to be a scientist. Traditionally scientist are depicted as older white men with gray hair. I stand as a testament that a scientist can also be a first generation woman who was always a girly nerd. My parent immigrated from Haiti to create a better life for their family and it is my goal to always be grounded in that. I’m carving out my own lane in beauty that many before me didn’t have access to. In sharing my story I truly hope to light a fire in the next generation of scientist who can then see themselves in me.
You are more than enough
I’m 25 years old. I come from Puerto Rican and Filipino parents. I grew up in an extremely poor and filthy environment where my mother was hyper focused on education but careless about what our home looked like. I lived with my mother and two brothers in a studio apartment full of hoarded items. My mom was the biggest hoarder ever! She could be on the show. You literally couldn’t see the floor. We had no cable TV, no internet. My father randomly disappeared at the age of 12 which my family until this day refuses to acknowledge or talk about. As a result, this has distanced all of us from each other because no one wants to face their own pains about this occurrence. I became a psychotherapist at age 22 after getting my master’s degree in social work. During this time is when I began my healing journey. Until now, I’m uncovering the untruths and pains I’ve told myself growing up.
You are Not a martyr and true love doesn’t require you to endure trauma or pain. You are loved and you deserve love that is aligned with the highest version of yourself
I am a champion for Black women and marketing executive. I believe we are all the architects of our own happiness. I’ve navigated through an abusive relationship and the subsequent residual trauma. I’m now in a space where I’m only allowing abundance and joy in my life. I’m happy, I’m loved and I’m grateful for this beautiful life I’m currently building.
You are Enough
I am an intro/extrovert who, while becoming myself fully, is also a Dance/Movement Therapist. I became a therapist so I could serve those whose heartbreak resembles my own. Most recently, I became free from the internal bondage of sexual abuse and assault, here is my story.
You are Loved
I am a Trinidad-bred woman who was taught to be strong from young but didn't know until now what strength means. I was afraid of the word and wondered why it was just me that had to be strong. At a young age, I saw parts of my dad's family batter him and ridicule him. He protected me from them yet did not show express the hurt or emotion associated with what they did until I became an adult. Then I was forced to become an adult before time after four men attacked my mother, sister and I one night. They almost killed my mom in front of me and as I tried to save her, came for me and tried to kidnap me. My mom fought for me despite the pain she was in at that moment and without that fight, I don't know where I'd be right now. It was a time in my life that I suppressed for a long time but now I treat it as the foundation to my strength, because I am not afraid of that word anymore.
You are unique and smart
I was harshly bullied growing up. My hair, my weight. It's still hard getting over till this day. One thing I was bullied about was my hair. It was so big that my teachers would put me in the back of the classroom. Classmates would pull it, put things in my hair, call it a wig, and constantly tell me to get a relaxer. I just wanted to be left alone so I begged my mom to relax my hair around 13 thinking it solved all my life issues. Fast forward to adulthood I am now natural again and after learning about how my hair behaves and the beauty of it I became a licensed cosmetologist to educate and style others so no one would feel insecure about their natural hair.
You are open to change
I am the proud owner of Baddie Glow Co. which is a all natural and handmade skincare line. We are Woman and Black owned businesses in Brooklyn, NY. I would love to share my story with you and the world. I am hoping I leave more people inspired to do what makes them happy and to win! I am a striving entrepreneur , full time! I am a single mom to a little boy named Hendrix Lee. I am a Domestic Violence survivor and advocate . Along with so many other businesses up my sleeve that is attributing to a steady income in other to provide. I was a officer for the NYPD for 5 years and decided to resign and choose happiness ! That being said I would be able to love and nurture my now 8 year old and also my business. I have accomplished making more money having my business then working for the city ! With having Faith in God and my self I am ready to inspire and help others in my same situation. I would love to tell you more of my story ! It is amazing ! I choose to reach out to your news crew because as a Black women in this world sometimes we lose our voices and are not heard! I want to have a bigger brand and audience. I would love to empower another Woman!
You are Smart
I am a 32 year old African American female who deals with depression and anxiety while trying to make my mark in the fashion world. I work as a merchandise coordinator is a white washed industry that falsely prides itself on being inclusive. I have ideas, concepts and big goals. I want to create a space where women of color can share ideas and concepts in the fashion world. I ultimate goal is to have my own production team and hire people that look like me!
Thank you to our amazing team that helped make this campaign shoot a success:
Creative Director: Tori Elizabeth
Photographer: Xiana Gutierrez
Make-up Artist: Lily Morales
Hair: Ashley Lee
Videographer: Eson Jenkins