Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Callender.
Hi Jasmine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story begins in Fayetteville, NC where I was born and raised. I was very shy as a child and did not feel comfortable speaking or interacting with many people. I was more comfortable drawing, writing, or creating. I did exceptionally well in school, maintaining the A honor roll from elementary school throughout high school. As I got older, I remained introverted but became more comfortable expressing myself and standing out, usually through writing and fashion. I was selected as the best dressed for my senior class and chosen to attend Governor’s School in the English department where one of my poems was selected to be performed at the closing ceremony.
I graduated high school with a 4.4 GPA and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Psychology. Post college graduation I worked as a Program Liaison for a community organization serving underrepresented youth in the Chapel Hill area and then at the Cumberland County Department of Social Services before becoming a full-time entrepreneur.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has definitely had its challenges. I’ve dealt with anxiety, depression, imposter syndrome, and financial struggles along the way. It was difficult for me to go from having so much success in my younger years and in my education to struggling as an adult. I graduated from college during a recession and had to move back to my hometown to find work. My job was stressful and caused me a lot of mental, emotional, and even physical issues. My heart was not in it, so I decided to step out on faith and do what I loved, which is creating. I moved to Raleigh and started Styled By Jasmine Boutique where I create handmade Afrocentric jewelry and accessories. I am currently a full-time entrepreneur.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My brand is all about representation and showing up as your authentic self wherever you are and wherever you go. With Styled By Jasmine Boutique, I create Afrocentric pieces of wearable art that can be worn from brunch to the boardroom. My products include head wraps and matching earrings sets, bowtie and earrings sets, hand painted earrings, eyeglass frames and hoops sets, apparel, home decor, and more.
I am also a writer. My first published poetry collection entitled “Mirror of My Emotions” is currently available on Amazon and my website. It is a collection of poems that I wrote over the span of a decade focusing on life, love, and the black experience. It reached #1 in poetry books on Amazon and was also voted “Favorite Poetry Book of 2023” by the Brown Girl Collective.
Another business venture of mine is Cultured Couture Dolls. With this venture, I redesign dolls with Afrocentric styles. I restyle their hair in afros, braids, locs, puffs, etc. and hand make African print clothing in modern designs and styles. The goal is for children of color to see themselves represented in the dolls. When I was growing up, it was difficult to find black dolls that looked like me in stores. Now there is a lot more representation, but it is still lacking. I aim to bridge the gap. My Cultured Couture dolls were featured in my hometown newspaper, the Fayetteville Observer, in 2022. I also create photography from the dolls that I have restyled.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One thing that most would be surprised to learn (and that I am very excited about) is that I am venturing into the genre of fantasy! I am currently writing my first fantasy novel. There is a huge lack of representation in the fantasy world when it comes to black characters. We are often an afterthought or sprinkled in here and there as supporting characters to other’s stories. I am excited to work on a fun and thrilling fantasy story centered around black characters. My goal in everything I do is to show up as my authentic self, be an inspiration to others like me, and to open up doors for those coming behind me. I hope that my success makes it so that the next generation does not have to fight as hard to be seen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sbjboutique.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmineshakieer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjasmineshakieer
- Other: https://linktr.ee/JasmineShakieer
