Today we’d like to introduce you to Samoya Mason.
Samoya, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I warmly welcome you to my blog! I’m originally from Chicago, Illinois and I was raised in the big city, with the small town feel, of Arlington, Texas.
I am a recent graduate of the University of North Texas. I received my Bachelor’s degree from the Sue & Frank Mayborn School of Journalism in Strategic Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Marketing.
I learned my strengths and capabilities at an early age. I learned I am a natural-born leader and have a true passion for giving back to others. I spent five years working and volunteering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington, Lake Dallas, and Denton. I currently volunteer as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and I am currently a 6th grade English, Language Arts & Writing teacher.
As the self-proclaimed “professional intern,” I started off my journey as an intern for an online radio show based in Grand Prairie, Texas. I was the host of my own weekly celebrity ‘gossip’ report, ” The Hollywood Sweets.” Shortly after I was blessed with the opportunity (after simply responding to a Tweet) to intern with Ricky Smiley and his company, Breakwind Entertainment. I interned with Breakwind until they relocated to Atlanta, Georgia.
After they relocated I refocused and dedicated all of my attention to completing my degree. A friend referred me to Sarah and Dana Badran, for a position with the number one independent art organization in Dallas, RAW: Dallas. I started as an intern and successfully moved to the position of the Public Relations Coordinator for the organization. It was an AMAZING two and a half years of experience. And then BOOM! The organization relocated their Dallas location and team to Los Angeles, California.
During my last few semesters in college, I started my own consulting and events company, Visionary Minds Consulting. Visionary Minds Consulting teamed up with Blogger, Stylist and UNT Alumn, Kristen Washington – Scott of Kristyles by Kristen. In December of 2015, we produced what would be our first of several fashion shows. Over the next two years, we joined forces and produced two more fashion shows: Seven Days In Style Soiree and The Influence: Summer 17 Vibes Fashion Show.
After a lifetime of dreaming, I finally decided to take all of my experiences, energy, and effort to follow my own dreams. So, here I am, with the birth of my first blog (child), Style, Beauty, and Grace.
My mission with the blog is to share my life experiences with the purpose of empowering other women to follow their dreams. I want to encourage others to live fabulously, to be bold and to be courageous in everything that they do. I want to inspire other women and anyone that my words touch, to create the life they truly desire and to live in Style, Beauty, and Grace!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not! The struggles have each been a unique lesson of their own during the journey.
I’ve struggled with understanding that not everyone’s intentions are pure. I was innocently immersed in the industry fairly quickly, knowing little to none about how things really worked. I had to quickly learn that some people only wanted to be around me because of who they thought I knew and what I could be potentially done for them.
I financially struggled, also. Like anything else you have to prove that you’re worth the big bucks. I was literally the “professional intern.” I did any and everything that allowed me to get first-hand experience… and I did it all for free.
I struggled with understanding that you don’t have to say “yes” to everything that everyone asks you. I was so eager to get experience under my belt that I jumped at any and every opportunity that came my way. I learned that people will talk a good game but when it comes down to it they don’t know what they’re doing either. As a result, I struggled through my situations that I was only in because I didn’t take the time to think things through. As an entrepreneur, the process, standards, professionalism all look different to the next person. Part of coming out of the struggle is establishing your own value, your own code of ethics. Learning that you get to determine who and what you give your time to.
Style, Beauty & Grace Blog – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a blogger and lifestyle and beauty influencer at Stylebeautyandgrace.com.
I use my blog and the content I post to motivate and encourage others to live their best life! I want women to take risks, to follow their dreams, to be completely content with being themselves. I remind women to feel good about themselves and inside and out.
I’m known for being transparent, honest and outspoken. I talk about the things that people don’t want to talk about. I say things that make people want to pull up a seat at the table and keep the conversation going.
I’m most proud of taking the time to work on myself first so that I can be a living testimony of everything that I talk about. In anything that I do, I start with love and passion. Before I started my blog, I spent a lot of time by myself with my thoughts, with my own heart, and with God. I wanted to make sure that I was whole and that I was being authentic in everything that I posted on my blog.
I am also most proud that I started my blog and have continued without a concrete plan. I mean I planned the basics, content, posts, social media etc. But do I have a solid plan of how the next 6 months of this process will go? No. I’m a calculated risk taker. I usually know where I’m going, how I’m going to get them and about where I’ll end up with everything that I do. With my blog I don’t have any plans, I just made the decision that it was time for my voice to be heard.
I think Jay-Z said it best, “I can survive on any MLK Boulevard.” I’m a chameleon. I speak intentionally and I lead with a heart in all things that I do. I can hold a conversation with anyone, about anything. I make people pay attention and that’s a skill that not everyone possesses. Being able to not only capture other people’s minds but also their hearts is what makes me and what I write about different from most people.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I believe that life has many defining moments and it would be difficult to pinpoint just one that I’m most proud of. If I could be proud of anything it would be finding victory in the previous chapter of my life.
The previous chapter that I just went through was composed of so many defining moments that have truly formed me into the woman I am right now.
I lost people closest to me, I failed at things, I let fear and insecurities stand in my way of becoming who I am supposed to be. I even allowed negativity and emotions to rule me at one point.
I’m proud of myself for being resilient and acknowledging that those things didn’t define me. They were only an obstacle to overcome in the time of trial. Looking back on it all I see it all as a triumph… And I am the proudest of that perspective.
Contact Info:
- Website: stylebeautyandgrace.com
- Email: stylebeautyandgrace@gmail.com
- Instagram: stylebeautyandgrace
- Facebook: styleabeautyandgrace
Image Credit:
Marrica Evans
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