Meet Yolanda Misscotton Justice of O.C.D. Art in Oak Cliff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda Misscotton Justice.

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Yolanda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a funky retro explosion of color, with wisdom beyond my years, but still possessing an inquisitive childlike spirit. I am also a happily married 45-year-old walking miracle. I wish I could say that I chose all my gifts, but through heart breaking circumstances, my gifts chose me. I have many hats that I wear, but being a cosmetologist specializing in helping people with alopecia and other hair dilemmas is near and dear to my heart. I had been having lupus since the age of 11 years old. My hair started coming out in patches at the age of 12. After being bullied and ridiculed for having bald patches in my head in school, I learned how to create realistic hair pieces and Wigs. I wore them all the way through high school into adulthood without anyone ever discovering my secret. My experiences gave me the drive to become a hairstylist so that I can help other people with hair issues. Doing hair was just a natural extension of my artistic abilities. I have always loved art in any capacity. I am also a 3D artist, fashion designer, rap artist, actress, motivational speaker, book author and comedian. I have to credit my mother for pushing me into greatness. She knew that I had challenges as a unique autistic child but never treated it as a handicap. Autism was never mentioned until later in my life, but I remember hearing her defend my “weirdness” to others when I was caught staring off or talking to myself. When the whispers started, she would simply say “Let her be, she’s my special girl.” My mother believed that I could achieve anything so strongly, that I believed it as well. I was exceptionally gifted in school and was taking courses at Texas Tech college by the 9th grade. As an introvert, sharing my artistic gifts is my way of communicating with the world. In 2011, the lupus escalated, and I lost the ability to walk five steps without the aid of steel braces on my knees, a walker, or a cane. My mother had to help me out of the bed every morning. My entire body hurt and was covered in sores called discoid lesions. In spite of the struggles, l still continued to style hair, create art, and do comedy tours with Rickey Smiley. I worked until I simply could not handle the pain of trying to stand upright. I was getting ready to have my kneecaps replaced because I had lost all the cartilage in them, and I felt useless. I felt my light getting dimmer. In my darkest moments, when I truly wanted to die, I gave life one more try. I believed that my creator God would take the illness away because I had a purpose in this world. He made me unique on purpose. My faith healed me. That call I got from the doctor’s office in 2013 informing me that lupus had completely left my body was the turning point in my life. My blood work literally returned back normal as if I never had lupus! I began to walk, run and dance with no assistance, and with no pain anywhere in my body. Remember, I did not have any cartilage. I STILL DON’T. Cartilage does not grow back. Is that not miraculous? When I received a second chance at life, I began to live it more abundantly and with more purpose than ever, trying to encourage as many people as possible. I am grateful to be here to experience my husband Ty, my two sons, and grandchildren.

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?
Most of the struggles I endured were from trying to live a normal life without disclosing that I was autistic. I did not want to be pitied or misjudged. Once I began to truly love myself, and accept that I am a gifted adult who was uniquely made, life became easier.

Please tell us about your artwork.
I specialize in creating a beautiful peaceful vibe through my art. Whether it is styling hair, painting portraits, or doing comedy, my goal is to bring smiles to a dismal world.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Even though my childhood was rocky, my favorite memory is spending weekends in the library, reading as many books as possible and carrying home the rest. We were poor but, I had my family with me. I was rich in LOVE. That family unit, as dysfunctional as it seemed, molded me into the person I am today.

Contact Info:

• Address: Paradise Beauty Center
  723 S. Cockrell Hill Rd
  Duncanville TX 75137
• Website: Godisahealer.com
• Phone: 443 432 5777 (heal777)
• Instagram @misscottoncomedian
• Autobiography “Ya’ll Ain’t Gon’ Believe This” available on Amazon.

Image credit: 
Angie Akers

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