Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Nicole Smith.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It’s funny—my story, journey, and life’s trajectory look nothing like what I thought they would. I always had a cookie-cutter, fail-proof roadmap and plan for life. You know, the usual—graduate high school, get accepted to a top-performing institution, receive a degree, marry the man of your dreams, have the perfect family, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah (I realize now how boring and safe my goals were).
While I did check a couple of those things off of my list, I also dropped out of one of them and divorced the other.
Yep, at the ripe age of twenty, I left college and became a wife and full-time working professional. I had no idea what I was doing… we had no idea what we were doing. It was plain hard.
After many failed attempts at mending a toxic relationship and broken vows, I decided to call it quits and move back to my hometown, Houston, Texas.
When I arrived in Houston, it felt like home. The air smelt fresher, the food tasted better, and the city itself looked like a fresh cut key to my new life.
It’s been about two years since I relocated back to Houston from Atlanta, Georgia, and I couldn’t be more amazed with where I am. I wouldn’t feel right taking credit for any of my achievements, because I feel like God has been responsible for unlocking and opening up every door I’ve walked through. I truly believe that all of my success is just a reflection of His goodness and work in my life. Regardless of how far away from God, I may or may not be, I believe He has a plan and purpose for my life. Period.
Has it been an easy journey? Pfft. By no means. Have I questioned my entire existence and worth along the way? Heck yes. Do I know each and every mile, stride, and step that lies in between my present and my future? I wish. If I did, what would be the fun in that?
Even though I wouldn’t say I’m exactly where I want to be, I know that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. And, there is nothing more calming or reassuring than that.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There is a word for a life that is free of bumps, detours, and traffic jams—it’s called, fiction. As in, it doesn’t exist. In life, we are guaranteed to be heartbroken, to fail, and to be reminded over and over again of just how weak we are.
I have literally failed so many times at this point, that you could consider me a pro at it. If dropping out of college, my sophomore year was the cake, getting a divorce at 25, was the icing on top.
When you go to college, you don’t ever plan to not finish. Dropping out is for people who partied too much, skipped their 8 am classes, and did drugs. I did none of those things. In fact, I was the exact opposite. I was on the Dean’s List, maintained a 3.9 GPA, and was awarded a Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship valued at $40,000. You could say I was at the height of my collegiate career. My future was so bright and promising that I even had a secret dream to graduate at the top of my class. That was until I met and married who I thought was the man of my dreams.
After I got married, I started working full-time. Trying to balance the workload of school, a demanding and stressful full-time job, along with being a new wife became way too overbearing, so I dropped out of school with the plan and intention of going back or at least taking online classes. Spoiler alert, that never happened. I was okay with letting go of everything I had worked so hard for, because I felt that love was worth it, right?
So, when things fell apart in my marriage, and I returned home to Houston, Texas after being gone for almost seven years, you can only imagine the weight, disappointment, fear, and regret that set in. I couldn’t believe that I had wasted that many years of my life and completely thrown away all of my hard work and academic success for something that didn’t even work out. I would never get those years back. I felt stupid and like a complete failure.
There were so many nights that I stuffed my face and tears into a pillow so my family wouldn’t know I was having an emotional breakdown. I could not get over the fact that I had left Houston and my home with a plan and an action and had returned emptyhanded with neither of those things fulfilled.
At some point, I had to get over myself. I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and stop focusing on what my life could have been or would have been and start focusing on where my life was headed. I had to abandon my former definition of and path to success and rewrite a new narrative for my life. Was this the narrative I had originally planned? Not at all. But, could this story and new chapter be just as beautiful as the one I left unfinished? Yes, one hundred times.
If I could give advice to young women just getting their feet wet and beginning their journey in life, it would be these three things
One…
Learn to not only love yourself but to also like yourself. If you’re happy with yourself, if you think you’re hilarious and charming and fun to be around, you’ll never need the company of anyone else to make you feel content or complete. Affirmations have become a part of my daily routine. I encourage myself and make sure to correct my negative thoughts. Be your biggest cheerleader. There is nothing wrong with gassing yourself up.
Two…
Know that where you start is one hundred percent NOT where you will end up or finish. Everything is fixable. There is light at the end of every dark tunnel. You can recreate and reroute your life a million times. As long as you get up more times than you fall, trust me, you will be okay. You will get through difficult seasons and become stronger than you ever thought possible. I am speaking from firsthand experience.
Lastly…
It is simple…trust God. Trusting God was one of the most freeing things I ever did. Because, in that moment, I realized that I no longer had to worry or stress about certain things in life. When you realize that God is the one in the cockpit flying the plane, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. You don’t have to worry about turbulence, if there will be aisle seats leftover, or whether or not you will land safely. Why? Because, even in the worst-case scenario, God has a plan. He can see past the storm that is in front of you and reroute you no matter how far off course you wander. This is literally the story of my life.
Bonus…
Don’t underestimate yourself—or your resilience, your ability to get back up, your capacity to love even after being heartbroken, your tolerance for pain, or your will power to keep fighting and pushing. You are much stronger than you think you are. You are an overcomer, a champion, and a force to be reckoned with. Don’t ever forget it.
What should we know about Grace Glam Glow? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Hmm…I think if anything, people should know that I am just like them— I have days where I am totally confident, feeling myself, and have a clear picture of the direction of my goals, purpose, passion, and life and other days where I wake up and am like who the hell do I think I am and what the heck am I doing with my life? I’ve learned to minimize the later and remind myself that no one is ever confident 100 percent of the time. There will be good days and bad days, so learning to be content no matter what side of the bed you wake up on is important if you want to be successful.
Outside of my day job, I am an influencer and content creator. I enjoy blogging and posting about anything from fashion to beauty to the hair products that I use and everything in between. Would I say I do this the best? In my field… hell no. But do I do the best that I, Amber Nicole, can? Damn right. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most to me. My competition is myself, so as long as I show up every day as the best version of myself, I feel like I won.
I feel like I’m still trying to find my own voice and the lane I feel most comfortable driving in. In some ways, I am even still discovering my passions. But, I am most fueled by the impact I make in women’s lives, just by sharing my story or posting encouraging messages on my feed. Sometimes we don’t realize how little drops of positivity and encouragement can have a ripple effect and make a larger impact on someone’s life. Don’t ever stop spreading love.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
Oh my gosh—there are so many women who inspire me. Of course, my mom, because she is a boss and a baddie. She also puts up with all of my craziness, listens to me vent, and loves me regardless of what I do. Both of my older sisters are also worth mentioning. They are completely different—one is conservative, while the other is more of a wild-child and free spirit. I feel like both of their qualities have influenced and inspired me in different but valuable ways.
Although I could talk about any of the amazing women I just mentioned, there is one woman I would love to highlight today who deserves to know the kind of influence she has without even knowing it. Her name is Annette, and she is what many would call a gem because women like her are rare. She is one of my supervisors, but more than that, she has become my friend and someone I look up to. Why? I could literally write a whole essay.
Have you ever met someone who didn’t realize just how beautiful and special they were? That is the kind of woman Annette is. She is genuine, supportive, and loyal. She is the type of person that always has something positive to say and sees the best in people even when they don’t necessarily deserve it. She takes time to build up the people around her even when it is inconvenient. I have literally witnessed her right in the middle of tedious reports and crucial deadlines stop what she is doing to encourage and help someone with an issue they were having.
What makes Annette’s heart and compassion for others even more impressive is that she has survived some really tough circumstances, harsh environments, and dark moments; moments that would break most of us. Instead of allowing those things to make her bitter, she became a better woman, choosing a higher road when a low one would have been much easier. Witnessing Annette’s resilience, genuine concern for those around her, and ability to remain true to herself despite adversity inspires me to look in the mirror daily and reflect on the kind of woman I am versus the kind of woman I want to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.graceglamglow.com
- Email: graceglamglow@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graceglamglow/
- Other: https://www.liketoknow.it/graceglamglow
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