Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Nicole Smith.
Ashley Nicole, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My background is in fashion, a couple of years after graduating, I ended up in the corporate world. Working 9-5 daily and not in my field lead me into wanting more out of life and my creativity needed to be set free. I randomly would take photos here and there in my favorite clothes/brands and would post them on my social media. I started to see more people reacting to my photos asking for more. I made a commitment to start being more intentional with my content in January of 2017, I made a vow to work my ass off to create cool content, to be a better woman, to truly find myself because I felt as though I’ve always had a story to tell. It took me a couple of months to kick myself into gear – I grounded myself into being surrounding with genuine people, I mentally trained myself to see the beauty in everything (struggles, obstacles, the trees outside, to be grateful for the corporate job that made me notice how much my creative side wanted to set free! Once I started to love myself truly and understand the purpose behind why I wanted to use social media as my platform to connect with people to tell more about where I shop, I wanted to tell a story with why I shop there and empower other women – THAT was my ah-ha!
So with that, I created my name, Yourbrandmaven which basically stands for me having great knowledge over my favorite brands that I share with you. And, I created my business plan, I believe that you don’t really have a successful vision without a plan. I wanted to collaborate with those movers and shakers because they once had a dream too that they brought to life. I made a commitment to hustle and reach out to brands frequently and provide my pitch on how I can make badass things happen in our community. I set my intentions, prayed on it and kept working and striving to be a phenomenal woman. From there, brands started reaching out to me as well and people wanting to hear my voice.
I am currently still working with local brands and business sharing their brand while sharing my story. I wanted to share what I love; Fashion, Lifestyle, and empowerment… now, I am currently working on bringing music into my web of badassery. I won’t be showcasing my voice (thank goodness, haha!) However, there are so many mainstream artists getting the fame that we sometimes overlook the new talent that deserves the same limelight.
Every day is still a struggle, obstacles, amazing news and yes’s and no’s, but this is what makes yourbrandmaven what it is today. I do this from the heart, not the potential fame – and I honestly believe striving to be an influencer remember that lead me to where I am at now.
Has it been a smooth road?
I always tell people that if your life is smooth sailing, are you pushing yourself to the limit, are you challenging yourself? We need challenges in life to grow! Being a young woman, a young black woman, a young black woman in her twenties… that’s three struggles right there haha! I feel as though looking back on 2017 when my influencing platform flourished was one of the most strenuous, uncomfortable, amazing, awarding time of my life (ps the GloUp was real). Once I decided to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and turning my can’t into heck, yes, I can change my mindset! During my struggles; I manifested my career and life, I am grateful for everything even my struggles, I believed in myself. People starting their journey do ask me for tips or how I got to where I am. I first ask: Are you doing this for the money or do you have different motives; i.e. helping women or being an inspiration to tell your story? Also, trial and error worked for me, I spent nights on Google, reading and seeing what others that I looked up to were doing.
If I could give any young woman advice it would be:
+ Define yourself and stand strong on what you believe in and believe in who you are.
+ Be patient – you can be hustling for 4 years and on the 5th year you reach your GOAL!
+Believe that you are the BEST, there is no competition but yourself. We have so many distractions out there that we sometimes lose ourselves and forget why we are doing what we are doing.
+Everyone’s journey and time frame are different in life – When Becky on Instagram has newest Mercedes and travels to Tulum wearing the cutest outfits; Meanwhile, you’re getting paper cuts at your 9-5… we don’t need to know how Becky got what she has. Focus on you!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Yourbrandmaven story. Tell us more about the business.
Yourbrandmaven is a 1 year young and still flourishing. When you hear of youbrandmaven the creator wants you to think of women empowerment, inspiring real-life messages, of course, great style/fitness and a place to find new music. Yourbrandmaven stands for local businesses because corporations run the world. When you support a small business you’re supporting not only your community but also someone’s dreams are coming true! With that, I continuously reach out to those creatives and collaborate photo-shoots and content for the world to see!
I am most proud of meeting so many women that are in the blogging world that are empowering as well. We really had a way of kicking the 2000s cattiness to the curb and replaced it with #girlboss, You Go Girl, to recognizing the queens in each other and support. I have so many Insta friends that are local all the way to NY and it seems like a sisterhood!
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I feel as though the media can always be misconstrued things. There are a plethora of opportunities waiting for us to grab a hold of! I feel as though women have stepped up so much to fight for equal opportunities which are a huge accomplishment these days. Women are well positioned for everything because we are wonderfully made. Women are doing an amazing job at working toward the realization of women’s empowerment and gender equality — protecting the rights and improving the lives of women and girls, I feel as though it is only going to be better!
Contact Info:
- Email: yourbrandmaven@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourbrandmaven/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourbrandmaven/
Image Credit: Sydney Balusek Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
