Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazzyn Booker.
Jazzyn, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in North Houston, Texas, with my mother, grandmother and older brother. Living in inner-city Houston and allowing the frequent tumultuous happenings of financial instability and crime in a few of Houston’s most troubling yet rewarding neighborhoods (Acres Homes, Fifth Ward, Studewood) shape my outlook on life and what I wanted to get out of it, I knew my future would be one unlike the “norm” of those living around me. Being forced to move quite a bit back and forth between neighborhoods taught me how to adapt and make the most out of little to no resources. My many teachers, both in and outside of the classroom, are the reason for my success today and I will forever be indebted.
From an early age, it was clear that being a soft-spoken young woman would never be an option as both my mother and grandmother instilled the importance of putting into any situation what you want to get out of it and always taking the initiative to step forward and lead when being quiet and in the background is easier. After an unexpected departure from my immediate family to go live with other family members for a few years while I was a pre-teen, self-dependence and the need to provide my own opportunities quickly became a part of who I am and how I make decisions, leading to an innate entrepreneurial mindset. My goal in life is to consistently and progressively evolve into a better me by always embracing challenges.
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?
Ha! Absolutely not. That’s what makes this moment even more enjoyable. I first discovered how to accurately turn lemons into lemonade after being awarded more than $500k worth of scholarship money, including the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship during my senior year in high school. In addition to leading a community service and social organization, being a class officer and playing on the basketball team, paying for college and having the freedom to attend any school of my choice was at the top of my To-Do list. I needed the money and I worked hard to get it. Being featured in the Houston Chronicle for my accomplishments while in high school really gave me the confidence to push forward as I started a new chapter in life. While attending the University of Texas at Austin, I followed my passion for business and majored in Marketing.
During my latter undergrad years, I joined Hip Hop Couture, a fashion organization on campus, as the Treasurer. This is where I got my first taste of being able to combine fashion and my love of marketing. There was no question that starting a marketing brand was in my future and my love for swimwear was going to be my gateway. I just did not know where in my professional career it would happen and how! After helping small to medium-sized companies with their online presence and branding after graduating from college, I knew where my passion was beginning to develop. I can not lie, my dream of working in sports was still there and I was not ready to let that go. I had a constant internal battle with myself and where I wanted to take my professional career. Should I chase those sports dreams or proceed with starting my first business? Why not do both? Prior to moving to San Antonio to continue my educational aspirations, I was setback by being robbed of thousands of dollars due to an identity theft bank transaction.
As I struggled to mentally and financially pull myself together, I still decided to move and attend grad school a month later. I pursued my MBA and while in graduate school in a new city all alone, I maintained a 3.87 GPA and helped a small online clothing boutique located in the San Antonio area restructure their business plan, re-brand and raise capital to successfully re-launch, hoping to get a fresh start on an ever-changing retail market. Upon graduating, I started the business plan for my own business, Scene Swim.
Please tell us about Scene Swim.
Scene Swim is, first and foremost, a brand… the beginning of an empowerment initiative for anyone looking to better themselves, whether that be physically, mentally, emotionally, etc. Ultimate confidence is the name of the game and that is what we want to be the target for anyone wearing what we have to offer or supporting the brand. Swimwear can, at times, be taboo and we want to stray away from that. I want it to be appropriate no matter the setting, whether it be a mid-day pool party or a late-night gathering. Let’s make it normal and something everyone can appreciate. Own your SCENE. The designs are sometimes simple with a small tweak (like taking an extra two inches off the bust line or throwing midriff cut in a normal one-piece, etc.) and sometimes very risky. This is the swimwear line that warrants attention from those who see you sporting it.
I am proud that the brand is growing even in the midst of COVID-19 and being embraced by the community. People are consistently asking for more and I am happy to deliver. Plus sizes, swim separates and cover-ups are up next with swim trunks launching in the future. Once I grow the business into a comfortable place in the swimwear market, I can then launch the collaborations and seminars with other local businesses that will really put Scene on the map as a lifestyle and empowerment force to reckon with.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memories are the many family gatherings at my grandmother’s house, enjoying soul food, playing cards and dominoes and enjoying my family members. The movie Soul Food is an excellent depiction of what those family gatherings were like. Food always brings us together and now that people have grown, some have gone on to glory and others are spread all over the country. Those times are scarce. That is why living in the moment is so important.
Pricing:
- Swimsuits currently range from $25-$27 each.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sceneswim.com
- Phone: (832) 819-4484
- Email: info@sceneswim.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/sceneswimbrand
- Facebook: Facebook.com/sceneswimbrand
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sceneswimbrand
Image Credit:
Group Photo credit: PILTboys Productions
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
