I didn’t build anything alone. Behind every decision I’ve made — the salon, the education career, the book — there are women whose examples made the path visible when I couldn’t see where I was going.
Madam C.J. Walker
The original. America’s first self-made female millionaire, who built an empire on hair care for Black women in the early 20th century. Every woman in the beauty industry stands on her legacy whether they know it or not. I know it. And I honor it.
The Stylist Who First Hired Me
I won’t name her, but the woman who gave me my first opportunity to work in a professional salon environment before I had credentials or reputation showed me what it looked like to believe in someone before the world agreed with you. That kind of generosity is rare and I’ve tried to pass it forward.
Every Client Who Told Me Her Story
Over decades in the chair, I have been trusted with the stories of hundreds of women. Their courage in sharing them — their divorces, their losses, their reinventions — taught me more about resilience than any book ever could. They are all part of Rose Colored Glasses, even if they don’t know it.
The Woman Who Was Not Yet What I Needed
Sometimes the mentor you need doesn’t exist yet — so you become her. Part of why I wrote the book, built the platform, and invested so heavily in education is because there weren’t enough women who looked like me talking about beauty entrepreneurship at this level. I chose to become a voice that could have helped me.
You, Reading This
Every woman building something, even in private, is an inspiration to every other woman watching. Never underestimate the power of simply refusing to stop.
— Janelle Alexis
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