Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Woodson.
Jasmine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In college, I had an undying urge to impact my campus and the surrounding community in a positive way. I followed every vision that God placed in my heart and created outreaches, programs, and events as well as teamed with other world changers and served through their efforts too. It turned into many hours of unrewarded and hidden acts of service all over the city, but I didn’t mind because it not only brought life to the people I served, but it lit up something inside of me. Upon graduation, I could not find a job in my field AT ALL (recent grads, you’re not alone), so while I worked all kinds of jobs, on the side, I poured out all my energy, heart and time into what I loved and what I had set out to do with my degree–serve the overlooked and underserved populations in my city. While serving in the streets of Houston, I noticed that there were not many, if any, other women doing the same. I admired the men for stepping up and dedicating their lives to serving the homeless, children in detention centers, men in prisons and just families in need, but I did not have any strong female leaders to model my life after. I knew God placed a fire in me to live a life dedicated to serving and making a change in the trenches, but it was considered a “man’s” thing and women were often just the girlfriends, the wives, the baby mothers or unfortunately just the eye candy. For the sake of the culture and our future, I set out to create a world that showed women as revolutionaries and not just sexual objects. I set out to show women how to use their unique voices, gifts and strengths to change their communities and not just use their bodies to capture a mans attention or be exploited by this world. I wanted role models for the young girls I mentored and saw in the streets, I didn’t want them to continue to grow up with only video girls or women in reality shows as models for their life, I wanted them to see beautiful, edgy and dope women living out their purpose and changing the world, thus, Diva Demeanor was born.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
After I graduated with a bachelor’s in sociology, I just knew I would jump right into a good paying job in my field but that was not the case. I spent those years sometimes working two or three jobs at a time and then using any free time I had to serve (for free) of course in the community. Even after I began working in my field, it is still not an easy road. Social services is an extremely underpaid and overworked profession. You go into it because you love people and want to make a difference, not to get rich. There are moments every year, that I sometimes think that it isn’t worth it anymore, but I have to remind myself of the bigger purpose and that keeps me going.
For young women just starting on their journey, I would encourage them to write out their vision and never lose sight of it. The world will throw at you millions of ways to sell out for more money, fame or attention, but it is imperative that you stay the course and get the greater reward in the end. You will have to work hard and believe in your vision so that you will do whatever it takes to make it come to pass. I’ve gone back to school and received a Master’s degree, I created my non-profit, Diva Demeanor, from the ground up, I have funded events, programs and outreach efforts all with money from my own pockets, I have made something out of nothing countless times so I know that the impossible truly is possible. Ladies do it yourself, dream it yourself, plan it yourself, pay for it yourself, don’t be afraid to ask because if it’s for you then the answer is already YES & keep working at that dream you have because in Gods perfect timing you will see it unfold right before your eyes!! There is a place for you in this culture that is more than just being cute in a music video, someone’s sideline or merely a spectator. Find the place that’s meant just for you! The women are equipped, linking up and stepping up! I can’t wait to see what kind of damage we do.
What should we know about Diva Demeanor? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Diva Demeanor educates women on issues that plague our society through blogs, videos, events, and free ebooks and resources. Everything that Diva Demeanor produces is laced with the world changing the style, language, and culture of hip hop. It speaks to the marginalized, the misunderstood and the population that is known for being creative and making something out of nothing. Diva Demeanor also has free life coaching groups for women that allows women to pour into each other, be inspired and encouraged and most importantly breaking down their big visions and dreams into smaller action steps week to week and turning them into reality. This year, I am launching Divacoach.org an extension of diva demeanor, to offer affordable mental health and coaching services to create more world-changing women to launch out into this world. Diva Demeanor also utilizes female hip hop artists that empower and show the world that they are more than just sexual objects, but have power and talent that can uplift and bring value to the culture, I want women to see that they can do the same with their lives. Diva Demeanor is different because we are not cookie cutter, we are revolutionary. We are not falling into the world’s definition of womanhood, but standing firm in our own. We offer coaching and mental health services but it isn’t cheesy, stale or out of touch, it is created from the soul and connects with the women who need it the most.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
I would tell her to go for it all. Confidence comes from action, time and time again. You have to put yourself out there and just do it. If you fail, find a different angle and method to make it work. If you succeed, your confidence grows even more. We spend too much time overthinking, shrinking back and underestimating ourselves. You can have the world, you just have to work for it and make it happen. If you are confused about what your purpose is and how to get there, just keep moving. I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career or what my purpose in life was, but I just kept moving, I kept doing what I was passionate about, I kept trying new things, I kept putting myself out there and eventually it all came together and I figured out where my place was. I would also (obviously, lol) tell her to visit my websites (divademeanor.com and divacoach.org) for inspiration and to get into a diva session for accountability and direction.
Contact Info:
- Website: divademeanor.com
- Email: jasmine@divademeanor.com
- Instagram: @divademeanor @jasxdiva
- Facebook: divademeanor
- Other: divacoach.org
Image Credit:
“Not Just Eye Candy” photoshoot: Sedrique Norris, “Edmonia” Photoshoot: Willie Vance
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