Jasmine continued: She was really excited and proud of me. It didn’t actually hit me right away, even when the cameras came to our house. The Oprah show flew my family and I to Chicago. My parents were sitting in the studio audience, and then when I walked out to the stage and that’s when it hit me….“I’m on the Oprah Show.” Meeting other kids on the show was inspiring as well. I thought how do I even measure up to these outstanding kids? Oprah asked me really great questions and made me feel comfortable. Right after the show I had an interview with Walmart.
BBG: Did you face any obstacles in business concerning your race or gender?
Jasmine: I’m in a natural hair space, my customers relate to me but it is strange. Sometimes African American women we feel like we have something to prove, but for me I try to look as good on paper as I do in person. My credentials on paper justify me. I make sure that I look so good on paper that there is no way that you can turn me away. I inherited a strong self-confidence from my parents that I cannot control. I go to a lot of meeting where I am the only African American and many times the only woman. It feels awkward, and I have to wonder what makes these people more qualified then me concerning my hair.
BBG: Any words of wisdom or advice for our BBG readers?
Jasmine: My mantra: find your passion and to live your dream. It takes effort on your part to find out who you are. There are so many different alleys or roadways tom find your passion. Its what you were made to do. Women are dreamers; we go for something if it feels right. We need to back up those emotions and be a bit more calculated. You’re living your dream and that great, but in actuality living is hard.
When I started my business I was really living it, but the dream was consuming and overwhelming, when I shared the responsibilities I was able to live in a way that I had dreamed about. So finding your passion and living your dream is going to come with a lot of struggles and maybe even a few setbacks but don’t give up, press through it. You need to realize that the struggle is also apart of finding your passion and living your dream.
BBG: What’s next?
Jasmine: I’m staring Grad School in September, and I’m currently working at Microsoft. I have my own business so Grad School is like picking up a new hobby. It’s a fun hobby that’s a lot of work so I am definitely taking my time.
Jasmine’s EDEN BodyWorks products can be found at your local Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, or Sally’s.
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