Today we’d like to introduce you to Jammie Ivory.
Jammie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
From as early as I can remember, the ministry has been a part of who I am. I cannot see myself at this moment doing ministry within the church walls but I always knew that there was a calling to do more. Growing up in the Acres Homes community, seeing poverty first hand and the way women, in particular, was treated, God gave me a heart for women. He births the idea of helping, encouraging, motivating, and uplifting woman of all ages, color, and creed.
That’s where Life After Life was born, we do our best to rebuild the community by healing the family first. We hold events for adults and children alike to help with the process of bringing the community back together.
That brings us to Pretty Girls Like Pretty Things. I remember hashtagging #prettygirlslikeprettythings not fully knowing what that looked like, and even what that meant to me and my life until now at this point. PGLPT is more than a hashtag, it’s more than a t-shirt slogan… it is becoming brand that empowers women. With that brand, it is my prayer that ALL women know and understand that they are beautiful, special and deserve the world.
Once I told God that I was no longer of afraid of the calling, He gave me with Life After Life LAL and Pretty Girls Like Pretty Things PGLPT, I stepped out on faith, prayer, and the support of my family. I accepted my first vendor event hosted by a prominent leader in the LGBTQ community in the form of a women’s brunch. From there, God allowed more doors to be opened.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Because both LAL and PGLPT was birth from a place of hurt and despair, I was afraid of what people would say or think once my story was out. We go through so much in life and we can choose to hold on to that pain, and shame or we can choose to release it. I am choosing to release slowly as God sees fit. I understand that in order to help women grow and heal I must be open and transparent about my struggles, insecurities, and shortcomings. In today’s society, this can be a hard thing for anyone to do, but because I choose to be healed I know I must choose to share.
My best advice would be to seek God first. Pray! Write down what He tells you. I truly believe the scripture Habakkuk 2:2 that says: “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Write the vision down along with a plan to accomplish the vision. Never give up on the vision even if you are the only one that believes in it. God gave me the vision for LAL years ago, I wrote down several things but put it away (it wasn’t time). Then, last year, when we (my family and I) came back to it, the things we wrote were the same things God gave me years ago. Also, with everything you go through you grow through it and learn from it so don’t be afraid to use all of that in fulfilling your calling. I honestly believe that I am here today because God’s demand on my life is to be open and transparent in order to help pull my sister through what they may be going through at that moment.
We’d love to hear more about Pretty Girls Like Pretty Things And Life After Life Non-Profit Organization.
When people ask me what is PGLPT, I tell them my vision, which is to get my brand into a big box store such as Walmart, Target, Charming Charlie, etc. I tell them that I am here for uplifting and embracing women in any way that I can. I specialize in t-shirts, tank tops, coffee mugs, drinking glasses, aprons, and candles. I am most proud of seeing my vision come to life. When I see the shirts being worn around the city and in other cities around Texas, I see my blood, sweat, and tears. It gives me so much joy when women think enough about me and my brand to sport it as they are running errands and at other events around town. My pastor was out to lunch one day and saw a pretty girl wearing a shirt, she took a picture and sent it to me… again, my heart melted… this reminds me that I am living my life intentional, on purpose and that this is my season.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
My family, 100%. When I came to them about starting the non-profit as a family, without question, they were on board, they too have a heart for the people. When I birth PGLPT, they bought a shirt, they said: Jammie, this is your business and we want to support you. I cried because I would have just given them one. They post and repost. They promote without asking. That’s family love. The circle of friends/classmates have been great, again without asking or begging. They too have come out to different vendor event just to buy a shirt. The love and support have been amazing.
Pricing:
- T-shirts $23
- Tank tops $20
- Aprons $20
- Coffee mugs $10
- Drinking glasses $10
- Candles $12
Contact Info:
- Address: www.lifeafterlifeinc.com
15311 Vantage West Parkway Houston, Texas 77032 Suite 309 - Website: www.prettygirlslikeprettythings.com
- Phone: 713.562.7401
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Pretty_girls_like_pretty_thing
- Facebook: Pretty Girls Like Pretty Things
- Other: Jammie Anointedone Ivory
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
