We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jade Parks. Check out our conversation below.
Jade, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
A couple of months ago, God told me to start a coffee business. I thought I was hearing things. I said to myself, “That’s crazy, Jade. That can’t be God.” I’m a bona fide coffee-holic. It’s one of my family’s favorite pastimes, but I knew NOTHING about the coffee business itself. When I went into my prayer time, I asked the Lord if He told me to start a coffee company. I didn’t hear anything right away. A few days later, I was driving down the street, and I heard the word “overflow.” I thought, “That would be a dope name for a coffee company!” That wasn’t it. He said something different this time. I heard, “Fill My Cup.” He gave me a scripture in the Bible from the Book of Psalms. It was in chapter 23, verse 5, it reads, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In that moment, a light bulb came on. It made perfect sense. A coffee company that encouraged people to allow God to fill their spiritual cups while they filled their mugs with coffee. I got excited. I didn’t really have a concept, so I began doing some research. I decided to start offering small batch-style bags of ground coffee. I built an online store, website, and social media page. I registered the dba under my current business structure, obtained a sales tax permit, and ordered my first supply of coffee! I created a logo in Canva along with various other marketing templates to support my launch. I prayed over every step of the process. It was important to me that my business represented and glorified the God who allowed me to create it. I’ve incorporated elements of faith into every part of it, and I’m so excited to share it with the world. With so much going on in the world, it feels good to introduce a brand that promotes peace, love, and joy! I’m proud to announce that FMC (Fill My Cup) Coffee Company is open and ready for business! Let Jesus fill your cup!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jade, and I hail from the home of the Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California! Growing up in Southern California was amazing. Perfect weather, proximity to the beach, and exposure to diverse cultures were the breeding grounds for the woman you see today. I was born to create, so it was no surprise that I pursued a career in singing and songwriting fresh out of high school. After experiencing some rough roads and losses, I found solace in writing. I started writing for the stage and screen. I remember going out in Hollywood and walking along Sunset Blvd. I’d look at the stars etched into the ground, the names on the marquee, and the limousines pulling up to nightclubs, dreaming of being a part of that world. I sat in a screenwriting class one night at UCLA, thinking that it was so close that I could taste it. I’d watch movies and imagine it read, “written by Jade Parks” in the credits. Then life happened. I fell in love, fell out of love, had a baby, gained friends, friends walked away, lost my way, fell into depression, lost my way, found Christ, thus finding my way, and ultimately, I pushed my dreams of writing to the back burner. I taught myself how to do makeup around 2013, and in 2016, I launched my first company, Jade Paints. I was a single mother working full-time as a medical records clerk at the time. I had no idea how to run a business. My family and friends encouraged me to turn my hobby into a business, and I did. I offered wedding and event makeup services throughout LA County and the surrounding areas, and I fell in love with makeup artistry. Something about taking a beautiful blank canvas and adding colors and textures to make it even more beautiful motivated me. Seeing my clients admire themselves in the mirror after their glam session inspired me. Then reality set in. I had a daughter to raise and bills to pay, so I chose to continue working full-time and only do makeup on my off days. I didn’t have the confidence, grit, or faith to be a full-time entrepreneur. I slowly began pushing artistry to the back burner. Four years later, I got married, got pregnant again, and I moved…to Texas. Aside from my siblings, I didn’t know anyone. This was the first time that I considered closing my business for good. I gave birth to my second daughter during COVID, and I considered relaunching my business in the Dallas area. I posted in our neighborhood chat that I was a makeup artist specializing in natural-looking makeup. I had lost my job just after giving birth, so I knew unemployment wouldn’t last forever. I wanted freedom over my time and in my finances. I wanted space to create. I was afraid. Afraid to step out and be who God called me to be. I was afraid of rejection. Afraid of going broke. Though I was married, I had an extremely independent mindset. I lost my mother at age 15, and it made it hard for me to rely on others. It also created a fear of abandonment. I didn’t trust anyone to “take care of me,” so I built up a lot of pride and a hard exterior. This translated into my business because I ran it like a frightened employee who didn’t know what she was doing, instead of a confident CEO. God blessed me anyway, and from that neighborhood chat, I got my first Texas client. Over the next five years, God has taken me (and my businesses) on a journey with Him. As my relationship with Him grew, he changed the way I did business. I’ve now launched three businesses: a makeup artistry, a coffee company, and a podcast. God reminded me that He created me to create. I’ve been a storyteller from the moment I opened my mouth. From singing to writing, to speaking, to painting, I’m dedicated to using every gift I’ve been given to testify about the love of Christ. I’ve endured a lot of hurt, pain, and trauma, yet I’ve been blessed to create beautiful things out of it. I must tell people about that! There are so many people hurting. My business journey is my healing journey.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with Jesus has and will always be the most important relationship in my life. It’s grown so much over 2025 alone that it’s crazy. I was raised on a pew in the hood, so I’m no stranger to the faith. However, I realized that I knew of Jesus, but I didn’t really know Him. So much of what I thought I knew was wrong. I handled my relationship with God like I did with anyone else, also putting the wrong expectations on Him. Our relationship with God is similar to a parental one. God is our Father. My relationship with my natural father is great. I’ve been a “daddies girl” from the beginning. I was raised with love, a sense of community, and good morals. I was taught to be a person of integrity and to be fair. I was taught to treat others with kindness and respect. My dad taught me how to drive a car, how to know when it’s time for an oil change, and how to cook bacon in the microwave. I didn’t always agree with my dad or jump for joy when I was disciplined, but I always knew that he loved me. I remember going to a party in the hood. I had to be about 19 or 20 years old. I pulled into Jack in the Box to order those tacos with the questionable mystery meat. A car full of girls pulled in behind me and started inching closer and closer to my bumper. I ignored it at first. They continued to inch up until they tapped my car. We made eye contact and I could tell that the driver was taunting me. Let me educate you on hood stuff 101 real quick. When this happens, its usually not a playful gesture. It’s an invitation to fight. The likelihood of us hopping out and dancing was about 1.3 %. I did the math. There were at least 4 girls in the other car. There were 2 girls total in my car. Four plus two equals SOMEONE IS GETTING JUMPED TONIGHT, and that someone was me. I can’t remember if I got the tacos or not, but I sped away the moment the opportunity became available. To make matters worse, we were lost. We couldn’t find the freeway! I called my dad. My dad was born and raised in Los Angeles, and he could give you directions with the smallest amount of information, regardless of where you were in the city. Sure enough, he told me to get my behind out of there! He literally gave me turn-by-turn directions to the nearest freeway onramp. He didn’t ask me any questions, but he told me that I was NOT in the better parts of town and forbade me from returning, especially at night. In the same way, God loves us as a father loves his children. He’s good to us, even when we don’t deserve it. There have been so many times when I’ve gotten myself into a pickle, and I didn’t know how I’d get out. The only solution was to pray. I called on Him, told Him my problem, and He provided a way out. He protected me in situations where I could have died. He healed my body when I was sick in the hospital with little hope. He comforted me when I gave birth to my stillborn son. He forgave me for ignoring His call and breaking His heart. Every day, I’m learning about this type of love and how it shapes my life. I owe everything to God. He showed me that I’m His. He chose me. He called me. He loves me. He provides for me. He’s my Creator, my Savior, my Friend, and my Father. I’m literally breathing because He breathed into my lungs. There is no greater love. I’m eternally grateful so I’ve made it my mission to tell as many others as I can about it!
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve endured a LOT of suffering in my life, but I’ve also been so blessed to enjoy success. My view of success changed over the years. As I got older, my desires also changed. I used to define success as an outward expression. To be successful meant that you had a nice car, a big, beautiful house, a happy marriage, and plenty of money in the bank. It meant that had earned the applause and validation of people and that you were recognized and celebrated for all you’ve accomplished. I had it all wrong.
As my relationship with Christ grew, I learned how the Word of God defines success. The value isn’t placed on tangible things that’ll pass away. Once we leave this life, we can’t take anything we’ve gained here on Earth, not even our loved ones. Sure, having a luxury car, a house with a white picket fence, and an overflowing bank account is nice but what about our souls? What happens to it? The gospel of Jesus teaches us that there is one God and that He is the only Living God. He created mankind in His image so that we may give glory to our Creator. Through the sacrifice of His Son’s life, we have the right to live an eternal life with Him in heaven once this Earth passes away. Thus giving our souls a final resting place. Our job while we’re on this side of life is to follow the ways of Jesus: love one another, repent of our sins when we do wrong things, take care of those less fortunate, and glorify God. The way that we find success in this lifestyle is by faith. Faith in Christ means believing in something we cannot see. We have to trust what we feel. Just one encounter with the Spirit of God is life-changing. Knowing that I am loved by the same God who created the universe, sun, moon, seas, mountains, galaxies, animals, agriculture, and people is wild! Little ol’ me?
The Bible defines success as pleasing God. His Word tells us that it’s impossible to please Him without faith. With that in mind, I now live my life in a way that pleases God. I don’t always get it right, and that’s okay. I wasn’t called to be perfect, just obedient. See, the closer the relationship, the clearer the path becomes. It’s transformative. I used to want all these things: money, fame, a wealthy, fine husband, a luxury car, designer bags, the best wigs money could buy! I wanted to be validated by people whom I admired. I wanted awards and accolades to show that I was worth something. The problem is that I felt empty, worthless, and hopeless without these things. God showed me that I would feel even worse with them if I didn’t pick up what He was putting down. Unfortunately, it took me a while to get it. For the last 20+ years of my life I don’t think I truly understood. I don’t have all the answers today, but I’ve come a long way. I know now that my identity is not tied to what I do or what I have. I know that I am most fulfilled and thrive when I create and live from a peaceful place. I understand that this peace passes all understanding (it literally makes no sense why I feel peace when everything around me is in shambles, but I have it) and can only come from God. I’m currently on a journey to complete healing and there’s freedom in letting go. Essentially, I’m learning what success looks like in my life. Having two beautiful, healthy girls who love God, having the ability to generate wealth with the help of the Holy Spirit, allowing me to best utilize my gifts, talents, and resources, having family and friends who ride for me like no other, having the power and authority to break generational curses off of my blood line and change toxic cycles, having life, health, and strength…that. That is what success looks like to me. I couldn’t have learned this if I hadn’t gone through everything I went through.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
When I got into makeup artistry, I knew very little about it. I taught myself how to apply the makeup, how to color match/color theory, and how to make it last. My customer service skills were developed through various corporate roles I held. Unbeknownst to me, I was stepping into a prejudiced industry. Beauty standards had been historically set to European standards. This meant the ideal “beauty” was that of a young, slender, fair-skinned woman. Products were created and marketed to this demographic alone, and when it expanded, it left little or no room for anyone else. The undertones were wrong or not considered. For decades, those with deeper skin tones and mature skin types were not included.
Fast forward to 2016, when I launched Jade Paints. Things progressed a bit, but there was still work to do. My cousin was getting married. She’s a deep-skinned Black woman. Her bridal party was comprised of her five sisters whose complexions varied from smooth latte to rich cocoa. She asked me to do the makeup for everyone. It was a challenge. I had never done bridal makeup, nor had I serviced a bridal party before. I got to work. I did a lot of research. For some reason, there was an emphasis on undertones. I’d seen pictures online where the person was one shade when there was no camera flash, then once that flash came on, they were “casket sharp” like the old heads used to say. The makeup, especially for Black women, appeared gray or ashy. Sometimes it was the wrong undertone, so it looked too red or too yellow. I had a fear of that happening. I went out and purchased new products. I practiced different techniques. By God’s grace, I pulled it off, and everyone looked great. I was shaking in my chucks! I didn’t know it then, but a seed was being planted.
My signature style is natural glam. I tried to adapt to other styles over the years because I had zero confidence in my ability when I started. Honestly, I lacked confidence until a couple of years ago. Once I decided to hone in on what I do best, that being natural-looking makeup, it changed the game. I also realized that a creed organically became a part of my brand: natural glam for all. I worked with all skin tones, all ages, and any skin type. I began booking clients with several undertones, rosacea, sensitive skin, and more. I started booking more brides from various backgrounds and cultures. Mature clients and clients with deep skin tones would reach out saying, “Finally, a makeup artist that can do all types of clients!” I’ve served countless women who have told me their horror stories about makeup applications. They were incorrectly shade-matched. Their wedding photos were ruined. They ended up having to wipe it all off before their big event. I was burdened by that, but in the best way possible. It motivated and inspired me to hear these pain points because I knew I could do something about them! I believe that women of color should come away from their makeup appointments feeling beautiful, confident, and valued. They shouldn’t be anxious when booking a service because their artist might not have experience working with their demographic. Models on runways and on set shouldn’t be forced to do their own makeup or provide their own products to ensure their faces match their necks. Brides should be shedding tears of joy, not staring into a mirror, dreading their poorly applied makeup.
It’s important to me that my clients look amazing, but also that they feel amazing. Having healthy skin indeed creates a great base for makeup. However, many people fail to realize how important inner wellness is to our outer appearance. Have you ever noticed how the darkness inside a person can show up on their face? They may actually be attractive, but something about them makes them ugly. That’s an indicator that they may be struggling internally. You never know what the next person is really dealing with, so I’m careful about how I approach and handle my appointments. We all have something that we’re insecure about, and for a lot of women, looks are one of those areas. Especially as we age. There is so much ageism and colorism in the beauty industry. It’s infuriating. I truly believe that women should feel beautiful and confident with or without makeup because that’s how they were designed. God says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. That truth stands even if you’re not wearing a full face of makeup. We’re still beautiful if we have scars, blemishes, or imperfections. I apply makeup to enhance what’s already there, not to transform my clients into a different person. It’s what draws my dream clients to me, and it’s how I believe it should be. I used to be offended and would feel insecure about my style. I thought that I should try to do what’s trending so that I could be booked and busy. Then my desires changed. I no longer wanted to be booked and busy; I wanted intentionality. I wanted longevity. The more I leaned into that, the easier it became. Everything flowed.
I’m extremely proud of the business that God has allowed me to build. My beliefs, my faith, and my gifts have shaped it into something I couldn’t have imagined. It was never about just me. This is my way of pouring into others. I get to encourage, inspire, and beautify others with the stroke of a brush; regardless of their skin type, age, or tone. I earn my client’s trust, and they invite me into some of the biggest moments in their lives. That’s pretty dope! I’m forever grateful!
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
At almost 40 years old, I just chose to do what I was born to do. For my entire life, I’ve done what I was told to do. Some of it wasn’t necessarily told to me directly, but I believed it was what I was “supposed” to do. I knew from an early age that I was born to be a storyteller. The moment I started talking, I started telling people stories. Now, when I was a little girl, I probably lied a lot because I didn’t have much content. If “I make up stories” were a person, it would be me. I have a huge family, so I really didn’t need friends. I had too many cousins to care. Our family was a tight-knit one at that. It’s where I learned my sense of community. It was also the breeding grounds for my gifts. My grandmother raised 11 children on her own in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Yep, you read that right. Eleven kids. Solo. Needless to say, she was a very strong woman. She was a teacher by trade. My grandmother, Josie, packed up her children and relocated to Pasadena, California. She birthed teachers, singers, musicians, writers, actors, athletes, and dancers. They birthed even more creatives, scholars, and thinkers. Being the daughter of Carolyn Jean, I knew that I was meant to create, but I didn’t quite know which path to take.
Most of the family gatherings were at my house when I was little. My mom loved hosting and having everybody over. Though we had a lot of fun, I used to be pissed about that because I was lazy. I hated always being on the “clean-up crew.” Anyway, my family would let us do “talent shows” at these gatherings. We’d go outside and practice in the yard for hours. My aunties and uncles were smart because this was the perfect way to keep us out of mischief and out of their hair for a while. I’m grateful for those memories because my upbringing and my family have heavily impacted my life. I remember performing in front of my family as a child and how that influenced my journey. I fell in love with sharing my talent with others. The applause and admiration made me feel good. It built my confidence. I started singing in church as a child, and like my mother and sister, I shared the gift. I was excited about that, but an unhealthy cycle began. The feeling that I felt when people applauded me developed into a need for the validation and acceptance of others instead. I didn’t know it then, but I would continue performing for others in hopes of gaining more confidence in myself for years to come. I decided to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter in sunny Los Angeles after graduating from high school. I tried networking, singing at open mics, and recording original songs that I’d written, but I ultimately stopped. I felt like I had failed. I encountered predatory people, developed a dangerous desire for fame, and I ended up losing who I was as an artist. I allowed other people to tell me what to do and, worse, who to be. I was jaded. No pun intended. From my POV, the music industry was nothing like I thought it would be. I also felt conflicted because I was raised singing worship music and I decided to pursue a career in secular music. There was a duality to me that I had a hard time juggling. I knew it wasn’t authentic, and that hurt my creativity.
I took a screenwriting class on a whim at my local college and I thank God I did. I learned the art of screenwriting when I was about 19 or 20 years old. I enjoyed the class, but I never thought about pursuing a career in writing. I went on about my life. About a year later, I took a theatre course at the same college. I took it for fun. I thought it would be cool to pretend. My mother had passed away from diabetes complications, I attempted to commit suicide, we lost our home, and my Dad, little brother, and I were sleeping on my uncle’s floor. I had just broken up with the love of my life after he broke my heart. Life was hard, and I needed an escape. My theatre teacher was a vibrant, outgoing, mega personality originally from Jersey. For our midterm, we were told to write a scene from an original play we’ve imagined. Just one scene. I learned a bit about character development from the screenwriting course, but writing for the stage was a little different. The dialogue of a stage play is so important because that’s what keeps the story going. Unlike films or TV series, you don’t have all the technological aspects to play on, like montages or cuts. I wrote a scene from an idea for an original play of mine. It was set in Jackson, Mississippi, during “Freedom Summer,” which was one of the most violent and divisive periods in the Civil Rights Movement in the South. I had no idea what it really was. I had only written one scene, but I began developing the characters at this point, and I fell in love with them. The protagonist, named Dorothy, was inspired by Civil Rights Leader Dorothy Height. However, as the character and story developed, her name was changed to Doreen, after my late aunt. I finished the play at Yale University, where I completed a writing workshop. It was only by God’s grace that a sample from this play, Wednesday’s Women, aided in my being awarded a scholarship to enroll in the Screenwriting Program at UCLA Extension. I ended up taking that one scene and developing a full-length stage play that was performed at a table reading in Palmdale, California, and a stage reading in Hollywood, California. Thank you, Lord.
In 2016, I put my writing career on hold and launched Jade Paints, an on-site makeup artistry specializing in natural-looking makeup applications for weddings and events. I taught myself how to sanitize and apply makeup, how to run a single-member LLC, and how to hire and work with subcontractors. I used my skills acquired in professional roles to excel at customer service, human resources, payroll, and operations. I’ve been a part of countless weddings, quinceañeras, productions, photo shoots, and special events in the Los Angeles and Dallas areas. I’ve been blessed to serve clients ranging from my teenage niece for her graduation, to my sister’s anniversary dinner with my brother-in-love, to many beautiful brides (most wearing makeup for the first time), to prepping the First Lady of Namibia before her speaking engagement. I didn’t foresee makeup artistry when I was younger because I didn’t even wear makeup! I wasn’t allowed to! I was a sort of tomboy in high school, so doing makeup seemed strange. It blossomed into a piece of a bigger picture.
In late 2025, I launched two new companies. For the first time publicly, I’m proud to announce the launch of The Perfect Blend Initiative. This is a Christ-centered creative brand and ministry where I use my gifts as a speaker, podcaster, singer-songwriter, screenwriter/playwright, makeup artist, and coffee company owner. The Pouring Point podcast is a safe space for women who have experienced a lot of adversity and trauma and is now traveling on the road towards healing and wholeness. FMC (Fill My Cup) Coffee Company is our small-batch style coffee company. The Perfect Blend concept derives from 1 Peter 4:10-11 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” Together, these gifts form a ministry dedicated to helping women heal, rise, and rediscover who they are in Christ. By sharing testimony, creativity, and biblical truth, the brand creates environments where brokenness meets grace and women step into wholeness and purpose.
I’m grateful for every opportunity to tell my story. I pray that God is glorified in every part of it. It’s been a long time coming, but I know now what I was born to do, and this is it. This is just the beginning, and I’m just getting started.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadepaints
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584986275706
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepouringpoint
- Other: https://redcircle.com/shows/5f35b0e2-c5dc-473e-bcb3-ad09fa5b687a
(Podcast Page)
Image Credits
Jason Talley
Brayden Parks-Dixon
Kaitlyn Renee Photography
