Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Cooper.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amanda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. I moved to Houston, Texas, when I was in my early twenties. During my childhood, I can remember my mother taking me to the library. I was always drawn to books that talked about African American history. I was very interested in reading about our stories and experiences. Our many stories of struggle and triumph fascinated me! My interest in black history continued throughout my adulthood.
In 2005, I enrolled at Texas Southern University and majored in Sociology. Attending Texas Southern, a historically black college was a life changing experience for me. The professors that I encountered were amazing and really challenged my mindset. My pride in my heritage and culture grew tremendously. I came to the realization that because of the social construct in this country, it has caused many of us to view ourselves negatively. At the time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do but I knew that I had a desire to do something that would empower us to love ourselves and to take pride in our inherent Afrocentric beauty.
A few years after graduating from Texas Southern University, I totally switched my focus and went on to achieve a degree in nursing. I really enjoy being a registered nurse and caring for people, however my dreams of entrepreneurship and my experiences at Texas Southern never left me. In April 2020, I launched N’herent Beauty Apparel, a brand that promotes positive images and language that celebrates our distinct God-given beauty! In conclusion, my story wouldn’t be complete unless I mentioned my church home, The Reflections of Christ’s Kingdom (The Rock) led by Dr. Dana Carson. His teaching of God’s word and practical wisdom has had a profound effect on my life, assisting me in dreaming bigger than I ever have before. Earlier this year, Dr. Carson encouraged his congregants to step out on faith and utilize whatever God put in us. While my desire for entrepreneurship laid dormant for a while, this word from God encouraged me to launch N’herent Beauty Apparel. My hope is that through God and N’herent Beauty Apparel that I will make a contribution to the cultivation of confidence and self-love in black people everywhere.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I initially thought about starting this apparel line ten years ago, but I didn’t follow through. The first sign of resistance caused me to give up. I would say the biggest obstacle that I faced was self-doubt and the fear of failure. Although I believed that the message in my line was a worthy cause, I didn’t think I could be an entrepreneur. I don’t come from a family of entrepreneurs, so I just put the thought out of my head for a while. Also, I had no idea on how to get started or what I needed to start.
In addition to that, when I finally worked up the nerve to launch my business, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I struggled with deciding if I should launch in 2020 at all. All of the events and tradeshows that I had planned to attend to promote my brand was canceled. All I had was social media to promote my business and brand. It is definitely not how I imagined my launch would be.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with N’herent Beauty – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Thank you so much! I am proud of the mission of N’herent Beauty apparel. I recently launched my apparel line; I currently sell t-shirts but I look forward to adding to the collection soon. As a result of our society’s narrow images of beauty, so many black people have insecurities regarding our features. I believe it is important that we have imagery and language that positively represents us. From our many hair textures, skin tones, features, and styles, N’herent Beauty seeks to empower you to celebrate all of your differences.
I am also very proud when I receive messages from customers informing me that N’herent Beauty has affected their thinking in any kind of way. I recently received a message from a black father telling me that his children did not want a black doll. He stated that after a discussion with his daughters he understood why the mission of N’herent Beauty is absolutely necessary. After purchasing from N’herent Beauty apparel he said that he would be more intentional about teaching his daughters to embrace their own beauty. These responses have caused me to believe that my brand is making a difference, making every obstacle well worth it!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I really love that Houston has warm weather for most of the year. I don’t like cold weather at all. I also really like how diverse Houston is. It’s very interesting to learn about different cultures. Every year it is a risk for massive flooding in Houston. I would have to say that is what I like least about Houston.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nherentbeauty.com
- Email: info@nherentbeauty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nherent_beauty/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NherentBeautyApparel/
Image Credit:
Great Scenes Creative (Arabella Remy)
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