Favored & Fit Issue by SwagHer Magazine

SwagHer Magazine

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SwagHer Magazine

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Acknowledgments Contributors

Dr. Mya Smith Edmonds’s Inside Photos:

Consuela Allen Sabrina Espere Carrington Kim Cross Janet Downs Francheska “Fancy” Felder Obsession Jasmyne Seed Christina Woodard

Photographer: Justin McDowell

Makeup:

Shareece Gregory

Other Photography Alessandro Biascioli

Cover Photo Photographer: Adam Opris

Makeup:

Yaneli Darsys Makeup and Hair

Stylist:

Shareece Gregory

Marketing

Francheska “Fancy” Felder

Editor-in-Chief

Jarmel Roberson

VP of Marketing

Porsche Gregory

Jr. Communications Manager

Francheska”Fancy” Felder

Copy Editor

Andrew Horton

Copy Editor

Belle Kadiry

Layout Design

Briana Brown

Social Media Cousin

Letter From the Editor

Greetings, Welcome back to a new issue of SwagHer Magazine. If you didn’t know New Year’s is one of my favorite holidays because I love the opportunity to start fresh, and that’s just what we are doing here at SwagHer Magazine. We have some exciting things planned for this year and this is only the start of them. I know this because I know that both the mag and I are favored. I cannot count the number of times God has come through for us and showed me that my work was not in vain just as I had begun to lose faith. So that combined with the fact that our cover story, Dr. Mya Smith-Edmonds, whose story reveals she is also highly blessed and favored is what inspired the “favor” part of this issue. Of course, with it still being close to the start of the year, we thought we would incorporate fitness because many people set fitness goals as new year resolutions. We wanted to assist you with those, so we tied in “fit” for fitness, and we have some great features and spotlights to share. We’re also publishing a corrected, updated version of our interview with wealth-educator SunshineSmith Williams. Plus, Happy Skin Formulatorat Zhi Bath

& Body, Kim Cross, joins us talking about all things skincare. I’m also excited to share that we are running the Favored & Fit Selfie contest with this issue. If you are reading this, you are already one step closer to possibly winning a $200 Amazon gift card. Here’s how it works: Take a selfie with our “Favored & Fit” issue. Share it on Instagram and tag @swaghermagazine and #swagherfavorednfit Be entered into our Favored & Fit raffle which will take place March 1, 2022, at 11 AM. The winner will be notified via DM so please be sure to follow @swaghermagazine. I hope to see some of you online. Until next time….. From Fancy w/ Love

Table of Contents 08 09

The Greatest You - Moving Forward in ‘22 Janet D. encourages readers to keep pressing forward in this inspirational piece.

Founder of Bijou Health, LLC Discusses Healthcare, Business, and Authorhood Brittany Oliver of Bijou Health LLC shares her entrepreneurial journey.

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Cute ‘Fits to Stay Fit In Jasmyne S. shares a listing of Black-owned athleisure brands that are SwagHer approved.

Author Spotlight: LaTroya Bishop Author and activist LaTroya Bishop talks about her latest book, “Life Doesn’t Have to be Perfect to be Wonderful: A Survival Guide on How to Thrive After Divorce”.

It Is Never Too Late to Be Successful Consuela A. reminds you that success can happen at any age in this gentle reminder.

Wealth Educator Sunshine Smith-Williams Talks Life Before & After Incarceration, Police Reform, & More Wealth educator Sunshine Smith-Williams sits down 1-on-1 with Fancy to talk incarceration, police and prison reform, and money. Reprint.

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Share Your Story Winner Spotlights winners from our Clubhouse events. In this issue, we have Lady Tiffany Nicole.

Love Me My Way Writer Obsession breaks down the different love languages.

All Things Winter Skin Care with Kim Cross Back cover story feature and Happy Skin Formulator at Zhi Bath & Body, Kim Cross dishes on all things skincare for winter.

6 Girl Boss Tips for 2022

Sit Down with an Empath, Denay Dominic

Fast-Food, Favor, & Fortune: Dr. Mya Smith-Edmonds

5 Tips for Moving On After a Divorce

Meet the Ladies of Besties That Travel

Deeper Than Fitness

SwagHer Beauty Trends for 2022

SwagHer Spotlight: Cheron Crouch

Fitness Is NOT Just About Exercise - These Influencers Prove It

Fancy enlists six girls bosses including herself to share tips for business success in 2022.

Empath Denay Dominic discusses being an empath and the relationship between an empath and the narcissist.

McDonald’s owner/operator, Dr. Mya Smith- Edmonds, details her story of perseverance and favor in business while explaining the reason behind her philanthropy.

In this guest submission, divorce coach Matecha Pounds shares tips for life after divorce.

Meet Gabrielle Profit and Trina Craft Trifilo, owners of Besties That Travel.

Fitness and wellness coach, Beverly K. Johnson, talks about the mental work she does with her clients outside of fitness.

Journalist Sabrina C. shares beauty trends and predictions for 2022 while spotlighting Black-owned brands.

In this spotlight, behavioral therapist Cheron Crouch explains how she helps those battling mental disorders and the inner critic.

Kim C. recognizes five fitness micro-influencers.

7 Wellness and Black Mental Health Podcasts to Watch in 2022 Tahyira S. spotlights Black-hosted podcasts for better mental health.

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The Greatest You - Moving Forward in 2022 By: Janet Downs First, be good to yourself and love yourself. After all, you are already loved and accepted by the Creator. Remove anything that doesn’t bring you peace. We live in a world where our peace can be so easily disturbed if we let it. Try to find those happy places and surround yourself with people whose presence brings you peace. I’m a woman of faith, so prayer and the Word is one of my peaceful places. It motivates me and starts my day. I also include morning affirmations to help set the tone of my day. Write it, read it, say it. It really makes a difference in how my day goes and how I respond to various situations, even the negative ones. Yes, there will be disappointments along the way, but don’t allow fear and disappointment to discourage you and keep you on the sidelines. Maya Angelou said, “If I can’t change it, I can change my attitude.” Get up and run back into the game. Maintaining a positive attitude, even during a rough spot, is key to maintaining peace and helping to move you forward into your purpose.

hope the start of 2022 is finding you doing well. 1.5 months down; 10.5 more to go. Did you make any new year’s resolutions? Yeah? Ok, great! I’m encouraging you to stay the course. If you didn’t, that’s ok too. Hopefully, you have a few goals set. Whether you did or not, right now, let’s celebrate the fact that you are still here because over 800,000 people aren’t. I say that’s definitely a win! We’ve had to be flexible in areas of our lives that we never thought we’d have to, especially throughout this pandemic. That says we can overcome any obstacle. If you said you failed at a thing or didn’t hit your goals for 2021, it’s ok. You have another opportunity to do things better. The best version of you is waiting.

Find something or someone that will keep you motivated and keep that fire burning in your belly. You have work to do! Think about the differences you can make in a person’s life, just by what you have to offer. I know because it’s happening for me! You can do anything you set your mind to, but you must want it. If you need a little nudge, I’m nudging you now! As Nina Simone sang, “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me, and I’m feeling good.” You got this!! Let’s go!!

Stop the negative self-talk and return to those dreams and aspirations you placed on the back burner. C.S. Lewis said that you’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. What will it take to make those dreams a reality? You have 10.5 months to make it happen! That’s over 7600 hours! Make it count! Every day give it your best shot and believe that the best will happen. What will you do to motivate yourself? SwagHer Magazine

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Founder of Bijou Health, LLC Discusses Healthcare, Business, and Authorhood By: Christina Woodard she recognized a void in services catering to female and minority healthcare practitioners. She is also the founding CEO of IAmBOliver, LLC, a labor of love organization helping women thrive in every area of their lives. During the COVID pandemic of 2020, she had the distinguished honor of becoming a first-time author. Additionally, she was asked to be a speaker at the Art of Transparency Tour. Her introductory book, “A Black Girls’ Survival Kit: Corporate America,” is a how-to climb the corporate ladder while securing a work-life balance for every girl currently in the professional wilderness. Christina: What is your SwagHer? What makes Brittany, Brittany? Brittany: What makes Brittany, Brittany, is my tenacity. I refused to give up or quit beyond that; I would say my learned grace in the face of difficulty. Christina: What inspired you to begin Bijou Health, LLC? What are some services your business provides? Brittany: I was motivated to create Bijou Health because I noticed a gap in the market. I didn’t see where practitioners of color/ female were offered the same services or a seat at the table that their male and white counterparts were. Bijou Health is a national medical billing company that provides services from credentialing, full RCM, practice start-up, and practice management. Christina: Have you always wanted to work in the healthcare industry? If not, what did you want to do? Brittany: No, not at all, my actual dream was to dance professionally as a ballerina and work for Alvin Ailey, but a knee injury changed everything.

rittany Oliver takes a raw, honest, and quick-witted homegirl approach as an advocate, mentor, and empowerment speaker. Oliver has dedicated the last twenty years of her life to mastering healthcare operations, most of that time fighting personal battles in silence. It’s through her own experiences as a corporate administrator, an entrepreneur, and a survivor. Oliver is the founder and CEO of Bijou Health, LLC, a national medical billing and consulting firm. The company’s mission is to empower all healthcare providers with the tools needed to practice and thrive independently. She created the organization because SwagHer Magazine

Christina: Tell us a little bit about your other business, IAmBOliver, LLC. Brittany: IAmBOliver is all about women empowerment, inspired by many of my life events. But, before all the other titles I wear, one of the most important is a mentor. I feel it’s so important to pull up as many women as possible. Women can do amazing things sometimes; we need encouragement or support taking that first step to our dreams. Christina: How do you practice self-care? Brittany: I make it a priority to set aside time out for myself. Something as simple as my standing facial and nail Page 9

Christina: Who or What inspires you to continue doing the work that you do? Brittany: The incredible women I call my friends inspire me. My family inspires me, my husband and the future I envision for our family inspire me. The stories of remarkable women and how they overcame obstacles motivate me. Christina: Do you have any upcoming projects or events you would like to share with our readers? Brittany: At the moment the company has been the focus, especially with all our new clients. We will be adding some additional services in Q2 2021. Christina: Is there anything else you would like to share? Brittany: Adversity is necessary. Everything I experienced was needed for me to become the women I am today. I would encourage everyone to remember that while there are going through trials and tribulations.

Connect with Brittany below: Website: www.iamboliver.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/iamb.oliver/?hl=en LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-o-564a8488

appointment with setting my phone set to do-not-disturb. I’m also big on self-care Sundays with meditations, candle-lit bubble baths, my lazy Sunday playlists, and a glass of wine. Christina: What are three words your friends would use to describe you? Brittany: Genuine. Loving. Passionate. Christina: You are a first-time author. Tell us a little bit about your book, “ A Black Girls› Survival Kit: Corporate America.” Where can readers go to purchase it? Brittany: The black girl survival kit is about my experience in corporate America trying to climb the ladder while dealing with real-life issues. I speak in depth bout some moderately taboo topics. Women out there need to hear how someone else made it through what they are currently going through. The book also offers tips on avoiding some of the mistakes that I made along the way. First-quarter 2022, you will be able to purchase the book on multiple platforms. You can pre-order now for a discounted rate at www.iamboliver.com. SwagHer Magazine

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Cute ‘Fits to Stay Fit In By: Jasmyne Seed

hether you’re staying true to your new fitness resolutions and hitting the treadmill or just running those errands that mostly consist of a Target run, throwing on your athletic apparel can motivate you to crush your goals and maintain a healthier lifestyle (or at the very least, add to your convenient and cute athleisure looks). And let’s face it when you look good, you feel good! I rounded up a few brands giving household brands like, Nike and Lululemon a little competition that offer workout outfits that serve as both functional and aestchically pleasing, with all sizes in mind. Check them out below:

2. Actively Black - Black Camo Performance Tights 1. Simi Sienna - Love Thyself Yoga Leggings, & Camo Performance Prosperity Surrounds Me Hoodie & Inhale Positive Energy Sports Bra Crop Hoodie The NY based athleisure & wellness brand provides fun and funky apparel, footwear and accessories to complete your entire workout look. Stamped with positive affirmations the gear exercises your mental and physical health, grounding and centering you with gentle reminders to keep pushing for your wellness goals and “Own Your Magic”. The one stop shop offers tons of outfit inspo so there’s no shortage of style options. Available in standard and plus sizes. Photo Cred: Simi Sienna

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Seeking to remind us “There Is Greatness in Our DNA”, the unisex athleisure wear brand, Actively Black is a source of empowerment and premium apparel. Founded by former NBA player turned entrepreneur, Lanny Smith he took his aspirations into his own hands and has relentlessly pushed to make the brand a success, being sported by the likes of athletic greats like, Steph Curry. The women’s Black Camo Performance Tights are squat proof with a convenient pocket to store your phone and pair perfectly with their matching moisture-wicking.

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Camo Performance Crop Hoodie, available in XS-3X.

4. Body By Raven Tracy Basics Pants & Hoodies

Photo Credit: Actively Black

Voluptuous model, Raven Tracy is inclusively repping for the gwrols and serving BAWDY with her line, Body by Raven Tracy. The contoured material in the, Basics Pants and Basic Hoodies sets hug and embrace your curves while giving you comfortable stretch, going up to size 3x. Perfect for yogi’s, those taking up pilates or an at-home workout. Photo Credit: Body By Raven Tracy

3. Jolie Noire - Theme Noire Sets Athleisure meets pretty shades of melanin brown in the, Theme Noire Sets. The unisex sweatsuits and short sets designed by gospel songstress, Keyondra Lockett and her sister Kimberly, maintain a mission of Black pride and beauty while providing essential wear one can rock to tone their body or accentuate their Pretty Black tone with a stylish, casual ensemble, available in standard and plus sizes. Photo Credit: Jolie Noire

5. Joie in Life Joie In Life Sets Fitness & health enthusiast, Joie Chavis took her passion the extra mile offering athletic apparel along with her workout program. The signature, Joie In Life Set’s include matching leggings and sports bras in flirty fuchsia, grey and black along with long sleeve set options to get that body-ody and health in tip-top shape. Photo Credit: Joie In Life

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6. Ethika Sports Bras, Leggings & Shorts

8. Walker Wear Vintage-Inspired Sweatsuits

Available in a plethora of colors, ways, and designs, the comfortable and relaxed fit, Ethika sports bras and leggings get you right for a long intense workout. Under $30 you can add a few styles to your collection to keep your sessions fresh. Sizes go up to 3X.

A pioneer in the streetwear fashion industry, founder, and designer, April Walker has proven that Walker Wear is a timeless staple for the culture, reviving the line 20 plus years later with classics like the Walker Wear Hockey Jerseys and her latest athletic collection of joggers and hoodies. The VintageInspired Sweatsuits are superbly crafted with premium fleece to keep you comfy at the gym, then transform to a classic Brooklyn style with a pair of Timbs for a casual, post-workout look. Available in plus sizes.

Photo Credit: Joie In Life

Photo Credit: Instagram.com/WalkerWear

7. Milano Di Rouge Kenzie Crop 2.0 Top & Bicycle Shorts Philly based mama-preneur, Milano is bringing opulence to the active apparel industry among her luxurious, unisex, and children’s streetwear line, Milano Di Rouge. Pace your fitness journey in the low impact, Kenzie Crop 2.0 sports bra and run your own race in the matching, stretchy 2.0 Bicycle Shorts or mix with the Nunu 2.0 Bicycle short, with sizes running from XS-2XL. Photo Credit: Joie In Life

9. Swank Posh - Easy Athletic Set Get your figure right in the Easy Athletic Set from, Swank Posh. Available in an array of colors and offering sizes S-3x, the stretchy material allows you to comfortably rock it all day along with their Waist Wrap to keep you snatched, or pair the cute sets with heels for an alternate, on the town look to show off your progress. Photo Credit: Swank Posh

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Author Spotlight: Troya Bishop By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder

I also had people who assumed that my life is perfect because my attitude is pleasant and I’m typically in a very good mood. One guy who knows me well said all he’s ever seen from me since he met me is, “teeth and cheeks”, meaning I’m laughing and smiling a lot, which is true. So, to reintroduce myself to some and newly present me to others, I decided to share in more detail about my life. I also wanted to share about how and why I still have so much peace and happiness; two precious things money can’t buy. Fancy: How did your life change with your divorce?

roya Bishop is regarded as a fierce fighter and advocate for social justice. With over 25 years of experience in advocacy/non-violent protests and a strong background in long-term strategic planning, Troya is considered an expert in social justice causes. As an author, “The Answers to Intimacy: Why Men NEED Oral Sex and Women NEED to Talk”, is her best-selling book to date. The project is a culmination of all her research and demonstrates the connection between a person’s perception of power and their interpersonal relationships. This book has received raving reviews, and couples from all walks of life are expressing their appreciation for it. In 2021, Troya released, “Life Doesn’t Have to be Perfect to be Wonderful: A Survival Guide on How to Thrive After Divorce”. Skillful navigation is required to enjoy life and thrive after divorce, and this guide provides tools to do just that. After appearing on numerous podcasts, talk-radio shows, and livestream videos, Troya continues to inspire the masses to live their best lives and be their best, most-authentic selves.

Troya: My life changed a lot. I went from having enough, to not enough. Going through foreclosure, getting on food stamps. You name it. What I had changed, but who I served, God, didn’t change. But the funniest thing is that people still thought I had a lot, because I never complained about what I lost, and I learned how to use business principles to build back better. I talked about where I was going and where God was leading me. Taking time to think and reflect about who I wanted to be, and how I wanted to be known and remembered helped me change for the better. Fancy: Did you ever feel as if you failed? Troya: Absolutely! I don’t think that anyone can go through a divorce and not feel like a failure. I shook that feeling off quick though! I didn’t like it. Muhammad Ali is one of my heroes, and I read a lot of his work and quotes. He had three divorces, so I figured if I could learn from anyone, it was him. In my studies, I learned to place value on those lessons from my marriage and previous relationships, and not to consider it as a failure. I can have that perspective now, looking at how far I’ve come. I couldn’t see the lessons at the time. Joyce Meyer was on one day, and she said, “You can be

Fancy: What inspired, “Life Doesn’t Have to be Perfect to be Wonderful: A Survival Guide on How to Thrive After Divorce”? Troya: While I was on tour with the last book, FIERCELY advocating for family and keeping marriages together, people naturally asked me about my relationship status. When I explained that I was divorced but dating, people were shocked but asked the how, when, and why questions. I didn’t mind that, because I love serving through teaching and being transparent, that’s my calling. I even had some people who swore that I look like I have never been through anything. SwagHer Magazine

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powerful, or you can be pitiful. You can’t be both”. That stuck with me, and I live life and make decisions from that place of power inside of myself. Troya: I look around every day at how blessed I am, and I call that wonderful. It literally is a wonder, that after my house went into foreclosure, I moved into a bigger house. It’s a wonder that I was able to start businesses and inspire other people. It’s a wonder that I made it to the White House twice, during the Obama administration. It’s a wonder that I made it on the little money that I had. God has done and is still doing wonders in my life. So, I call that wonderful! Fancy: What’s one piece of advice you’d share with those currently going through a divorce? Troya: Learn about the practice of centering. Get centered and take it with you everywhere you go. Be kind to yourself and other people. Don’t allow social norms of being mean and snarky with your ex guide your interactions. Your ex may have had a lifetime of being mean. You can’t beat someone at doing something that they’ve practiced consistently for years. So, don’t waste your time trying. Instead, find the kindest version of yourself and be that person. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Fancy: Are you open to marrying again? Troya: Is he rich?!? Just kidding! I’m open to getting married again. I love LOVE! I have actually fallen in love with myself, and I’m having a damn good time. But yes, I would marry again. I loved being married, and I enjoyed the security in marriage. I know some people go through it and say never again. But, I trust myself and my decisions. I have grown so I’m confident that I would choose well. As long as I can keep my peace, I’m good. Fancy: What is next for you in 2022? Troya: This year I will be touring and facilitating workshops both online and in person. I’ll also be on television and film, so stay tuned.

Follow Troya online below. Facebook: @OleBaddTroya Instagram: @OleBaddTroya To purchase the book, visit https://tinyurl.com/SurvivalGuide13. SwagHer Magazine

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It Is Never Too Late To Be Successful By: Consuela Allen

to win the lottery, wealth itself is typically a slow-burn. With the prominence of social media highlights invading our leisure time, it can be easy to confuse long-term goals with short-term plans.

he globe recently celebrated another trip around the sun. This brought out some thoughts of rejuvenating old plans and initiating new ones. While this is usually the time of year when we are urged to remember our New Year’s resolutions, some people had never set sights on anything to resolve at all. This is beautiful if your reason for side-stepping the tradition was due to spiritual convictions or if you are already on your desired path. But what about those of us who may have even felt discouraged by all the pageantry and fanfare? Is it too late to set our intentions for a successful 2022? Perhaps you, or someone you know, may have felt discouraged as the clock was striking midnight on January 1st if, for the past 30 or 40 years, life has not been going as you had hoped. You may have thought that a New Year’s resolution was pointless if you have been making the same resolutions for years without seeing your intentions manifest in the real world. Dwelling on failure can allow doubt to creep in and cripple your drive. Whether you have been attempting the same feat for 30 years or going nowhere fast for 40 years, it is never too late to achieve success. It was C.S. Lewis who once said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

While I am very grateful for the business networking and connections to loved ones that social media afford me, I have to remind myself that these platforms are only shadows and echoes of true reality. How we interpret algorithmic content can suggest to us that we have to already be great to get started or that we have to be the greatest to keep striving. The mind then frantically looks for an exit and becomes tempted to quit or give up when Impostor Syndrome digs in its heels. In the wise words of Les Brown, “You don’t have to be great in order to get started but you do have to get started in order to be great.” Perhaps your industry has ended and now you need a new career. Perhaps you never really had a career, and now you’re considering going back to school. Maybe you’ve always known what your call and passion are but it hasn’t worked out quite yet. Maybe there is some wellness goal you’ve always wanted to achieve or a contribution to your community you’ve wanted to make for many years. Whether your goals are financial, romantic, philanthropic, or health-related, it is not too late to accomplish them. While I urge you to define success for yourself, as you research this topic, you will never find a definition for success that is contingent upon age. Earl Nightingale once stated, “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.” Are your goals truly worthy of your

There are a myriad of factors that could lead to Impostor Syndrome. Our concepts of success may sometimes need to be adjusted. Defining and redefining success for yourself can alleviate a good portion of the undue psychological pressure you are enduring. While it is possible to gain national attention overnight, fame usually comes from a marathon, not a sprint. While it is possible SwagHer Magazine

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time and energy? If so, then you owe it to yourself to continue working on them. No, it is not too late to start. If you have already started on your endeavors and you have been trying to fulfill your dreams for many years, it is never too late for success to eventually find you. If you still suspect that I might be spewing Pollyannism – gassing you up for optimism’s sake – here is a list of notable people who were also late bloomers: Sam Walton - Opened his first Walmart at age 44. Seasick Steve - Got his first gold record at age 55. Donald Fisher - Started The Gap clothing store at age 40.

Martha Stewart - Published her first book, Entertaining, at age 40. Judith Scheindlin - Starred in the TV show, Judge Judy, at age 54. Colonel Sanders - Founded KFC and became a millionaire at age 73. Ray Kroc - Bought out McDonald’s after working as their salesman at age 59. Henry Ford - After several failed car companies, finally turned a profit at age 45. Samuel L. Jackson - Didn’t gain clout for his acting until Jungle Fever at age 43.

Wally Amos - Built the cookie brand, Famous Amos, at age 49. Simon Cowell - Became a TV show judge on Pop Idol at age 42

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Wealth Educator Sunshine SmithWilliams Talks Life Before & After Incarceration, Police Reform, & More By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder from Natchez, Mississippi, home of renowned author Richard N. Wright, a great, great uncle to Sunny. Writing is in her blood. “I come from a solid foundation. My grandmother showed me what it was to be a wife, to be a mother. She taught me how to cook meals, not taking anything away from my mom. My mom was struggling because she was coming out of a relationship with my father. Though he married her, it didn’t work out for her like it worked out for my grandmother who raised ten children,” Sunny says. “So I needed that balance; I needed to see a strong woman win it by herself. But I also needed to see this strong woman [her grandmother] do it with the help of my grandfather. That was the dynamic I saw for just a short period of time.” “Though I don’t have any regrets, I do wish that we would focus more on family values with young girls,” she further states.

first learned of Sunshine “Sunny” Smith-Williams when she and the Pink Panther Clique were featured on our website. While the feature did not go deep into any of the women’s stories because it was the whole clique, I was delightfully intrigued to see Black women making something of themselves despite all life can throw at them--including incarceration. I wanted to know more because I had witnessed how prison had changed my own mother in not such a good manner. Yet here were these women who had re-entered society and gone on to do amazing things. Fast forward a few years, and here I was with the incredible opportunity to sit down with Sunny and hear her story in full.

“If you ever read the book called The Willie Lynch Project, it tells you that they wanted to have the nigger boy and a nigga girl grow up in different households. They wanted the nigger boy to grow up without a father and the nigger girl to grow up without a father. This was to ensure that the boy would not respect women, and that the girl would not need to respect men. And when the two came together, it would be a horrific situation and it wouldn’t work out,” she continues. “Well, I broke that generational curse because that nigger boy grew up to be my husband and that nigger girl grew up to be me. And we are still together--14 years together, 12 years married with children. So that’s a generational curse broken in itself. But as far as my childhood, I’ll be honest with you, I wanted things, and we all know that wanting things cost money. If my mom couldn’t afford to get it, I would have to do it for myself. So at the young age of 13, I found myself selling crack cocaine with my cousin and a childhood boyfriend.”

Growing up in Jamaica, Queens, New York, the five-time author and wealth educator was an only child living with her single mother who often struggled to make ends meet. Sunny, a latchkey kid, often spent time with her grandmother who was the matriarch of their family. Sunny’s grandmother hailed SwagHer Magazine

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Sunny told me a story about the time she and a childhood boyfriend got into an argument while in a well-to-do neighborhood. They were reported to the authorities, who started to pursue them. He was wearing a backpack full of drugs. The two split up to avoid the cops. The boyfriend was caught, but Sunny was not. Recalling the moment, Sunny says, “that was a sign for me to change my life around. ‘Wait a minute,’ I said. ‘If he just got hit with five years probation, and I’m already a youthful offender for getting into arguments with girls, and I already have been through the system, it wouldn’t have been that way for me.’ And we’re talking about 1994, where the Rockefeller drug laws were just being implemented. And they didn’t care if you were 14 or 15; they were going to give you what we call football numbers, which are numbers in double digits to teach you a lesson. So yes, my childhood was good with my mom, great with my grandmother. It was overall good with my peers. But I wanted money because I lacked it, and I was going to find any way to make it.”

friend]. So because you don’t forgive someone who hurt you, it will always be an open trauma. I got a little wisdom from it, but I was hurt. I was hurt by a friend who would set me up to take me away from my family. So what triggered [my transformation] was the day when my son and my husband came to visit me. It was the day after Thanksgiving. Well, I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving because of the Native American culture. However, the day after is Native American Day, and they both came on both days. On that particular day--Native American Day--which was on a Friday, my son said to me, ‘Mommy, let’s go home.’ And it hurt me to my soul that I couldn’t give him what he wanted. So imagine your son at the age of six saying, ‘Mommy, let’s go,’ and you can’t go with him because you’re there in prison serving your time.”

“But you graduated school and went to college, correct? You had successful jobs.” I ask Sunny. She replies, “I can get into some bad shit, and I can get into some good shit at one time. That was the uniqueness of me. I didn’t care if I was getting nine to five money. I wanted double over here. I always felt like the world was created not to allow us to be the best forms of ourselves. And I felt like after reading about the history of America, and how it was built upon corruption, I said, ‘Well, if you put me in a place where you haven’t given me all the tools [I need, then I must resort to unconventional measures to get mine.]--I rationalized that shit. I rationalized that you did not give me everything that you were supposed to give me.’ Finding out that I was partially Native American and doing powwows, I said, ‘You stole my land anyway. So what does it matter if I do some shit to you? You owe me that shit,’” Sunny explains. “That’s how I rationalized that. I really did.” Mrs. Williams would continue this fast living for a few years until she ran into an old associate from her old neighborhood in Jamaica, Queens. According to Sunny, this guy was the cause of her being arrested in upstate New York for having a bag of his counterfeit money in her possession. The guy had been washing the money by going into stores, buying things, and then returning the merchandise in exchange for legitimate cash. In one instance, he gave the bag of money to Sunny. While leaving her in the car, he went into a store. She unknowingly waited in the car until she was surrounded by police and subsequently arrested. The incident led to her indictment for conspiracy with counterfeit money and her incarceration at Danbury Federal Prison. There she spent a year. When asked how prison changed her, Sunny replies, “Prison changed me for the better. It actually allowed me to realize that family is everything to me. We don’t talk about what impact it has on our children.” She continues, “I had a couple of traumas, and that was because they were unresolved; I was unhealed; I didn’t forgive him [Her childhood SwagHer Magazine

“At that moment, I realized it’s not about you. It’s about your son and the decisions you make for your child; everything you do right now moving forward will affect him. When you nurture kids, you will be resented or rewarded. I would like to be rewarded, not resented, because I don’t want them ever to feel like ‘You put me in this situation.’ And that right there changed me! It made me be a better mother, a better person. It made me look at situations from a whole aspect. It changed me to be more mindful of my surroundings; I became careful of what I indulge in and who I indulged with. It changed me to be more alert, more aware. It made me become more of an Page 21

introvert. Now I only let people in when I have three or more common connections with them.” During her time at Danbury, Sunny met Jamila Davis, another Pink Panther Clique founding member. The Pink Panther Clique is a sorority of women, who are restoring their lives after the pain of incarceration. They have joined forces to pool their contacts and resources to build a brighter future, help their prison sisters rebuild their lives, and create awareness about the epidemic of women in prison and mass incarceration in the United States. Jamila’s mom had been Sunny’s seventh-grade teacher, so it wasn’t difficult for the two to connect. Sunny went on to explain, “I feel like a lot of the women that I served time with were little fish made to be big fish. And I said, ‘Okay, well, if they want to make us big fish, I’m going to create this platform, and I’m going to make sure you are bigger fish.’ So like I said, when Pink Panther Clique was created, it was designed to give a voice to the voiceless—to those that I felt were ripped apart from their freedom and their life and their rights by being overly sentenced. That’s where it came from. So it was myself and Jamila who started Pink Panther Clique.” The Pink Panther Clique would grow to be a group of seven women who would write an anthology about each woman’s time behind bars. Every woman went on to build her own personal brand platform as an author.

SwagHer Magazine

I am curious. “So was it your time in prison that sparked your interest in prison reform and prompting rectification for the death of your friend Shereese Francis, feeding your passion for police reform?” “Yes,” replies Sunny. “What sparked my interest in prison reform was me serving my time in prison. But I became interested in police reform way before prison reform existed.” She further explained that Shereese, the sister of her close friend, was killed by the police during what was supposed to be an EDP (Emotionally Disturbed Person) call. It became a 911 call, so the police were sent out. Shereese suffocated as the police tried to restrain her on a bed. These events occurred in 2012, but Sunny was between jail and prison from 2013 through 2015. There was never any time where I could pay attention to my friends. I was also in mourning. It took a lot out of me, you know. This was not just a fly-by-night friendship. This was my friend’s little sister, with whom I bonded and had a great relationship.” Sunny smiles. Her genuine passion for what is dear to her heart illuminates from her soul. She believes in rejuvenation. She believes in intervention for the sake of healing. She believes in community reconstruction.

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“When I say police reform, I didn’t get into it until I started writing [legislative] bills after George Floyd had passed away. This triggered me. So again, you know what I say--when it’s not healed properly, it’s a trauma; when it’s healed properly, it’s wisdom. There will never be any wisdom from Shereese’s death; there will never be any wisdom from the cop killing her and compressing his knee on her back. There will never be any wisdom from that; there will be traumas built, and me taking and transforming that trauma into pain and purpose. I have to transfer that. But no, there will never be [wisdom from that act]. So prison reform started in 2014. For me, police reform-the initial mind state--has always been there with violence, interrupting or trying to stop kids from doing things. I have always been a youth advocate. It just became more prominent when I got home because then I had a book in hand to pretty much use as a basis for a curriculum or for workshops to help people understand. But after the George Floyd episode, the Shereese Francis Act was created.” Wanting to know if she felt there had been any progress, I ask, “So do you feel like- especially within the last year with all the riots and so on--that anything has changed? Do you see any progress made?” “I’ll be honest with you,” Sunny says. “I feel like the media controls the narrative. I believe that what is not being reported can influence our perception. So it’s like a catch 22 question because if it’s not reported, we will think that everything is okay. Right? When it is reported, we go, ‘Oh, my God!’ I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I also tell people, ‘If you break down the word television, it says ‘to tell a lie using your vision.’ For example, with the Coronavirus and COVID-19, they’re saying the numbers are spiking up now. But this [dissemination of information] can also control the narrative in the future--Now, we shut down the world. If you cause chaos and mayhem, it starts to make you upset, makes you nervous, and starts to get you clammy.” By the intensity of her tone, I feel that Sunny has given great thought to this topic. She continues: “And it makes it easier for people to become what I call “docile.” When it comes to the George Floyd episode and that girl filming that, once it got into our hands, it made us warriors.” However, Sunny shared that when renowned activist Tamika Mallory of Until Freedom along with Sunny’s former brand manager Latoya Bond of the BBM Agency asked Sunny and Francis’s family to join the “National Day of Outrage” honoring the countless Black women who were killed by law enforcement, she could not attend. She could not do so because the situation triggered something uneasy in her. Sunny says, she “wasn’t emotionally ready to re-open wounds, and she was attending the memorial service for Aamir Griffin, the young teenage basketball player who was killed by a stray bullet while practicing on the basketball court in Baisley Projects where he resided.” She also observes that Black-on-Black crime is now getting more attention in her old neighborhood of Jamaica Queens. She ponders if it is merely an excuse to justify the killing of unarmed Blacks. SwagHer Magazine

“Let’s talk about why the police are killing unarmed Black people--period!” she remarks. “Why is it that there’s an Asian no-hate crime bill passed, and we [Blacks] haven’t gotten our crime bill passed? These are questions we need to ask ourselves. So when someone asks if it is getting better, I say NO! Laws make things get better, and if laws are not passed, things won’t get better.” Sunny sternly believes that until the elite stop giving false narratives to the media regarding Blacks and other groups of color, nothing changes. She declares the elite want to control society’s agenda on dealing with racial matters. With that being said, it’s important to note that Sunny wrote the Shereese Francis Act, which is now in the bill stage. The bill stipulates that police will be accountable for their use of deadly force--including chokeholds and prolonged knee pressure to a person’s back. It will protect the mentally ill. The bill also includes mandated training for law enforcement officers for detecting and dealing with mental health disorders in the people they serve. “This bill will give EMTs or mental health practitioners the legal [responsibility] to protect the patient. Violence by law enforcement has to stop! In the situation leading to Shereese’s death, EMTs were told to stand down and back away from Shereese. Those police officers weren’t qualified to make that decision,” Sunny points out. “Chasing my friend around her home in a nightgown doesn’t sound like they came to protect and serve. Mental illness is a disease and not a crime. The requirements to become a police officer will include obtaining a GED or a high school diploma, earning a postsecondary education degree, and the completion of Academy training. My bill will imply that officers need additional training while interacting with mentally disturbed people.” Sunny then pitched the act to Chief of Staff member Jamal Wilkerson of District 28 and Adrienne E. Adams current member of the New York City Council from the 28th District. Former New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, has become involved with the Shereese Francis Act and George Floyd Bill to ban the chokehold in New York. Besides being an author, Sunny is a wealth educator who is a firm believer in financial literacy and ownership. “I believe that financial literacy should start in the home, so I created Wine and Wealth Academy. Wine and Wealth Online academy was created to assist in better financial planning. In most African American households, the resources are not there. You may have been taught to get a “good” government job with benefits. Many times, we started late with getting knowledge, and as a result, horrible decision making and poor money management led to tons of debt, bankruptcies, and the list goes on. After attending college, I realized you spend more time working to pay off school debts than you do to obtain assets. Making money alone doesn’t make you rich; it’s how you invest money. Therefore, it is important to start early when teaching your children about credit and incentivize good behavior that will help them build credit when they are ready. Page 23

Wine and Wealth Academy is an online school for financial literacy. The school offers lessons like cryptocurrency trading and credit repair courses, and the classes are as low as $600. The school launched in late July and already has over 1,500 people enrolled.

“I have a fireplace in my home. I like to sit in front of the fire-- even in the dead smack of summer-- to open up my third eye because that self-care is needed. For you to be selfcaring, you have to possess self-consciousness. That means protecting yourself.”

“Volume one is credit. Volume two is entrepreneurship. Volume three will be about wills and estates, and volume four will be about investing in real estate. We have to create a narrative of teaching our children in-house before school starts. It’s teaching them early to understand the power of credit and how money works,” she shares.

Sunny likes to get physical as well. “I also take time out to run on the beach. I like to run. I know it sounds corny, but I run on grass to stay grounded. My home has a red wall, and I use my red wall to align my other chakras. I am in a very spiritual place in my life. I do yoga. I go to the gym often. I don’t really like people touching and massaging me because I understand people’s energies, and I don’t want that energy to be on me.

“My husband and I have made millions of dollars off of cryptocurrency by investing in it at the right time, putting our money in, and knowing what to do at the right time. A lot of our Black and Brown communities don’t know about that.” The Black community is said to fall far behind the United States population as a whole when it comes to financial literacy. There is said to be a significant lag behind the white population, according to the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA). Sunny goes on to say, “We find out late, and by the time we find out, the laws change for us, and we aren’t able to capitalize financially. I remember back in the days when doctors and lawyers could file bankruptcy on their school loans, but bankruptcy laws changed when we [People of Color] started to file bankruptcy including our educational loans.”

Sunny is currently working on another book, which will be a hybrid--a book and a workbook. Her latest work, Speak It Until You See It, is also available. Wine and Wealth Academy is still open for enrollment. Photography by Shameka Matthews of Smile 4 Meka. Interview has been edited for clarity and length.

I ask Sunny, “Who is Sunny, the woman? How would Sunny describe her swagher? What makes Sunny, Sunny?” “What makes Sunny, Sunny is her uniqueness. As an entrepreneur, I could definitely tell you that being a multitasker is a unique thing on its own. If I have four different projects, I can work on all four various projects and give myself to each project. There are different sides of me. One side might require more physical engagement, another may require more visual attention. A side might allow me to contribute my mental, while another might require me to be more spiritual. I can utilize my gifts all at once to handle tons of projects at one time. My swagher is doing it effortlessly like a swan on water. If you ever saw a swan’s legs, you’d notice that they’re very small, and they get very tired. But when a swan floats on water, it looks effortless. You don’t know how much drama, pain, trauma, and [situations] that swan is going through just to get to the other side of that pond. If you can see under the water, you can see its feet working away. And I’m telling you, I’ve watched it. I said, “Wait a minute, I believe that there’s some type of connection between a swan and me.” When asked how she practices self-care, Sunny replies, “So self-care for me is through spirituality. I meditate in the morning, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., every day. I’m a very spiritual person. For me, to practice self-care is to be selfaware. Self-care is me aligning my chakras. I don’t know if you know anything about your chakras aligning, but this is my third eye right here.” Sunny points to her forehead and between her eyebrows where the third eye is located. SwagHer Magazine

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Share Your Story Winner: Lady Tiffany Nicole Internet Radio station in three major markets Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta. Her radio and TV show The Virtuous Hour has been graced by national recording artists as well as some of the most prominent movers and shakers in the community. Her personal testimony of overcoming life’s hardships to virtue and victory has allowed her to touch the heart of God’s daughters through her foundation Modern Proverbs Women and her yearly Virtuous and Victorious Conference. She is determined and destined to make God famous while making a positive influence in media.

ady Tiffany Nicole is a media magnet called to help entrepreneurs cultivate their gifts and penetrate their market through the ministry of TV and radio.

A woman sold out for God, she has devoted her life to uplift, encourage and support all who cross her path. Lady Tiffany Nicole, a licensed minister, has been preaching the gospel since 2011. Through her gift of personality, she has become the premier kingdom personality to help promote entrepreneurs, small businesses, authors, etc. through her international media brand The Virtuous Hour Media and Marketing LLC. In 2021 God expanded her territory as CEO of Power Influence Radio; the first African American Woman-Owned SwagHer Magazine

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Love Me My Way Loving your partner

in their language By: Obsession

Words of affirmation- “You’re beautiful,” “You’re so good at this!”, “You’re amazing,” “You’re a genius!”, “You make me a better person,” “You’re so handsome” is all this group of people needs to make them feel important and loved. Words hold much weight with these individuals, so if anything negative or less than pleasant needs to be said, make sure the delivery isn’t harsh, aggressive, or offensive.

hat is a love language? Love language is how a person expresses and receives love. Understanding and communicating your partner’s love language plays a massive role in making you both feel valued in your relationship. Some people have no problem simply saying I love you to their person, while others, on the other hand, struggle with verbalizing their feelings, so they make an effort to show their love instead. This applies to parenting as well, but that’s a whole other post. First things first, to communicate effectively in your relationship, you must understand your partner’s love language and your own. How do you like to be loved? What makes you feel acknowledged and appreciated? According to Gary Chapman, a relationship counselor and author of the best-seller “The 5 Love Languages”, it’s scarce that both individuals share the same language in a relationship. I’ve learned that some people, such as myself, have more than one love language.

Quality time- It’s all about time, attention, and simply being together with these individuals. It could be something as simple as Netflix and chill or a midday stroll in downtown Chicago; these people often need to be in your presence. A long-distance relationship is a big no-no for this group because they have a strong desire to be up close and personal with their partner. Acts of service- The worst thing you can do to this group of individuals is leave them to do everything themselves. These people love to work as a team with their partners and to receive help without asking. For example, your partner will love you to the moon and back if they never have to ask you to take out the trash, or cook dinner some nights, or even get the kids ready for bed. They appreciate when their partner tackles tasks and jobs without reminders, hints, etc. It boils down to relationships having a greater chance of longevity when you know and respect your partner’s love language. Here is the link to Gary Chapman’s “The 5 Love Languages” https://www.amazon.com/Five-Love-LanguagesHeartfelt-Commitment/dp/8186775099/

Per Mr. Chapman, there are five love languages: physical touch, receiving gifts, words of affirmation, quality time, and acts of service. Here’s a breakdown of the languages. Physical touch- This is for the huggers, the kissers, the hand-holders, the cuddlers, the ones that like random slaps on their bums or unexpected strokes of their cheeks and hair. Affection means everything to them. Neglecting this group will cause them emotional turmoil. Receiving gifts- It’s simple; gifts make this group extremely happy. Word of advice, it would be a mistake to only present them with gifts on special occasions like their birthday or Christmas, these people love ‘Just because I love you’ gifts; gifts that are random and unexpected. SwagHer Magazine

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All Things Winter Skin Care with Kim Cross By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder

beginnings of a skin condition that progressively got worse over 20 years. When I first started looking for options, natural skincare products that smelled fantastic and didn’t agitate my skin were hard to find. In the twenty-plus years since, I’ve honed my craft of being a hairstylist--where I also learned to formulate. Couple my experience in haircare with being too stubborn to quit trying to find a solution for my skincare, I began crafting my own products. I was a disaster at first, but the lessons were priceless. I’m now 16 years into formulating and crafting natural skincare and home fragrance...I’m soooo excited about the future of Zhi Bath & Body! Fancy: Since you are former military, did you ever think that you would be working in this industry? Kim: Absolutely...for the most part. I knew I would be in the beauty industry at seven years old when I braided my doll’s hair myself for the first time. I did all my friend’s hair throughout middle school and high school (and in the Navy). I tried it, had it, duplicated it, messed it up, and everything in between if it was a fun, funky style.

Fancy: Welcome back, Kim! We are excited to have you. What is new with you? Kim: I’m so glad to be back with you. It’s been an amazing four years with SwagHer Magazine, and I’m stoked to see where we’ll go next! Zhi has blossomed since our last conversation. To compliment my goat milk skincare & candle line, I’ve started teaching soapmaking and candlemaking classes as well as landed in a new store in Collinsville, VA (Gourmet Keto Express). I write e-books that coincide with my new membership program that allows me to help others be intentional with practicing selfcare through encouragement, accountability, and outstanding products. Did I mention I designed a coloring book, started business coaching, and I write self-care articles? There’s so much-we’d have to sit another day to cover it all. Fancy: What inspired your skincare brand, Zhi Bath & Body, for those not as familiar with you? Kim: Zhi was inspired by my need for skincare products that did not agitate my skin. I left military service with the SwagHer Magazine

I also came from a military family, so service was also engrained pretty deep. There was something so normal about being in JROTC that being in the military was just right for me. Thinking on my time in the Navy, I can say with certainty that it prepared me to be the dedicated formulator and business owner I am today. I’m unafraid of hard work, tough working conditions, dumb things going wrong, and even pushback for being a woman. I have no doubt that the drive to succeed came from serving in the military. It changes you...makes you better. It feels amazing being back to my first love with know-how and drive to keep going. Fancy: So we know that you are all things skincare. What are some reasons for winterizing our skin? Kim: It’s simple really...so much so, that most of us don’t even think about it. Look at your skin as your house. If your home has drafty windows, you either seal them or take measures to keep winter out, right? The same is so with your skin; you keep winter out by moisturizing, sealing, and protecting the skin. Cold weather is very drying to the skin. It zaps the moisture right out of your summer glow, causing everything from cracks that can get infected to acne breakouts. Skin cracks as it dries and produces more oil to accommodate and, in turn, creates breakouts. It is all preventable. As the seasons change, so should your skincare routine. Your skin is just as stressed as we are when colder weather enters, so being purposeful with your skin routine is key. Page 29

Please note, exfoliation is essential to rid your skin of old skin cells and aid in absorbing nutrients from other products. Just don’t overdo it. And don’t forget to use sunscreen. The sun is still out in winter; sunburn still happens. Fancy: Besides the weather, we know that stress and hydration can affect our skin, but how does that work exactly? Kim: Taking the easiest first, drink just as much if not more water in winter. The air is much drier in cold weather and pulls the moisture out of your skin. Again, the drier the skin gets, the more oil the body produces to accommodate. Breakouts will happen. Hydrating skin with products is indeed helpful; drinking water is a wonderful multipurpose method that will save more than just cash. Now stress...wow, it will wreak havoc on skin. Just as toxins find their way out of the body by any means, the body reacts to stress in much the same way--it will come out. A great example is how so many people feel down in the dumps, stressed, and not themselves when colder weather moves in. Many go through seasonal affective disorder, and it can show through with the skin.

Fancy: What preventive skin care measures should we take during the wintertime? Kim: Oh my God, it’s ridiculously easy to take preventive measures and won’t cost any more than your current routine. I’m not talking buy a brand new line of winter products; I’m recommending replacing the basic products in your skincare routine--the cleanser and moisturizer. Fancy: What products do you suggest for winter skincare survival? Kim: If you have found a skincare line that works for you, by all means, see if they offer a cleanser with extra moisturizers. I make Ultimate Moisture for Dry Skin--a goat milk cleanser and lotion with extra moisturizers with a foot balm for tired, dry, cracked feet. We are always open for a conversation to formulate a custom blend that caters to individual skin types. In general, as the weather cools, opt for: Oil-based cleanser - Especially for the face since it’s the most exposed part of the body. Heavier moisturizers - Thicker lotions or creams with protective butters like shea and mango and oils like avocado. Less exfoliating - Winter is already an irritant for the skin. Exfoliating in winter is necessary but not as frequently as it can add to the irritation caused by the weather. SwagHer Magazine

Many ‘things’ cause us stress--work, school, kids, business, Covid-19, or even just the lack of warmth and green trees. It can all ultimately come out in the form of rashes, breakouts, and random spots you can’t explain. The key is to take stock of what is happening, create a plan to reduce stress levels, then stick to it. Winter will come and go like clockwork and cannot be controlled. What CAN be controlled is proactive steps to pamper skin to maintain its summer glow in winter. Fancy: What does your skincare routine consist of? Kim: I’m so excited; I’ve never been asked that before! Personally, I take a multi-zone approach to my skincare routine due to how my medication affects my body as a whole. My face is pretty normal when I’m not having a flare, so in winter, I use Ultimate Moisture for Dry Skin (Unscented or Eucalyptus Mint). Full transparency, I switch to Eucalyptus Mint in the week leading up to and for the week after taking my medication to counter the odor it causes. I love how the unscented cleansing bar and lotion smell. It is unscented because there’s no added fragrance; however, the natural aroma of the Cocoa, Shea, and Mango butters make it smell so delightful. Last, I have a dedicated foam cleanser (Irrisistible Pusse) to take care of my vaginal health using an organic product. It’s awesome for shaving, tender underarms, and my face...yes, my face. I’m pretty boring with my skincare since small things can cause a flare, so I’ll never be accused of being a product junkie. I tend to stick to what I know unless I’m testing a new product or fragrance--I live by the motto, “If I break out, it doesn’t go out.” My family and a couple of dedicated testers get all the fragrances I don’t care for. Page 30

When I became okay with relinquishing some of my hats, I became a cooler mom, a wife my husband loves even more, a better and more relaxed business owner, and a better person in general. Fancy: Where can our readers find you online? Kim: I’m all over the Internet! www.zhibathandbody.com is the skincare, soy candle, and InnerZhi Membership site www.crosshaircollective.com is coming soon! It’s where you’ll find my class schedule, help with starting a business, e-books and coloring books, skincare and wellness webinars, and (fingers crossed) speaking engagements. Twitter: twitter.com/zhibathandbody Instagram: instagram.com/zhibathandbody Facebook: fb.me/zhibandb Pinterest: pinterest.com/zhibathandbody Clubhouse: @zhibathandbody info@zhibathandbody.com for general info or if you don’t know who to email Fancy: Switching gears, who is Kim outside of Zhi Bath & Body? Kim: Outside of Zhi, I’m a movie junkie that loves hot chocolate all year long and a Pepsi with my coffee. I am a lover of coloring books, tending to my MANY plants and flowers, and gardening. I enjoy tag-teaming various mechanical projects with my husband and Nerf gun battles with the kids. All of these don’t happen as often as before but are SOOO much fun. If time happens to allow, I immerse myself in my aromatherapy and botanical products classes.

hello@crosshaircollective.com for in-person/virtual classes, business questions, or e-books/artices kimc@crosshaircollective.com for speaking engagements

Fancy: As a boy mom, wife, and business owner, how do you balance everything? Kim: Really and truly, I have not been the greatest at finding balance. In recent years, I’ve made strides in building my business around the life I desire to live instead of living around my business...It. Is. Exhausting. Through some awesome mentors, I’ve learned that there are processes I can put in place to get me closer to the goal of my business revolving around my fellas and me, not the other way around. So many times as business owners, we feel a need to do it all. Whether it’s to save money or we just don’t know better, we bite the bullet and do what we feel we have to in order to attain what we call success. Coming to grips with the fact that a single person cannot build an empire is not only the key to success, but it’s also very liberating. SwagHer Magazine

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6 Girl Boss Tips for 2022 By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder

e reached out to some of our favorite girl bosses to see what business tips they would share for 2022, and here’s what they said….

“You can’t make withdrawals from accounts you’ve made no deposits in. Build relationships before you need them and understand life is a relationship game, in order to win at it, focus on building authentic, mutually beneficial ones.” - Alechia Reese | @alechiareese

Yolanda Keels Walker

When building business credit, get started as soon as possible. Do not delay as the credit and funding industry is always updating. What methods and access to capital might have worked 6 months ago, may no longer be available. So here at BCA Culture, we believe in having a sense of urgency when it comes to getting business credit and funding. - Darbi of BCA Culture | @dominatewithdarbi

Darbi of BCA Culture

Alechia Reese

Incorporate Done For You (DFY) and Private Label Rights (PLR) digital products into your brand to help you create more passive income in your business. These products can save you weeks of time, reduce your outsourcing costs, and provide immense value for your clientele. Branding them as your own, sets you above those in your field and helps you to increase sales because they’re digital; you’re literally making money in your sleep! - Yolanda Keels Walker, Founder The Business Babes | @thebusinessbabes SwagHer Magazine

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The odds of landing the investment are not in your favor but don’t take it personally. Women-led startups only received 2.3% of venture capital funding in 2020. That number drops below 1% when it comes to women of color. A lot of us are facing the same uphill battle when it comes to funding our businesses, but the blood, sweat, and tears are worth it.-Dr. Roshawnna Novellus, Founder and CEO of EnrichHER | @ienrichher

Lillie Mae

Dr. Roshawnna Novellus

Be open and don’t be afraid to reach out to other sisters. You never know who has been watching you, waiting for the opportunity to collaborate or work with you somehow. We’re a lot more alike than we are different.- Francheska “Fancy” Felder, Publisher/EIC of SwagHer Magazine/ Visibility Coach | @fancyswagher

Be willing to invest for acceleration! We can’t rely on YouTube University to reach our business goals. It’s imperative to invest in a Coach or program that will bridge the gap between your vision and the manifestation of it. Use someone else’s experience as the shortcut to success! As a publicist and coach, I love using my 15 years of experience to help women amplify their brand recognition and reach their income goals. www.TheGlamCEO.com- Lillie Mae, Publicist & Coach| @iamLillieMae

Francheska “Fancy” Felder SwagHer Magazine

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Sit Down with an Empath, Denay Dominic By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder

In 2014 Denay Dominic found herself seeking spiritual enlightenment and began the process to discover her life purpose. She discovered that she had many passions to share when she created the blog My Divine Beauty Obsession. This blog celebrates the health, wellness, and beauty of Black women by providing articles that promote healthy relationships with the physical self. The Hampton alum and mental health advocate is passionate about helping women become better versions of themselves. By using groundbreaking life coaching strategies, intuitive and empathic gifts, and subtle energy techniques. Fancy: What sparked your interest in coaching?

enay Dominic is your healer’s healer. Through her business, Denay Dominic Enterprises, the spiritual and transformation coach, provides digital content publishing, online courses, and life coaching programs that act as a catalyst for personal empowerment. The company’s mission is to provide tools that empower black women to ignite their dreams, unleash their potential, and fulfill their purpose.

SwagHer Magazine

Denay: I have worked in the mental health field for over 15 years. I have my degree in Clinical Counseling. I found that coaching was more aligned with my moral beliefs. With spiritual life coaching, I am able to use a more holistic approach that helps people connect to who they truly are. I get to guide folks through the process to change/re-direct/ navigate their life, uncover their desires, take steps towards their goals, achieve their dreams, bust limiting beliefs, and remove roadblocks.

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Fancy: You were a mental health advocate before, so was it difficult to transition into coaching? Denay: It was not difficult at all. Both roles allow me to help people attain their goals. Fancy: What are some signs that someone may be in need of your services? Denay: Here are three clear signs that you’re ready to bring spiritual coaching into your life. 1. You Feel Lost When you don’t know who you are or what you want from life, as a spiritual coach, I can help you find your true self. If you can develop a deeper understanding of your place in the universe, you can find a greater sense of meaning. By addressing the negative thoughts and patterns that make your life chaotic and distort your perspective, you can begin to focus on what truly matters to you. 2. You Feel Blocked If you’re not quite lost, but you can’t quite seem to move forward, there might be blocks that are holding you back. Often these blockages are related to old traumas and the patterns, stories, and triggers around those traumas. With Denay Nicole Coaching, you can identify those traumas and work through them in a safe way. 3. You’re Facing a Big Transition Changing careers, getting out of a relationship, moving to a new city, or a death in the family- all of these are major life transitions. They can cause chaos and disruption in an otherwise healthy life. That’s because life transitions mean change. They mean we have to let go of what we know and adapt to a new situation. Fancy: What does it mean to be an empath and how did you discover you are one?

the ground. I could feel the pain of our ancestors that had been absorbed by the land. The pain was so strong that I fell to my knees and just cried. My mother thought I was losing my mind. That’s when I knew I could no longer hide my gifts and I shared with my family what I was going through. By being honest about who I am, the burden that was weighing me down, lifted and I felt a sense of relief. Fancy: How does this affect or enhance your ability to provide your services? Denay: As an empath, I am able to read energy. It’s a useful tool when a client doesn’t have the words to express themselves or may be fearful of sharing their thoughts or feelings. Fancy: What are some ways people can protect their energy? Denay: The easiest way to protect your energy is to ground your Sacral Chakra through meditation and imagine a golden bubble around your entire body so that others (a.k.a. energy vampires) cannot attempt to take your energy. If you don’t like the idea of the bubble, you can also imagine a wall of fire or water. By imagining the bubble, you are keeping what is yours while the energy of others is bounced back to them. When using the imaginary wall of fire, you are burning the energy of others before it gets attached to you and the water will drown the energy. Another tried and true technique to remove emotional energy that may or may not belong to you is to imagine your heart has two doors. One door faces your chest and the other door faces your back. Imagine that both doors are open. Once you feel the emotion then you acknowledge it and determine if it is yours. If the emotion does not belong to you then you can push it out of your heart chakra. This will keep the emotion from getting stuck inside of you and you can focus on other things.

Denay: If you’re an empath, you’re an extremely sensitive person who is in tune with the energy of others and you’re capable of picking up the thoughts and feelings of those around you. Sometimes, empaths are so capable of relating to other people that they take on pain that doesn’t belong to them, which can be exhausting. I knew I had a gift as early as the second or third grade. However, due to religious programming, I would not allow myself to share what I was seeing or sensing. I kept all of my gifts a secret for many, many years until October 2016 when I visited the Whitney Plantation in Louisiana for a tour with my Grandmother, Mother, and Aunt. During the tour, our guide rang the bell that was used to call the enslaved people to or out of the sugar cane fields. As the guide rang the bell, the vibrations hit me in my chest and then came up through SwagHer Magazine

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If you are an empath then I highly recommend that you take my course on Empath Mechanics. The real key is to learn your own mechanics - how to operate as an empath and allow yourself to take charge. With the Empath Mechanics Course you will learn: Fast strategies to easily release other people’s energy. Deep knowledge of yourself Knowing how to be seen and loved by others An understanding of your sensitive body. Having confidence in public spaces An ease in navigating emotions you’ve only dreamed about (you may be sensitive, but it doesn’t mean that you need days to recover from a tongue lashing or rude remark) Comfort setting heart-centered boundaries with loved ones ... and more! For a limited time, you can get lifetime access to this Empath Mechanics course for $11.11. Fancy: You also educate others about narcissism. Why are narcissism and empaths often associated with each other?

of the narcissist, they end up driving the relationship and holding control of the relationship over the empath. In my Narcissistic Abuse Survivor Course you will learn:

1- The most common manipulation tactics and how to

avoid them

2- Self-care and reparenting perspectives that can expedite your personal progress

3- How to maintain emotional control in the most trying of conversations

4- The communication techniques that work best for ensuring that you get in and out of interactions with your heart, sanity, and wallet intact. Fancy: What do you have planned for 2022? Denay: I have some amazing things coming in 2022. But for right now, I can share that I will offer Reiki Energy Healing, Tarot Readings, and Psychic Medium Readings. Fancy: How can others keep up with you? Denay: https://www.denaynicolecoaching.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DenayNicoleCoaching https://www.instagram.com/denaynicolecoaching/

Denay: Given their great amount of compassion, the empath is prone to absorbing the emotions and energy of others., When they meet a narcissist, the energy they sense triggers something in them that ignites their need to comfort the narcissist, beginning the cycle of narcissistic supply. Usually, the empath believes (often subconsciously) they can heal and help the narcissist, so they pour themselves into showing the narcissist their worth, but the narcissist never will see it. The narcissist in this position will take advantage of the empath and see their compassion as weakness. The attraction between the two is profoundly due to their complementary desires, unhealthy as it may be, to seek attention and validation from one another. Things are likely to become more problematic if the empath has a tendency to be more codependent in relationships. The relationship between a narcissist and an empath is one-sided, where one is the giver and the other takes as much as they can, thus leaving the other dry. The empath in the relationship wants to help the other and provide a source of support and love to the narcissist, who thrives on this type of attention. Given the manipulative and selfish tendencies SwagHer Magazine

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Fast-Food

Favor Fortune

By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder

DR. Mya SMITH EDMONDS w hile many dream of doing great feats for their communities

and being of service to their loved ones, the ability to realistically position oneself financially and philanthropically to give back is of great significance. Dr. Mya Smith-Edmonds, owner and operator of nine McDonald’s franchises, is fortunate to be a blessing to others.

eautiful, intelligent, classy, grounded, and passionate about her work and faith is how Dr. Mya Smith-Edmonds can be described. The oldest of eight children, Smith-Edmonds recalls striving to be a good role model to her siblings. By the age of 13, she worked in a McDonald’s owned and operated by her father. She knew from a very early age that she wanted to own a business, employ others, and consequently support families. It seemed only logical to her that she would start working towards becoming a successful McDonald’s owner/operator immediately after graduating from high school.

Iwork t was Smith-Edmonds’s father, whose ethic, business savvy and style that

inspired her dreams. He suggested that she first go to college and try her hand at a profession unrelated to McDonald’s. If she still felt interested in owning a McDonald’s after those endeavors, he would agree to support her 110%.

T he Houston native graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston

with a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and a minor in African-American studies. She was a CPA with Deloitte & Touche, one of the world's largest accounting firms, before deciding to take a position as Program Director with KCOH Radio Station. It was her love for people that would lead her back to McDonald’s.

efore becoming a franchise owner, Smith-Edmonds completed a required 2-5 year training program in less than 12 months. While working as a general manager, she was awarded the Ray Kroc Award. This honor is earned by the top 1% performers of the McDonald's leadership system. SwagHer Magazine

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nitially, Smith-Edmonds’s dream was to acquire three restaurants. She now owns nine. Acquiring her restaurants did not come easy. She started over several times during the process of acquiring her first restaurant. From delays, obstacles and challenges ranging from representatives relocating to new reps not receiving correspondence to being told that she’s not in a program to being told no to Smith-Edmonds having to move 7 times, the challenges never dwindled. While it was discouraging, looking back, she says, When it seems like something is in the way - an obstacle slowing you down, from your Blessing, Opportunity, Dreams or Desires - God is saying, “No, I’m getting you READY for Everything you asked for!”

hose struggles hit her in a very emotional place. "It just makes me cry because I think about everything that I went through in that season--years of let down and unmet expectations. Doing everything asked of me, mastering my tasks, yet getting nothing and making no progress. All I could think was, 'Is it going to happen for me or not?' But I realize now that it was a big feat to become a McDonald's owner/operator, and all of the struggles, all of the transitions and all of the changes that I went through were to encourage others not to EVER give up.”

mith-Edmonds learned at quite an early age the role her faith would play in her journey. She attended a private Christian school. As summoned in her youth, it was her faith that kept her grounded during those challenging times when she purchased her first franchise. “The only reason it's hard is that the devil can see everything that God has for you, and he's trying to stop you. He's trying to distract you. You must stay focused on listening to the voice of God and not the lies of the enemy,” she shares.

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perating her first restaurant was no breeze. While Smith-Edmonds and her team had great operations and a clean restaurant, the location was not ideal. "It was so bad. One day I had a field consultant from the corporation come to check on me and evaluate the restaurant. I literally had a customer walking from one side of the entry door to the other side of the restaurant, urinating across the floor. The rep was like, 'Oh my God, is this happening?!' I told the rep it happens all the time,” Smith-Edmonds recalls. "I even had people come in that always put feces on the mirrors and in the toilet paper dispensers and got high in the restrooms. Sometimes they overdosed and I had to call the ambulance and police. As if that wasn’t enough, there was an adult entertainment venue located across the street. Truck drivers and patrons were always coming in, but I couldn’t make any money because the surrounding environment wasn't kid-friendly nor family-friendly.… to say the least."

owever, the owner/operator in Smith-Edmonds pushed through, and by the time she had her third restaurant, corporate was calling to offer her a fourth because they knew she could handle it. She was the first, African-American Next Generation to own a McDonald’s restaurant in Central Indiana.

mith-Edmonds prides herself on not just being a McDonald’s owner, but an operator. She credits her dad--who she considers to be a Legend in the business--for the clear distinction between the two terms. She explains that when one says they are an owner, he or she is usually not as deeply involved in the operations of the day-to-day business as an operator is. "When you are an operator versus an owner, you are operating your business. You're being a business person," Smith-Edmonds explains passionately. "If you're a business person, and you don't know your numbers, then you don’t know your business. You could be OPEN for business, yet be OUT of business. Operating my business is what helps me succeed. Because at the end of the day, when I'm looking at my numbers, I'm trying to focus on making sure I'm profitable. What does my return on investment look like?” SwagHer Magazine

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he millionaire confesses that the Coronavirus was a major, unexpected blow to the business. Employees were worried about whether or not they would continue to receive their work hours and were worried about their pay. Smith-Edmonds was concerned too, about the trend in business; But she sought God throughout that time and says that she received, in her spirit, the inspiration to give more than she had ever given, and not worry about loss. "The first thing that came to my mind was that God will provide seed to the sower, and I could NEVER beat God giving" says Smith-Edmonds. "Keep in mind, this was during COVID when people were shutting down restaurants and laying off employees or decreasing hours because they weren't making the sales to sustain payroll. There was a double-digit decrease in transactions and sales. Restaurants were closed. The lobbies were closed. People weren't coming to work, etc…." Proudly she states that in spite of all the odds, Smith-Edmonds had a record-breaking year!

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eing profitable does not simply benefit Smith-Edmonds, but the whole ecosystem of the franchises' 800 employees. Because she understands that her success fuels the households of all these people and believes that she is to be of service, she takes knowing the intricacies of her duties very seriously. Her days consist of planning and projecting, accurately forecasting sales and controllable expenses. "I know that if I'm ever in a position where I may not be profitable, that puts the entire organization at risk," says Smith-Edmonds. "I'm responsible for every single employee that I employ. I want to make sure that I am running a business where not only my employees can stay employed, but a business where I'm putting them in a position to continue to get raises, bonuses, and promotions. I don’t want them to just be a crew person forever, but [I want to see them] promoted to the level of assistant manager. Then be a manager. Then become a general manager. Next, a supervisor. With all of those different levels, they get a pay increase. So I must run my business properly so that they are being developed and are ready to be promoted under my leadership." Page 42

ut, Smith-Edmonds did not stop there. Through the non-profit organization that she co-founded, The Smith Foundation, Inc., Smith-Edmonds gave back to her community as well. The Smith Foundation’s mission is to send children to college, provide food for those in need, distribute Christmas toys, and supply school supplies for underprivileged students in underserved communities. "When you think about [the value of] a college education versus a high school education, the difference of the income over a ten-year period is over $350,000," Smith says fiercely. “So, a college-educated student would make over $1,000,000 more in a 30-year career span, than a high school graduate. That's a substantial difference! This is the gap in economic disparity that we are committed to closing." The Smith Foundation has given over $108,000 in scholarships, in just a two-year period.

side from McDonald’s and the Smith Foundation, Smith-Edmonds is also a real estate investor. She purchases properties in underserved and underprivileged communities and helps to increase their property value while also giving the residents of the neighborhood something beautiful to look at and dream of obtaining. In the future, the businesswoman plans to branch into commercial real estate.

mith-Edmonds says, "Now is a good time to purchase property. There’s no bad time to buy property because it’s always increasing in value, and it’s a biblical practice. Anything that's in the Bible, I try to do it. Life is hard enough itself, so I just try to stay grounded in following God’s Word. It gives me strength, wisdom, and peace of mind. I’ve learned in life that the best thing to do is always look at the Creator of the creation to determine its best function. Our Creator knows what our best function is. He gave us a manual (the Bible). That manual will let us know how we can best function in the world that He created. So, anything I see in there, I just try to follow it to the 't.' I’m definitely not perfect by any means AT ALL. I’ve just learned how much mercy, grace, favor, blessings, and anointing are bestowed upon us in life, living a life honoring and keeping God FIRST."

he Kingdompreneur's hard work and successes with McDonald’s and giving back in the community does not go unnoticed. Smith-Edmonds has received both a proclamation declaring an official day be named after her--the "Myasha 'Mya' Smith-Edmonds Day" by the decree of the Mayor of the City of Houston, Sylvester Turner. She has also been awarded a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden.

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hen asked how it felt to receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, she exclaimed, "Oh my God, it was extraordinary! To God be All the Glory! I was completely blown away. When you think about the President giving you an award, it's like, 'whoa, wow.' I know that the award is based upon my accomplishments, servant spirit, and leadership in which I influence and impact the lives I’m entrusted to inspire. The reward also takes into account the ability one has to bring hope and relief. But by this being what I live and love to do, I’d do it without any recognition or award. It just feels good to be honored and recognized [for these qualities] in the highest fashion,... the highest honor you can get representing the US." Smith-Edmonds further recalls, “Whenever you receive the award, the organization does a welcome, and then you get the letter from the President. The letter talks about individuals standing in the gap during unforeseen times of struggle and distress. In reading that, it made me think about what it is to be selfless. When you think about giving all of YOU as a service, God just continues to fill you up and just bless you in different ways. It’s not about you or satisfying yourself, but it's all about serving others.”

eing both a boss and blessing can be a lot of work, but Smith-Edmonds says she keeps her mind strengthened by the word of God. "I continuously saturate my mind with God's word, making sure that I stay focused on knowing that He's always here to make sure that I don’t fall, that I come out on top, and that He is ready to bless me exceedingly, abundantly above all that I could hope, ask or think! So, when those negative thoughts come in, I just cast them down and I begin to speak out loud God’s Word. To me, that's my biggest form of self-care: Strengthening My Mental Health," she declares.

o how would Smith-Edmonds describe her swagher? What makes Dr. Mya, Dr. Mya? “My heart, my dedication and commitment to the things of God; my willingness and desire to give. That's what makes me, me. That's basically it." Digging deeper, she explains, “The rest of it--the hard work and the being successful, that's easy for me. But I think that the core ingredients are those three things: my heart, me keeping God first in my life, and my desire to give… Those three things are why I am where I am today,...completely.” SwagHer Magazine

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mith-Edmonds says she has many exciting things planned as we've moved into a new year. She will also be on the cover of more magazines soon. She is the Mistress of Ceremonies for an upcoming stage play Soul Purpose, which was awarded Stage Play of the Year. Soul Purpose is about five women from different walks of life who, after experiencing trials and tribulations, discover they can live out their soul purpose and overcome anything with faith in God and supporting each other. It will premiere in Houston, Texas, on March 5-6, 2022.

“What You Invest In Yourself, DIES With You. But What You INVEST In OTHERS, Has a CHANCE To LIVE ‘FOREVER!’ “ Dr. Mya Smith-Edmonds SwagHer Magazine

he McDonald’s owner/operator is blessed to be a blessing and definitely is a Black woman to watch, as she is one of the most powerful and influential leaders of the present generation to grace the cover of SwagHer Magazine.

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5 Tips for Moving On After a Divorce By: Matecha Pounds

A divorce coach would be essential in offering moral support and guidance to help process the pain in a healthy manner during the grief stages of divorce. The stages of grief are denial, anger, guilt, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Matecha Pounds IG: @MatechaPounds

No matter why it happened, be resilient and stand firm. The divorce isn’t your entire life, it was only a part of it so stick around for the rest of your life.

Accept the way things are even though it may not be how you pictured.

to love, enjoy and know yourself 3 - Begin as an individual, not a wife. divorce can be devastating, 4 - Although make your peace your priority unmatchable spirit of GOD has the 5 - The power to fill every empty place in your fragile heart. There will be no room for depression to survive.

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Meet the Ladies of Besties That Travel By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder young age. Together we orchestrated the school’s first dance and eighth-grade class trip. Fancy: What inspires your passion for travel? Trina: Travel takes us out of our comfort zones and inspires us to see, taste, and try new things. It serves as a reset in life, giving a breath of fresh air and allowing us to see the world from another perspective and culture. Traveling also encourages us to engage with different people, embrace adventures, and share new and meaningful experiences with friends and loved ones.

abby Profit and Trina Craft Trifilo are the founders of a women’s Black-owned travel company, Besties That Travel LLC. They are New Orleans natives with a passion and love for all things travel. The two have booked and arranged travels for the last 10 years and have been best friends for over 25 years! Creating memorable travel experiences for others is their passion. They are your personal travel concierge that assists with booking flights, lodging, transportation, excursions, and daily itineraries. They even serve as travel advocates and liaisons during your travel experiences and are there to assist with simple guidance and advice in the new world of travel, with the ever-changing travel restrictions. Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Gabrielle, Gabrielle, and Katrina, Katrina? Gabby: I am an overall outgoing yet chilled personality. My swagher would be my genuine approach to everything and everyone in life. I have been given a gift to effortlessly bring people together. I walk it like I talk it, ensuring good energy is put out into the world and always putting God first. God is truly my MVP in my life. Trina: My swagher is my vibe! I am a social butterfly; I love to strike up conversations with total strangers. I always lead with intuition and good energy. I truly believe in the motto, “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” I surround myself with women of integrity who are ambitious and full of positive vibes. I take pride in normalizing traveling in luxury in our Black community. It is obtainable to those who desire it.

Fancy: Would you say the journey to starting your travel business, Besties That Travel, was easy or difficult? And why do you say that? Gabby: It was a little of both. The easy part came with us already knowing each other and our transparency with one another. We think alike on a lot of things, so our desire to give travel to the world was already there. We had been coordinating trips and events for over 10 years in our personal lives. The difficult part came in once we became an actual incorporated business. We have learned so much in the last year with communication, processes and forms, accounting and finances, the uncharted territories in this global pandemic, and getting used to operating as a business with honoring the value that we bring into this travel world and understanding pricing of services rendered. Fancy: Please tell us more about your travel journal, Manifesting Your World. Gabby: Manifesting your world travel journal serves as a guide to help you visualize your traveling desires. It is an interactive journal that allows you to capture your thoughts for travel on paper. Sometimes you have these big travel dreams and destinations, and it can get frustrating or even discouraging when trying to put everything together. This travel journal gives you all the intricate parts of travel such as your desired destination, budget, packing list, shopping list, activities, and travel requirements, and assists in developing a realistic strategy of how you may plan to reach that goal and bring it into fruition. It has been proven that writing down your desires even if you’re not there yet is a powerful tool in manifesting what you want.

Fancy: How did you two meet?

Fancy: What was it like working with Essence Escapes and how did you all come about that opportunity?

Trina: We met in 1996 in sixth grade at Prince of Peace Lutheran School in New Orleans East and have remained friends throughout all these years. We were little bosses at a

Trina: We had a feature on Black News Channel and someone from their team passed our name along to a producer working with Essence Escapes.

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Fancy: What advice would you give to those undecided about travel during the first of the year? Gabby: It’s ok to have a desire for travel and to still be undecided. We always recommend knowing your environment and entry requirements before you go and preparing early. In this new age of travel with the pandemic, you want to remain safe and secure in your decision. That’s why we are here. We are your travel resource to help guide you on a realistic budget, the best times of travel for specific destinations, travel restrictions, and any other questions or concerns you may have. It’s never too early to start the planning process for your travels. Fancy: What can we expect from Besties That Travel this year? Trina: We are working on expanding our network and our team. This year we have a group trip in Montego Bay, Jamaica in June, with a possibility of an additional group trip to Dubai later in the year. We also have some awesome collabs with other travel companies and influencers that we are excited to connect with and will continue to get our Manifesting your World Travel Journal out to the world.

Please list your website and social media. It was a fast-paced environment with quick turnarounds and a lot of networking and connecting. Working with Essence Escapes was one of those experiences that has prepared us for so much more of what’s to come.

SwagHer Magazine

Connect with Besties That Travel:

Website: www.bestiesthattravel.com IG: bestiesthattravelllc

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FEB/MARCH 2022

FAITH

POSTMODERN PAINTING. Stella alternately paints in oil and watercolor

FROM BEST SELLER TO BOOKSHELVES TO INTL TOUR. Bt Staff Photo: Bafloe Publishing

Sis, building a business is HARD, and it's ok to say that. Admitting an issue is the first step in overcoming, but heres's the gage! You my dear are graced for it and if you dont believe just ask one of the 37 praying Boss Babes of Vol 3 Boss Babes Who Pray.

Yep, you read right. Not only are these 37 Boss Babes sharing their testimony of triumph and defeat through the power of God! But the Boss Babes Who Pray is taking their testimonies of the power of God from the bookshelves to on tour!

With 2022 being a year of declared victories and constant wins, naturally we know that the enemy doesn't play nicehowever exposing his lies is the first step to defeat!

Find the Boss Baes Who Pray sharing realize testimonies of how they overcome difficulties n the marketplace by standing on the word of God In Houston March 12-13 2022, Cambridge Md, and Accra Ghana Dec 1st-11- 2022 .

After becoming Amazon best sellers with Boss Babes Who Pray Vol 1 & 2 SwagHer is eagerly awaiting the dates for 2022 tour. SwagHer Magazine

Oh yeah, the praying Boss Babes are taking the nations and we LOVE TO SEE IT!

Find out more or become an author to share your testimony by visiting: BossBabesWhoPray.com or scan the QR code below.

" Boss Babes Pray is taking testimonies of power of God the bookshelves tour! " SWAGHER

Who their the from to on

FEB/MARCH 22

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Deeper Than Fitness By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder The growing fitness influencer believes that everyone can grow and become better through fitness. Coach Bev also hosts a fitness and health segment, “Fit & Fierce”, which airs on SwagHer Magazine’s Facebook page and has been published in Sheen Magazine, Bronze Magazine, and several other publications. Fancy: So welcome back, Coach Bev! Please tell us about the services GenFit offers, as I know they have changed a little since you were last featured here. Beverly: GenFit currently offers in-person and virtual training sessions. I’m in the process of expanding my footprint and rebranding. Over the years, I’ve grown to realize that exercise is the last step in our wellness plan. However, a good wellness plan should include mindset, so I’m developing a coaching program that’s more inclusive of what’s needed for a successful journey. Christina: Genesys Fitness got its name because it signified a rebirth for the forgotten woman. Who is the forgotten woman? Beverly: At specific points in our lives, we’ve all experienced this feeling. The forgotten woman works at a job and is often unrecognized for her efforts; she works tirelessly to provide for our families and often puts herself last. She becomes depleted because she’s poured out everything for everyone else. It’s not uncommon that we forget ourselves. My goal is to help women rediscover their magic and take care of themselves.

everly K. Johnson is a motivational life coach, fitness trainer, and “girlfriend of authority”. As the CEO of Genesys Fitness, Coach Bev believes selfcare takes priority over caring for others because it is in caring for ourselves that we make the best caregivers. Coach Bev wants to help “forgotten” women, those who have lost their way in life. The health and fitness trainer thinks that by helping these women rediscover who they are after suffering a loss, they will be empowered to become their ideal self – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Genesys Fitness helps women grow into their best selves.

Christina: How do you think GenFit has helped these forgotten women? Beverly: I’ve seen my clients (affectionately called my DEVAS) reach their goals over the years.

Having been a Zumba instructor for years, Coach Bev says she was constantly approached by clients asking how to improve their exercise program and reach their goals. As an instructor, she wanted to provide the best information to enable her students to achieve their goals effectively and safely. It was only a natural progression for her to create Genesys Fitness (GenFit). SwagHer Magazine

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I’ve seen them lose weight and lose the emotional baggage that has held them back from being the best version of themselves. When my DEVAS can identify and heal from the emotional wounds, that’s when the change happens. And if I’m able to become a catalyst for helping my DEVAS rediscover themselves, I’m happy. Christina: What are your plans for Genesys Fitness? Do you plan on expanding? Do you want it to be worldwide, like Planet Fitness? Beverly: I would love to be worldwide like Planet Fitness. I think every business owner’s dream is to have that level of brand recognition. My plans include increasing my online client base. My goal is to provide virtual training to clients across the country. I have several exclusively online clients, and it’s been very successful. Fancy: Switching gears, we always talk business with you, but this issue is partly about Black love, and we know that you are divorced. Are you willing to get married again? Beverly: That has been the million-dollar question lately! And the answer is yes, I’m open to marrying again. Fancy: Since you’ve been married before, what would you do or what do you do differently now in relationships? Beverly: After my divorce, I was absolutely devastated. I decided to go to therapy and heal. Over the years, I’ve gained tremendous insight about myself and had to own my “junk.” Communication is huge for me going forward in relationships now. I also think learning each other’s love language and taking the time to understand each other are essential. Fancy: Would you say that fitness helped you throughout your divorce? Beverly: It was a lifesaver for me! Going through a divorce will take a toll on you mentally and emotionally. It is crucial that you have a space where you can refocus your energy and maintain your sanity. Having a great wellness plan helped me get through the hard times. Fancy: What words of advice would you give to other women who may be going through a divorce? Beverly: Give yourself permission to grieve the end of a relationship. It takes time to process all the feelings that you will experience. What helped me was having a great spiritual foundation and therapy. You can have Jesus and therapy. There’s absolutely no shame in seeking help to manage this difficult time. SwagHer Magazine

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“Change your Mindset, Change your Life”

Micaela “Cae” Thomas Author/Motivational Speaker/Life Coach www.micaelalthomas.com Strippedtomytruth@yahoo.com (614) 845-9011 P.O. Box 27116 Columbus OH

Social Media Handles: SwagHer Magazine SwagHer Magazine

@strippedtomytruth

Second Chances Issue

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20 Years & Counting- A Journey Through Young Love! By: Delilah Williams the irony. He was a nice young man, but I wasn’t attracted to him, nor was I interested in him romantically. I wasn’t wild about his name for obvious reasons, plus I was a teen with dreams of becoming a traveling model/photographer, and no man would come between me and my dream. Eventually, we lost touch. It had been a year or so since I’d spoken to Curtis. After high school, I lived with my parents, interning and working. One day I came home, and my Mom told me Curtis called. Uninterested in calling back, I went about my day. A couple of days later, I came home from work, and my Mom told me Curtis called again. At this point, his persistence piqued my curiosity. Why is he calling me after all this time? So I called back, and to my surprise, the Curtis from Curtis High School wasn’t the Curtis I knew. This Curtis claimed he found my number in his bedroom, under his bed. I was perplexed, especially because Curtis is an extremely common name, and I know everyone I’ve encountered.

e reached our 18th anniversary on January 12, 2022, a feat, to say the least. As God would have it, the first week of January, I accidentally stumbled upon seven Hi8 video cassettes that held memories we’d hadn’t seen in over 18 years. Not only was some of the footage beautifully nostalgic, but it was also footage of my husband and me getting married at the Queens courthouse on January 12, 2004. Watching that video of our younger selves reminded me, “Wow, we did it,” through all the tears, all the arguments, all the uncertainty, and all the childhood trauma!” Our union isn’t perfect, but we are doing our best.

So we asked each other how the other looked, where we were from, what school we went to, where we grew up, who were our friends, all the while never making a connection as to how this Curtis came across my number under his bed. The story goes, he was cleaning under his bed and found a couple of girls’ numbers. Some were disconnected, some moved, and I was the only one still at home. So a couple of days turned to weeks of talking about everything and anything under the sun. He was so intelligent, charming, had a good head on his shoulders, was close with his Mom and family. We finally decided to meet in person to see if we’d actually recognize or remember each other.

I remember, in the beginning, I’d write Curt a letter after a heated argument because it was impossible for us to understand the other person’s issue through tension. Those letters revealed what I didn’t like, why I was sad, and how to move forward. Sometimes a day or two or three would pass by without us speaking, and in that time frame, I was confused but hopeful we’d get through the rough patch. Eventually, we’d say sorry, kiss, and make up. It wasn’t a perfect 18-year path. Heck, what path is ideal for that long? It was our determination to be and do better for the sake of our love for one another. It’s an interesting story of how we met while going to Curtis High School in Staten Island, which I hated, so I transferred to an alternative high school in lower Manhattan. But before moving, I’d befriended a young man by the name of Curtis, SwagHer Magazine

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I remember the day vividly. My Dad was chilling, watching the neighborhood. I really wasn’t allowed to have a boyfriend, but I was almost 19, so my Dad was somewhat chill but not chill enough for me to go driving off into the sunset. So I came up with a little white lie and told him my friend was coming over to pick up this book for school, the book- a huge 500-page artist and gallery directory. Before Curtis got to the house, I made a sound judgment not to look too cute, so I wore my favorite gray sweatpants with holes, tied my hair into a top afro puff, put some sneakers on, and headed out the door. Curtis arrived with his younger brother. I walked over to the car. He gets out and has a huge smile plastered on his face. We hugged, and all that was going on in my head was, “Damn, he’s cute but short.” It was late, and we couldn’t chat much, so we made plans to meet up the next week. Fast forward a couple of months later, him being short is no longer matters, and I’m falling hard. I took him to some art galleries in Manhattan, met up before work, after work, went out to eat, seen our first movie. Everything was nice and new. I remember wanting to kiss him so badly, but he was holding out. Like me, he probably knew a kiss would seal the deal, and if it wasn’t a good kiss, it would be the end before it started. The day finally came when we both were ready to kiss, and boy, oh boy, it was everything I hoped for. We’re now official, and weeks turn to months, and months turn into a year. I got pregnant, and it rocked my whole world. I knew from the start I didn’t want to keep the baby because I didn’t want to be a teen mom living in my parents’ house filled with six siblings. So I got an abortion; it was the hardest decision I ever had to make. I felt like a horrible failure, but a part of me was relieved I chose me. Fast forward a couple of weeks later, I end the relationship with Curtis. I didn’t want to risk getting pregnant again, and I had to find myself. I remember fasting for three days, praying, staying celibate, going over what I wanted for my life, all the while thinking about Curtis every day. I would jump every time the phone rang, thinking it was him. Weeks turned to a couple of months, and I was miserable. Then one night, after about 9:00 pm (we couldn’t get calls until after a certain hour), I knew it was him! I had never run down a pair of stairs so fast in my life. It was him! It was my Curtis calling to see how I was doing, and at that moment, I knew I wanted to be with him. Fast forward a couple of days later, Curtis calls again to ask if I could visit him at his new apartment in Queens. A couple of more months pass and I move in with him, and we start a new journey together. One day in a Manhattan pizza shop, Curtis proposes, no bells and whistles, just a ring and pizza. Of course, I say yes! A couple of months later, on April 30th, 2003, I find out I’m pregnant (How do I know the date, you ask. I still have the SwagHer Magazine

pregnancy test receipt from Duane Reade). So we hurry up and get married so that we all have the same last name. I could write a whole book on the trials and tribulations we experienced. But I’ll end by saying that while cleaning and organizing some of my papers, I came across a movie ticket stub that had the first movie Curtis and I went to see “Vanilla Sky” dated January 12, 2002. I damn near choked!! Because that was the insignificant date that we got married. It was like a serendipitous nod from God, assuring me we were specifically chosen for each other. I can’t say that this journey has been easy. Still, it’s definitely been filled with beautiful moments I don’t take for granted, from Curtis loving on our two children and teaching them to us growing into the responsible, loving couple we are today. I’m proud of what we’ve built together. And I thank God for his grace and this journey through this young love. Oh P.S. Over ten years later, Curtis finally remembered that he got my number from a friend we both knew.. .Life! Page 55

SwagHer Beauty Trends for 2022 By: Sabrina Espere Carrington

t the turn of every year, the minds of the beauty industry converge. The trends of the New Year are dropped for the media to enticingly inform all beauty lovers of what’s hot and missing in their beauty regimen. For the past couple of years, the beauty industry has listened to consumers and redirected their “business mind”. The emphasis on clearer skin, anti-aging treatments, hyperpigmentation, and shrinking pores, using natural, organic, and vegan products, has taken over the spotlight from the ever-popular cosmetics.

business, passed down through generations of strong and creative women. Their products contain “superfoods” and exotic organic combinations - breaking the way for many “like” brands to appear on major retailers’ shelves.

Cosmetics are a leading second to skincare, with health being the main concern for consumers. However, makeup will always and forever be around for the countless of makeup lovers, artists, and the like that crave contouring, pops of color, stunning eyelashes, and show-stopping looks. In 2021, we brought you skincare that nourishes melanated skin. In cosmetics, we showed off the trends that leaned towards natural enhancement. We gave you beautiful lips, dreamy eyes, and complementary tones. Well in 2022, we are showing up and showing out! 2022 is the year where quality skincare meets true beauty enhancement. The trends of the year are rolling in with wonderful skincare products and brilliant colors that scream “STATEMENT”. SwagHer Magazine will always give you the best and our favorites.

Introducing…the SwagHer Beauty Trends for 2022 “Clearer, Remarkable Skin”…Skincare Products Worth Trying in 2022 We have seen the numerous reels on IG and TikTok of the impressive skincare routines by social media lovers across the globe. One common thread connects them all…the desire to have clearer, remarkable skin. Addressing skin pigmentation issues, combination skin, anti-aging needs and the like, has millions upon millions of people are either showing off their new skin or inviting us on their healthier skin journeys.

“Youth to the People” (www.youthtothepeople.com)made its mark by being one of the best-selling and most unique skincare product lines carried by major retailers such as Sephora and Nordstrom. YTTP is a woman-owned multi-product SwagHer Magazine

Youth to the People’s Kale + Green Tea, Spinach, Vitamins Superfood Cleanser: This is the epitome of “You are what you eat” in a different sense of the term. YTTP has found that the superfoods that we should be eating on a regular basis for optimum health can also be used topically for a healthy skin experience. This cleanser is light, refreshing and a great way to start or end the day.

Youth to the People’s NEW!!! Triple Peptide + Cactus Hydrating + Firming Oasis Serum: For double the pleasure, enjoy a face and eye serum in one. Specifically designed to plump the skin for a radiant, youthful glow that is out of this world! Page 56

“Enhance the Melanin”...Foundation for 2022

“Windows to the Soul”…Bold, Striking Eye Makeup for 2022

It is impossible to talk about beauty trends and leave out the foundation! Some people can’t live without it, while some would rather be natural. Whatever your jam is, either full coverage, medium or sheer, this year is all about options!

In 2021, bold was the term used when it came to eye makeup, however in 2022, the theme is “daringly bold”. On the runways, presenting the future of 2022 in fashion and beauty, the eye makeup was eloquently creative. The eyes are being really played up this year with a nude or even naked lip. From dramatically extended cat eyes to illustrious colors that have the audacity to “stand-alone”, the cosmetic industry is deliberately conjuring up our “inner-thespian” - preparing us to set our own personal stage.

Laws of Nature Cosmetics (www.lawsofnaturecosmetics.com) has impeccable products designed specifically for the melanated woman. Depending on your mood or occasion, you may desire a satin finish, a matte finish or my fav, a natural finish. This fantastic brand has it all!

Laws of Nature Cosmetics’ Cream Foundation: Looking for medium coverage? Try Laws of Nature’s Cream Foundation which gives your skin the medium coverage you are looking for with a phenomenal satin finish.

Fenty’s Flyliner Longwear Liquid Eyeliner & Full Frontal Volume Lift and Curl Mascara (www.fentybeauty.com) are must-haves for the year 2022! In wanting a dramatic, symmetrical, creative look, your eyeliner must be amazing! A steady hand of course, but the product you choose speaks volumes! Rihanna had every eyeliner wearer in mind with her Longwear Liquid Eyeliner that is super easy to apply and great to use! Want to accentuate that cat-eye? Use Fenty’s Full Frontal Volume Lift & Curl Mascara that does wonders for your natural or faux lashes!

Laws of Nature Cosmetics’ Tinted Moisturizer:

The Crayon Case

Not into foundation? Well, one of the best products for 2022 is this brand’s Tinted Moisturizer! For a natural finish and sheer coverage, your skin will look naturally flawless.

(www.thecrayoncase.com) made it’s splash in the cosmetic industry a few years ago and is rising to the occasion in 2022! With new and exciting looks, a “Box of Crayons iShadow Palette” is definitely in order! With rich,

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vivacious colors along with the brand’s ever-popular “Eye Glue Stick iShadow Primer”, your look will not only hold but make heads turn!

Rashell Cosmetics (www.rashellcosmetics.com) has stepped up to the cosmetic “plate” and is giving us life with their long-lasting, hydrating, bold pigments “for an eye-catching lip”. Each color has a special name such as “La Femme” or “Peach Wine” that simply draws you in more and more!

“Luscious Lips”...Lipstick Looks for 2022 Lip service for 2022 is all about moisture and but in the lipstick department, matte and bold is still trending with deep, dark, passionate colors. Blue, black, burgundy, deep reds, purples, and the like are showing up for 2022. “Bodaciously Bold” is the new color, meaning, whatever color you choose, wear it and wear it well!

Milani Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick (www.milanicosmetics.com), made a strong stance in prior years and is a force to reckon with in 2022. With exotic colors and a great matte look that isn’t chalky or “uncomfortable” in wearing, makes this brand is a step above the rest!

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SwagHer Spotlight: Cheron Crouch

By: Francheska “Fancy” Felder

heron Crouch is the founder of Magnifying Expectations LLC, a behavioral health firm, where she combines her lived experiences and clinical expertise to mount winning therapeutic strategies for clients. Armed with over 15 years of clinical practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Master Addiction Counselor, Cheron honed her skills by providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults at diverse stages of mental functioning. Cheron has branded her unique form of therapy in her signature workshop entitled “Unfriending Your Inner Critic.” Using trauma-informed approaches, Cheron tenderly defines and addresses “the innercritic” as an inner voice living rent-free in one’s head, constantly judging, criticizing, and demeaning us at key moments in our lives. Cheron is passionate about locating and evicting the inner critic occupying space in the minds of her clients because this voice is often the driver of depression, anxiety, anger, and suicidal ideology.

embraces personal growth and achievement. According to Cheron, “Addressing my own inner critic helps me empathize with my clients and their support systems in ways that I believe makes me a better therapist.”

Cheron knows firsthand the roots and results of coping with an inner critic, as she courageously faces life after having overcome a childhood marked by key factors commonly associated with negative outcomes for youth at greater risk. Transparently, Cheron continues to struggle with honoring a single mom who did the best she could, while she (Cheron)

I like to describe myself as compassionately honest. I am compassionately honest with myself, friends, and people who find themselves seeking my clinical services. The keyword is compassion. Anyone can blurt out an honest opinion, but it takes care and concern to respond to others honestly and with love, care, and concern.

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Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Cheron, Cheron? Cheron: I am a country girl from Columbus, Georgia. I moved to Atlanta after graduate school in 2004, seeking better employment opportunities. I am silly. I can be an introvert at times and then there are situations where I can be extremely social. That sounds like an oxymoron, right?! I can’t swim, but I love the beach and water. I am a fan of trap music and gospel music, and they are intertwined in my playlist. I am a mom (my most rewarding job!), sister, friend, lover, and daughter.

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I am serious about my career as a Licensed Professional Counselor. It takes guts to trust a total stranger with your innermost thoughts and secrets. I don’t take that trust for granted. I love being a part of the cathartic process in which someone gains self-awareness and becomes ready to make positive changes in their life.

Cheron: More workshops, more workshops! I want to help people free themselves from that inner critic voice that is keeping them from manifesting their dreams. I also plan to continue providing individual therapy as well. However, I am extending my focus to increasing my access to my workshops. I hope to see you at one of them.

Fancy: What sparked your interest in behavioral psychology?

I also am working on an Inner Critic card deck to assist parents in talking with their children about self-worth, selfcompassion, and positive self-talk.

Cheron: My family, honestly. I wanted to understand the dynamics that plagued my family. I have a family history of addiction and mental illness that was not discussed or addressed. As a child, I did not understand the symptoms and behaviors I saw. My family used words like “touched,” “off,” “special,” and “crazy.” As I became older, I wanted a better understanding of these behaviors and how I could help my family.

Connect with Cheron below. Website: www.magnifymeconsulting.com Instagram: @theinnercritictherapist Facebook: MEexpectations

Fancy: Tell us more about your “Unfriending Your Inner Critic” workshop. Cheron: Yes, one of my favorite topics! Unfriending Your Inner Critic is a 3-hour interactive workshop geared toward assisting you to understand the role of your Inner Critic, identifying your specific Inner Critic Voice, and assisting you with implementing practical strategies to overcome the critical voice and live your wildest dreams, pursue your passion and walk in your purpose. Fancy: What’s one way to battle the Inner Critic? Cheron: There are seven types of Inner Critic voices. The first step in addressing your inner critic is to understand which voice speaks to you and understand how the voice became a part of you. Once you know who is speaking to you and how this voice became a part of you, you will be provided with specific methods to address your specific inner critic voice. Fancy: I’m sure your work takes a toll on you. How do you find balance and not take on the energy of others? Cheron: Whew! Yes, great question. Through meditation and intentionality, I have learned how to leave my concerns at the office. I meditate at the start of my day and the end of my workday. I work out, read, dance, and play hide and seek with my son. He cannot hide yall! Fancy: Who is Cheron outside of work? Cheron: Mommy duties are a high priority. My son takes up most of my non-working time. When I am not working or being a mommy, I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, and my sweetie. Fancy: What can we expect from you in 2022? SwagHer Magazine

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Fitness Is NOT Just About ExerciseThese Influencers Prove It By: Kim Cross

hen one thinks of overall health and wellness, the first thing that comes to mind is diet and exercise. We’ve all been programmed to think, breathe, and believe that this is the only way to get and or stay healthy. As one who tends to think out of the box, this concept has always baffled me. Why are diet and exercise the ONLY way to get and stay healthy…to live a healthy lifestyle? As I got older and busier with my own family and business, the desire (and time) to diet and exercise became more challenging. Thankfully, as times change so does the need and message change. By that, I mean “diet and exercise” evolved into “health and wellness”. How cool is that?! So, what does that really mean and how do you know how or where to start? I’m so very glad you asked! My goal here is to spotlight five fitness influencers that are not just all about the latest diet you should be on or how many hours of exercise you do in a week - they genuinely care about you and your transition into living wholly and fully. If you’re on the fence in any way about taking care of ALL of you, not just your food and fitness, please do take time to check out these amazing fitness influencers that EVERYONE should know. From California to North Carolina, these folks prove diet and exercise are NOT the only way to be fit.

Beverly K. Johnson — Genesys Fitness (GynFit) — Huntsville, Alabama Beverly K. Johnson is a motivational life coach, fitness trainer, and “girlfriend of authority”. As the CEO of Genesys Fitness, Coach Bev believes self-care takes priority over caring for others because it is in caring for ourselves that we make the best caregivers. She believes that by helping women rediscover who they are after suffering a loss, they will be empowered to become their ideal self – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Coach Bev also hosts a fitness and health segment Fit & Fierce and has been published in Sheen Magazine, SwagHer Magazine, and several other publications. SwagHer Magazine

Coach Bev is fun, thorough, and her passion for fitness oozes with every word. I personally love her emphasis on self-care and its importance in overall well-being. If you’re in search of an alternative to going into the gym in the Huntsville, Alabama area, stop looking. Beverly offers both in-home and virtual training. You should know Coach Bev believes women are free to come as they are and be transformed mentally and physically in a 100% judgment-free zone. Just know that she has a knack for meeting you where you are, getting you where you want to be…and having fun doing it! Be sure to follow Coach Bev on social media to get quick, easy videos on eating healthy, modifying your workouts. Also, watch Fit & Fierce. I love her Fit & Fierce video series as she interviews a variety of guests that bring unique perspectives to the health and wellness space. Visit Coach Bev online at www.beverlykjohnson.com to receive your complimentary copy of “7 Sexy Ways To Slim Down”. Then connect with her on Instagram (@bevkjohnson) and on Facebook (@genesysfitness)

Enjunaya Canton — Zuhuri Beauty/Glowgirl Wellness — Los Angeles, California Enjunaya is known for many things. She’s a clean beauty, skin and hair care formulator and Owner of Zuhuri Beauty. Also, she is an actress; known for her work in the movie Acrylic. She graces the list of our fitness influencers you should know for her fitness coaching program. She puts so much energy into her client’s transformation as she put into herself over a decade ago when she was 255 pounds and seriously ill. Her commitment to rid her body of 18 fibroid tumors in a non-surgical way led to her passion for exercise and cooking scrumptious vegan food. Enjunaya keeps it real as she documents her continued progress in health and wellness. Through the Eat To Live program, Enjunaya supports her clients with in-person and virtual workout sessions, healthy eating - including videos of meal preparation, Page 63

and accountability. Herbal supplements, such as organic teas and vitamin D3, are offered through Zuhuri Beauty to help cleanse and detox on the inside while you workout with her for the outside. In short, Enjunaya’s methods address the whole you. You will not leave her program the same way you came in and you’ll learn that it feels good to feel good!

Visit www.acesdcharlotte.com to get more information and schedule your sessions for your location or a designated location in the city! Then follow him on :

Visit https://www.zuhuribeauty.com/collections/ wellness-products-and-services to learn more about Enjunaya’s programs and to sign up. For clean, eco-friendly skin and hair products, visit www.zuhuribeauty.com. For vegan recipes, workouts, and like-minded networking, connect on Instagram @glowgirlwellness

Karlyn LeBlanc — BGTT Fitness — Atlanta, Georgia

O’Neill Palmer — A.C.E. Skill Development — Charlotte, NC If fitness and influencer come together, their child would be O’Neill Palmer! O’Neill is a native to Charlotte, NC, and is the head coach at a local middle school. He is also the Owner and Skills Director at A.C.E. Skill Development. Having been an athlete in organized sports since he was five years old, he is accustomed to the commitment and dedication required for being and staying physically fit and at peak performance. He recently evolved into training adults as well as studentathletes, so O’Neill Palmer is a fitness influencer you should know because he can help the young and seasoned in a variety of sports. From basketball to football and track as well as cross country, mud runs, and triathlons, he’s got you covered! Coaching for more than a decade has allowed him to hone his skill for teaching proper training, proper form, and avoiding injury. But it’s more than that…Coach O’Neill has a unique ability to connect with the folks he works with. Confidence, leadership, accountability, and an amazing culture make this an amazing space to learn skills that last a lifetime. If you’re an adult getting in shape for a challenge or charity race, you leave more than prepared and ready for more. Student-athletes take away skills and lessons they can use on and off the track, court, and field. Coach Palmer is a trainer you won’t soon forget! Coach Palmer works with schools, corporations, and various organizations. He also offers 1-on-1 sessions if a more personal approach is right for you. SwagHer Magazine

Instagram (@one_ill_ace) Facebook (@acesdcharlotte)

Black Girls Travel Therapy founder and CEO, Karlyn Leblanc has been on a mission to help others find their “happy” through travel, therapy, and giving back. Her personal experience with loss, depression, and finding herself fuel her passion for others. For years, she has created fun, therapeutic experiences through travel retreats. These retreats included pampering, mental wellness workshops, fitness, and community outreach. Her goal? To teach women how to LIVE and fight for the happiness they deserve each and every day. As so many businesses experienced, the pandemic put a halt on travel. Karlyn was able to pivot continue providing for her members through empowerment and inspiration. She was able to convert the fitness and wellness portion of her retreats into virtual fitness sessions her members could enjoy. The BGTT Weight Loss Program is one you should know because you can do it anywhere (yes, even on vacation) and get results. All sessions are virtual, trainers are certified, and most importantly, there’s nutritional and emotional support for you and your journey. The program is affordable, and the proof is in the pudding. These ladies are finding their happy mentally and physically. Visit www.blackgirlstraveltherapy.com/bgttweightlossprogram or contact Karlyn Leblanc at info@blackgirlstraveltherapy.com. Follow Black Girls Travel Therapy on Instagram (@blackgirlstraveltherapy) for the latest on therapy retreats for 2022. Join as a member to receive exclusive discounts on travel, virtual fitness, and BGTT partners. Page 64

Jamie Nicole — The Natural HEALing Coach — Houston, Texas

any kind is medicine. The proof is in the often celebrated results, her experience and proven methods are why Jamie Nicole is a fitness influencer you should know.

Jamie Nicole is the founder and CEO of The Natural HEALing Coach, LLC. She is the energetic and inspiring voice behind Village Fitness with Jamie Nicole. Jamie has established herself as a leading expert in the health and wellness industry as a certified holistic health & certified autoimmune strategist, fitness instructor, and motivational speaker. Her love of fitness began in 2013 while in a group workout; she learned movement was the medicine she needed to manage not one but two autoimmune diseases- Hashimotos Thyroiditis and Narcolepsy. In 2016, Jamie received her first fitness certification and has added seven additional certifications since then. They allow her to provide services for anyone on the fitness spectrum—from the newest to the most advanced. Because Jamie’s passion for fitness stems from her personal journey, she wants everyone to experience the benefits of fitness because movement of

She has recently expanded her services to include coaching clients who deal with autoimmune diseases as she does. Jamie takes a hands-on approach with groundbreaking practices and innovative methodologies. With her help and empowerment, clients gain freedom and much-needed balance through healthy eating and active living.

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Visit www.myfitnessvillage.com for further information or email info@myfitnessvillage.com Connect on Facebook or Instagram @myfitnessvillage. Autoimmune group programs info can be found at www.naturalhealing.coach or info@naturalhealing.coach and @healingcoach on Facebook. Be sure to read more about Jamie HERE!

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7 Wellness and Black Mental Health Podcasts to Watch in 2022 1- Live Hangouts Tahyira Keeps It Too Reel with Tahyira Savanna

Tahyira was prematurely diagnosed with bipolar disorder after being placed on a 5150 hold in Los Angeles, California back in 2017. She had only been living there for six months and had never experienced a psychotic break from reality. It was scary. This podcast is Tahyira’s second run at podcasting. She launched another version of the pod in 2019 when she was in group therapy in New York City. Realizing she was too fragile of a patient to share anything, she scrapped the podcast in place of continuing her live Instagram-hosted show Live Hangouts with @iletthegoodtimesroll. Then in 2020, the pandemic hit the world and mental health seemed like the only thing to talk about. Especially, after the very public death of George Floyd. She put out the first episode, Anger vs Woke, as a way to be there with her fellow Black Americans. Where is there space to be loud about our mental health and how we feel about being Black in America? She produces the show independently, and it is now in its second season. Her goal for the podcast listeners is to seek solutions, find advocacy, and build community. Black Americans are suffering silently and Tahyira is too loud to be quiet about it. You can find the podcast here (insert link) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/livehangouts-tahyira-keeps-it-too-reel/id1517815801

community and used her platform for good. Lawson has worked with Fortune 500 brands such P&G, BET, and DELL under her own marketing company, Joy Collective. If you’re looking for a safe space, this is one. You can find the podcast here https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/ a37708847/sonrise-project-podcast-kellirichardson-lawson-interview/

3- Mind Body Wealth with Lauren Simmons

2- The SonRise Project with Kelli Richardson Lawson Sponsored and distributed by Oprah’s OWN network, Kelli Richardson Lawson launched a companion podcast under the same name as her nonprofit organization, The SonRise Project. The organization intends to empower Black families in the areas of mental illness through transparent story sharing. Lawson’s son was diagnosed to her and her husband’s surprise in 2018. She claims that her life on the outside looking in seemed, picture-perfect, but behind the scenes she was a mother feeling scared, lost, and helpless.She found SwagHer Magazine

Lauren Simmons made big financial headlines back in 2017 becoming the youngest stock trader at the New York Stock Exchange at the age of 23. Her podcast, as she says in her own words, is not about what stocks to invest in or how to Page 66

get rich quick ideas, it is a space where Black wealth empowerment meets real financial realities. Simmons promotes a mind, body, and wealth mantra where money finds its way onto the table without starting with silver spoons. New episodes are available here Mind Body Wealth with Lauren Simmons

4- Be Well Sis with Cassandre Dunbar

Created to amplify the plight of Black women, Jae and Marley launched JungleRose to be a pipeline to address the false narrative.Be Well Sis: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts Most of the stories told about Blacks in America are through the lens of white males. That has totally got to change. The co-stars brag about being Black and excellent all the while creating a community that deals with real-world issues like personal growth and spirituality. New episodes are available every Wednesday ‎JungleRose Podcast on Apple Podcasts

6- Battle Fatigue with AJ and Dalin

Produced by a white women-run brand Larj Media, we find AJ and Dalin the two Black males at the helm of this very on-time perspective on male mental health. The two pride themselves on keeping it real, discussing Black pop culture as they exist in a climate that tells them their skin is a threat. The show hopes to foster community as we discover more about our self-identity. New episodes are released every week ‎Battle Fatigue on Apple Podcasts With the tagline, ‘Get Inspired to Live Your Best Life!’ Dunbar’s passion and education collide on this medically inspired Black woman wellness podcast. Through her experiences as a doctor and as a mother, Dunbar says she realized the lack of knowledge readily available to other women who look like her. She says the underrepresentation and alienation of Black wellness spaces are what triggered her to get involved. It always starts with a true WHY. Dunbar, like the other pods on our list, curates a safe space. Wellness has been too long synonymous with Whiteness and White privilege. ‎ Be Well Sis: The Podcast on Apple Podcasts

7- Theories and Thoughts with Arnya and Fancy

5- JungleRose Podcast with Jae Sumone and Marley Launched as a companion podcast for Black media site, SwagHer Magazine, the brand’s CEO Fancy, and CEO of the Ladi CEO brand, Arnya T.M. Davis, host this thought-provoking podcast. It is all about Black girl magic as the two candidly discuss tough topics like mental health, student loan debt, and Covid-19 as it relates to the Afro-American community, and supporting Black-owned businesses. You can find the podcast here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ theories-thoughts-podcast/id1499649554 SwagHer Magazine

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