Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Elaine.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Everyone has a rags-to-riches story on how they came up and that’s the beauty of it all. My story is no different, I come from Pompano Beach, Florida and I was raised by my two Haitian parents who worked hard to provide for my brothers and me. Growing up, I always wanted more and saw myself having more, I was determined to get it by any means. As a kid, you’re not really worried about the future, just about what you can attain right at the present moment so, as soon as I turned 14 years old, I applied for my very first job and got hired as a bagger for a local grocery store called Winn Dixie but I was fired a few months later (laughs). That pattern of having a job and getting fired continued on into my adulthood to say the least, your girl experienced a lot of lows, we’ll get more into that.
Instead of going away for college, I enrolled at my local community college because, honestly, I was terrified of moving away from home and hearing all of those survival stories on what college kids who didn’t come from wealthy families had to go through just to eat and afford housing, sold me on the idea of staying put right at home where I know I could work live rent free and enjoy life. Looking back, that was just fear talking me into settling (be careful what you allow yourself to settle for). And I can’t forget to mention that I wasn’t the best-behaved teen in school definitely had a reputation of being the “Pop Off” girl, you know how the song goes ” Real a#$ B**** With an attitude” yeah that was me, a real city girl before there was even a City Girls. Thank God for growth!
Although I didn’t get to experience attending a huge university early on, this community college changed my life! My major at the time was medicine (every Haitian parent dreams for their child to become an RN, DR, or lawyer) I planned on becoming an Anesthesiologist but something changed or should I say someone changed my mind. I took an economics class and my professor who was this tall six foot two, white man, with blonde hair that he would have brushed neatly pulled back into a ponytail held together with a black hair tie. His dress code wasn’t nothing outlandish, he wore suits to class but he only had like two that he would put into rotation, his shoes were always shiny and well-polished. I just had to give you all a visual description of the man who helped me believe that I can pursue Entrepreneurship. The thought of owning my own business never even crossed my mind because I didn’t see people where I’m from being successful at owning a legit business. Yes, I saw people hustle clothes out the trunk of their cars or sell CDs outside of the local corner stores but nothing was incorporated on paper. I started having dreams about owning my own clothing line (see what happens when the invisible limits we put on ourselves are uncovered, the imagination is able to roam free, to create ideas for manifestation to happen) that professor planted the seed. After a few classes, I asked my professor can he help me start a business step by step and he agreed. Every Tuesday and Thursday I sat with him in his office for about a month going through all the legalities on setting up my LLC, EIN, registering with the state and the county, etc. This was before the LLC gurus, Instagram, and business coaches; the information was scarce you really had to know someone personally to get the right info. After setting up all the legal stuff, it was time for take-off. My business partner and I started a women’s clothing line called Pretty Conceit; we had an online store and occasionally did pop-up shops at local events. We started to have a little buzz with celebrities like Skai Jackson, Summerella and a few Instagram models wearing our infamous “DO pretty S***” crop top. We even had other companies copying our tops which put the fire to our feet to trademark everything. But after being in business for about five years my business partner and I decided to dissolve the business due to our own personal reasons. Now I’m back at square one, ugh! A lot of things started happening in my life where mentally I wasn’t there to even think about business but I still had a desire to do it. After getting fired from yet another job (I promise it wasn’t a bad employee, you have to understand when God has a purpose for you elsewhere he will shake things up in your life to get you uncomfortable), here I go again, laying on my momma’s bed sun beaming on my face through the blinds, I felt defeated, like nothing I do goes right, Am I cursed was always aforethought. But watching my mother work hard only motivated me to try again and again because I just knew entrepreneurship was for me.
Fast forward, I’m working as a receptionist for a large Tech company making only 2k a month. I decided to make a faith move and invest in yet another business; (side note: I invested in other businesses before this point and never saw a return, I’m pretty sure 98% of the people reading this have either joined a multi-level marketing company or been pitched the idea to join one, it wasn’t for me!) knowing what’s for you is so important. My love for makeup and skincare is what influenced me to start my own skincare line, that has now transitioned into a Lifestyle brand. I understand one of God’s purposes for me is to help women tap into their natural beauty internally and outwardly. I learned quickly that starting a beauty brand is not cheap, and I wanted quality. The countless hours I had to put into researching, testing sample products, and the upfront money I had to hand over based on “I hope so”. Hoping that this would come out right or this would work. My first launch I only had two products: a day moisturizer and a night moisturizer. Which I sold out of after a month but I wanted to fix issues like hyperpigmentation, acne, and textured skin; so I went on another quest to find just that and this time it was HIT! I now have a full set of facial products that would generally work for all skin types. I like to call it my “ five steps to clear skin” because after using my products consistently you will see a difference.
I am just happy to be doing something that I love and it’s all mine. I even took a leap of faith and moved to Houston, Tx from South Florida, where I barely know anyone, but I know I will make my mark here. Pretty Primp & Propa will leave an impact on Houston so get ready!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the obstacles I had to overcome is the mountain of fear and the essence of waiting on the right time. There will never be a right time to do anything, life will definitely teach you that. Just go do it! In this business, the challenge I faced was finding great vendors and manufacturers that would understand my vision. I didn’t go to school as a Chemist nor was I a Fashion major. But one thing I do know is quality, and I research and read about what is in important and valuable in my niche. It’s important to be knowledgeable about what you’re doing and what you’re selling.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am also a content creator/ influencer and I own a DME (Durable Medical Supply) company.
We all know when you look good you feel good, Pretty Primp & Propa aka P3 is more than a brand it’s a lifestyle; P3 slogan is for girls who want to be more than just Pretty. Because in reality, not everything about life is pretty and not every day in life you’ll feel pretty that is why my main focus is to help women evolve and tap into their inner P3 Girl. A P3 girl is not only Pretty, she is fashionable in her own right, she is smart, she is soft, she is loving, she is goal orientated, she loves to clap for other women, she is successful at what she does, she is faith-driven. I have built a strong community of women who support P3 and we will only continue to grow. It’s only up from here!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice for anyone believing in a dream for themselves that may seem far fetch, IT IS NOT! You just haven’t arrived yet but you will. Always keep that in mind, that you will! Who, what, and how you invest your time and energy matters so, choose wisely. God has plans to prosper you and not to harm you (Jeremiah 29:11) believe that with everything in your soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.PrettyPrimpnPropa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretty.primp.propa/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/nessathebarbie
Image Credits
Spex photography inc
