Today we’d like to introduce you to Toya Knowles.
Hi Toya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Just a young Lady from Chicago now residing in Dallas.
Alright, 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?
Some people know my story, a lot of people don’t. I was told I need to share my Story more often. So here I go. I decided to today.
I was a wife at the age of 18.
I was pregnant at 19 had an abortion because my relationship became violent.
At 21. I had a gun pointed to my head and the trigger pulled at that moment. I saw darkness. I knew my life was over only to find out there was no bullets in the gun.
At 21, I was separated.
At 23, I got pregnant again by the same person and decided to keep my baby but at 4 months, I was told I would be on bed rest due to me having fibroids really bad and they were growing rapidly due to my hormones changing. At 5 months, my fibroids suffocated our baby. He would have been 28.
At 24, I filed for divorce. Divorced. At this moment, I was stuck, lost, insecure and low self esteem. It’s crazy I was able to hide this all from my parents.
At 27, I found my daddy dead from a drug overdose. Mental Health is so real.
At 41, I had a Hemorrhagic stroke which is An emergency condition in which a ruptured blood vessel causes bleeding inside the brain.
Fast Forward to today. Let me re-introduce myself. My name is Toya Knowles. I am born and raised on the south side of Chicago & now reside in Dallas. I am a Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Godmother and a Friend.
I am a 31 year licensed Cosmetologist & Entrepreneur, I am known as the Short Hair Guru that promotes healthy hair and a healthy lifestyle. Author of an upcoming Vegan/Plantbased Cookbook‼️ I am a Domestic Violence Survivor 25 years 💜🙌🏽 I am Stroke Survivor of 10 years ❤️ I am a true advocate of LOVE.
I wanted to share with you just some of my story not to be the victim or ask for Sympathy but to share and show you there’s SO MUCH HOPE no matter what you have been through. If it had not been for my Faith in my higher power Jehovah God my life could have ended so differently.
One thing for sure. I realized becoming a Hairstylist played a huge role in saving my life. I wanted to help women build their self esteem & confidence and let them no they matter as well as help them fell & look amazing about themselves. So you ask me why I SMILE. This is why because I am still standing I have managed to learn what it is like to be in Love with yourself. There are times I struggle with this, but it’s ok because loving yourself is an everyday process.
What I Do know if I can walk away from domestic violence relationship so can you. If I can figure out how to make time for my health and wellness so can you. If Jehovah can save me he can save you to. I am sending Love, Light, Prayer & Strength to all.
Repeat After Me:
I CAN DO IT.
I HAVE THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME.
I LOVE ME SOME ME so just know if you follow me on FB you will find inspirational content.
On my page, you will find inspirational content. I will be sharing & teaching my LOVE Short hair, heck of Hair PERIODT.😀 Plant Based cooking, educating Hairstylist on what it takes to have longevity in our profession, how to build a clientele when relocating and how to operate in Love.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Toya is known as The Short Hair Guru. Toya LOVES empowering not just the women that sit in her chair but also to enrich the lives and careers of the men and women that work in this profession alongside her.
As a professional stylist of over 3 decades, Toya has a true passion for sharing her knowledge and wisdom. She is the very best at her craft. Her many years of experience delivering consistent, reliable service makes her a stylist you will love to work with. She finds delight in serving professionals in the beauty business and friends like you who want to take their business and life to a new level.
She’s always dreamed to help everyone create a blueprint for their life through HAIR HEALTH & AFFIRMATION with this you will learn how to be a professional that you ever dreamed of being. I’m most proud of helping and educating women that it’s more than just hair! Meaning about loving who we are from the inside out, doing all the things that wasn’t taught in hair school.
What set me apart is LOVE!
I believe if God can forgive & love me no matter what I can forgive & love people no matter what.
What I have learned is when you allow people to be who they are and Love them anyway no matter what, this just shows you are a true believer that LOVE IS LOVE and LOVE WINS ALWAYS.
With these life lessons, I am launching my very first coach program called
It’s more than just hair!
The Love-Yourself to a healthy lifestyle
Contact Info:
- Email: iamtoyaknowles@gmail.com
- Website: www.toyaknowles.com
- Instagram: iam_toyaknowles
- Facebook: Toys Knowles
- Youtube: Toys Knowles
Image Credits
Clarence Cooper
Kiara Dwight
