The pressure of post-grad thoughts were at an all-time high my senior year of college. I remember spending nights in the library after working two jobs, singing the legendary words of Lauryn Hill, “it could all be so simple,” and personalizing it by adding “but I rather make it hard.” My interests couldn’t be confined to just one profession. I prayed every night that my public relations studies and experience would strengthen my abilities to pursue them all. Now here I am, juggling three of my dreams, CEO of a PR Agency, Master Stylist/Owner of Milan the Salon, and Founder of Self-Care catered by Styles By Milan (SCCSBM).

 

After taking my first public relations class in undergrad, I was relieved to learn that a non-stop rotation of responsibilities are completely normal for this industry. To me that meant I’d found my home. The following semester, I became the owner and stylist of Styles By Milan LLC. Styles By Milan started out of my mother’s living room junior year of high school, providing non-chemical hair services. By my senior year of college, my business had relocated into the Image Enhancement Center on Broad Street and expanded into a natural hair and lash extension styling company. After I realized how capable I was of achieving what I put my mind to, my dreams took over my life. My cosmetic business Styles By Milan, grew into an esteem-building charity organization for youth in local communities by 2019.

 

wanting to be

 

I wanted to move to Los Angeles to work for a beauty PR firm, once I earned my degree. I thought as I matured in the world of beauty PR, I would continue my part-time career as a cosmetologist and lash technician. I planned to use that secondary income as investments for my now PR agency and salon. The vision has always been for my PR agency to cater to women. I wanted my salon to be housed on the lobby level of the agency building, offering various spa services, and my businesses to sponsor the now nationwide programs and events of SCCSBM.

 

My Public Relations studies have allowed me to expand my businesses far beyond the vision I chased in cosmetology school when I was 15 or even the plans I made during my first senior year at VCU. It wasn't until after my second senior year did I find my true path. I transferred to VSU, dropped all my businesses, and moved to New York. That sacrificing move helped me navigate my dreams and see through the calculated risks of facing my fears.  

 

I can’t count how many leaps of faith it took to get here 10 years later, but I’m grateful to say my dreams came true. I've connected with people I admired growing up and even made a few of them my clients. I have the luxury of working on the total image of my clients, their cosmetic appearance, professional reputation, surround them with like minds, and put them in influential positions with youth.

 

I knew that my future as a PR professional would release the pressure of college confusion. The biggest goal right now is to make sure more dreams in this world come true, especially those of the youth growing up in Petersburg, Virginia, where I grew up. Once I am satisfied with Petersburg’s youth progression, I’ll be able to say I’ve fulfilled the cravings of my dreams.

 

everything I am today.