2 minute read
Koko With Love
with LOVE
Jashley Green, also known as , has never had any insecurities about her hair. She’s been chopping on it since she was in the seventh grade. Today she makes a living bringing out the in others as the owner of Shear Utopia Unisex Salon in Tampa, FL. Koko has five salons under her clippers and already has plans for a bigger multi-use space in the near future, that would include a fashion and photo studio. Unlike many small-business during the pandemic era, Koko has managed to luck up and not be impacted. But she’s not taking her blessings lightly. RoyalTee Magazine caught up with Koko after hours to chat about navigating business in the pandemic area, overcoming insecurities, newlywed bliss with her wife, and of course- hair! As a Black woman, we have like ups and downs when it comes to our hair, embracing our hair. What has been your journey with hair love?
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I’ve been cutting my hair since the 7th grade. I’ve never been around to cut my hair. I never even looked at my texture like ‘oh, it's not good enough.’
What insecurities have you dealt with that you felt you've overcome?
Definitely my skin tone. I have a twin brother and he's way more fair than me. But the highlight of embracing my skin tone was when I was in McDonald's with my friend. And a little girl kept starring at me. Her mom was like ‘I’m so sorry, she [the little girl] wanted to come up to me.’ And she [the mother] was like she [the little girl] just thinks you're so pretty. And I was like oh my God! That little girl can see that a brown girl with no hair is pretty. So, I said to myself, ‘I'm beautiful no matter what.’
LGBTQ is still like a touchy topic, even in 2021. What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to simply be themselves?
Just be who you are. People are always going to have an opinion. People are always gonna have something to say, so you should be able to be comfortable in your own skin, because it's only your life that you're living. Just be okay with who you are. And if people don't understand, it's not for them to accept.
What makes you a Royal Woman?
What makes me a Royal Woman is that I don't see competition. I always have to be the best at what I do. And if I feel like I'm not, I can do better.
