When I started SwagHer I wanted it to be something positive, but I also wanted it to be my business, not just a hobby. I have sacrificed a great deal to get the magazine off the ground and I have placed all of my spare money into it, and I still feel like I am in the same place. I have interviewed tons of gogettas and discussed their strategies and for some we were their first form of press, yet, I can only think of possibly three women who have reached out to help me or give back to the magazine, and it is really a hurting feeling. Most no longer follow or acknowledge us until they cannot find their link when they have found some sort of use for it. I have began to wonder were they really the people I thought they were when I featured them.

I have connected countless business owners and promoted all sorts of business, and I have not done these things with any expectations other than that is what we are here for, but we are also here to make a profit, and that has not been happening. I now realize people do not value the media, but often want to call on it when they are in need. With that being said, I am undecided about continuing the magazine. Next month would have made three years, but I have never struggled with finding the desire to write as I am now. I used to think that all of the good and positivity I put into SwagHer was a part of my purpose, but now I no longer know. So… I hope you all enjoy this issue. Yes, it is very small and very late, but it took effort, and then again who’s noticing anyway?

-Francheska

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When I first met Hunter, she was designing but since then she and J’Niche have shifted more toward consulting. What inspired the shift? “The shift from designing to consulting was less of an inspiration and more of a demand.  The company fell into it with the start of image consulting for a well-known pastor which evolved from there.  It has grown through referrals and word of mouth. People see what we do and how we cater to our clients and they want that same service for themselves.  Our clients range from models, aspiring models, up and coming recording artists, pastors, magazines and just your everyday person who demands a change for their self.”

Yet, Hunter says she is still designing. “My inspiration for this business started with the empowerment of women.  Part of that empowerment comes from the way a woman feels about herself.  It is important for them to know not only who they are, but whose they are.  How they look and feel is just the icing on the cake.  My design inspirations are drawn from wanting to make other women feel as comfortable in their own skin as I am.  I am beautiful, classy, fearless and fierce with just the right amount of edge.  Why not show that off to the world? It is who I am.  I am proud of every ounce of character and spirit God gave me because I know that I am truly His.  I know that I belong to Him.  I wish for other women to feel just as proud of putting their own character on display which that work starts from the inside out.  J’Niche designs are about embracing every curve of a woman and filling it with character.   

Much like the other gogettas we have featured, Hunter had her own obstacles to overcome while getting her business off the ground. “In whatever field you work in, there will always be struggles to overcome. The obstacles that have I had to overcome in the past in this industry is that most women don’t know who they are and in return, if they have an opportunity to be in a lime light, they will do just that.  What I don’t understand is why you would want to just be on a runway for 10 seconds when the runway is your life?  Most women want to be validated in the wrong areas by the wrong people.  When they have a chance to work on themselves, it becomes an issue.  Excuses are then being made or people will find other reasons not to work on themselves, and if they do, it’s not for them, it’s for someone else.   If you listen to reason and self-doubt, no matter how far you have come it is bound to pull you back down.  I have to believe. I have to believe that everyone is not for me and what my company does. I have to rely on my faith and my walk with God.  Even in the darkest of moments God is always there.  I have to do my part and always trust that he will do his.  Even when things seem contrary to what I believe or see I have to take that giant leap of faith. Faith is knowing for every blind step I take that He is willing to guide me so many more steps ahead.  That is what helps me to overcome working in this industry,” she explains.

At this time J’Niche is currently working on an expansion further into the Texas market. They are also partnering with a local business to launch a fashionable social event for people to enjoy themselves while seeing the latest trendy styles, food, and great music. Hunter also says, “We are in the process of finalizing our company’s “LookBook” which is really exciting! We are working on conceptualizing our new clothing collection which we are in the process of searching for the face of J’Niche.   We are also considering starting a modeling agency if it presents to be the right season and if there is a strong enough demand.  And lastly, we will continue our consulting and branding services. At this time, we currently have two recording artists on the roster and a new face model along with many other clients.”

When asked if she felt the media portrays many full figured designers or lines catering to full figured women, Hunter replied that she felt that it is not enough full figured designers or lines catering to full figured women, but the ones that are in the industry now are definitely making moves to bring more awareness to the full figured world, which in return will inspire more designers to tap into the full figure market.

So how does Hunter balance home, work, and business? Smile. I balance my work and family life with lots of prayer. At first, I didn’t have a balance, because I had the wrong people around me and not having the time that I did before I stepped into entrepreneurship.   My relationship with God is extremely important.  This is my balance.  From a simple prayer over my food to the prayer over my family and my team, it is important. We all need guidance everyday, and I make the choice to get that guidance from God.  He has never led me wrong so far. I don’t think I could do this without him.  The hardest part is the prioritization of prayer.  Sometimes life takes its toll and just grabs a hold of us.  My husband wants my attention, because he loves me.  My kids need my attention, so I can help with homework, cook dinner, wash their clothes or just want me to listen to how their day went.  Having 3 kids is like juggling, well 4 if you include my husband. “smile” But if I could stop finding clothes bleached, pink or green or in some other terrible laundry crime, I would be okay. “smile”  While all these things are important, there is nothing more important than God.  God can and will give us above anything we could ever ask or think.  All we have to do is know Him, Love Him, and believe in Him.  So my motto is: God first, Family second, J’Niche third and everything else is last.

Hunter shared these words of inspiration, “The runway is your life. With that, you must realize that you must love yourself first if you want other people to love you the way you feel you need to be loved.  Before I got to this stage, I didn’t know who I was.  I thought love was the “Thug Love”. Love from the streets or from someone else who defined love in their own way.  Then I had to realize that I must love myself enough to know that I am beautiful, and that I am uniquely made in God’s image and not my own.   I had to allow God to fill my emptiness up.  No human person can do that.  When I decided to live for God that is when my life changed.  Although, I was confident in myself, I wasn’t God confident, which there is a difference.  When you walk the runway of life, you let your light shine bright.  You pop that walk even when you walk in a store or a mall.  I tell you to let that be your model walk.  Not just the 10 seconds you get on someone else’s runway.  You own your runway of life so don’t let the world define you.”

-Francheska “Fancy” Felder

@FancySwagHer

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Historically Juneteenth is a holiday recognized on June 19th celebrating the freedom of Black slaves. It is the oldest holiday of its kind. Its origin dates back to June 19, 1865, though that is two years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which was on January 1, 1863. The holiday was made official January 1, 1980, and is now celebrated worldwide.

Yet, is this day really worth celebrating? Are we really free? Though we are not still physical slaves, our race is certainly still mentally enslaved. Yes, we are free to do what we please, when we please, with whom we please (or at least for the most part) but our mentality as a race is horrible, and we are still looking for others to give us handouts and tell us how to think. Our men are still abandoning our women in search of pipe dreams and leaving them to turn to others for assistance. We kill each other over material things and foolery.

We don’t love ourselves at all. Dr. Dre’s donation to the University of Southern California, speaks volumes. As most are asking, why not us? This week it was announced that he and Jimmy Lovine made these large donations to start their own degree program which would focus on “arts and entrepreneurship; technology, design and marketability; concept and business platforms; and creating a prototype,” according to a USC statement. The program’s mission will be to create “a new generation of inspired innovators.” Why couldn’t Dr. Dre have started this program at a HBCU where people like us might have more access to it? It seems more like a “need for acceptance” gift.

Let’s not get started on the media and reality TV which are really leading not just us, but our children as well on the wrong path. Our priorities are mixed up, and we have no sense of morals. Black America is still enslaved so what are we celebrating? Not to mention, how are we celebrating, because if it by overindulging in unhealthy food, habits, and/ or alcohol, spending money we do not have to get dressed up and “hang out” with people who are just as broke as us and doing the same thing, while listening to music that continues to degrade us as women and enrage us for the wrong matters as men, we might as well stay at home under the air.

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A few years back, I recall a friend telling me that she and her children had to sleep on a friend’s sofa because her mom “Just wasn’t having that.” I do not remember the rest of the conversation, because I was so taken by that part. That stuck with me so well I began to notice every time I heard someone else say something similar.

While struggling to be an entrepreneur, I have fallen on hard times many times. When I say hard, I mean hard like I once had to rush and rent a house from one of my dancer coworkers that was so dirty we washed off in the sink for days before finally taking a bath in her tub, because we were repeatedly bleaching it (the tub), but that was a hardship I chose because my mama was more than willing to take my children and me in. However, I refused to go home defeated.

I asked some others if they had ever been in similar situations and if their parents had taken them in. Not many responded, but for those that did, they said they were allowed to return home though their parents were not too pleased.

I think about the plight of Jodi’s mom in Baby Boy and wonder is this why Black mothers are refusing to allow their children to come back, because they sacrificed their youth for them already and are not willing to sacrifice anymore? Now in Jodi’s case he really needed to get his life together, step up, and be a man, so being stern with him was needed. In similar situations when a grown child just does not seem to care enough for themselves, I could understand this, but I could not understand how a mother could turn her child away, especially one that is pregnant or with children.

I believe we have seriously watered down the definition of the word “family” in today’s society. Now family means yes, we share common blood, but you don’t ask of me and I will not ask of you. If your family will not be there for you, why would others? Why should others? Your family often have to stand as your references/ witnesses.

My children are not ready to go out into the wold just yet, but when they are ready and do so, if it gets to be too much for them, I will always welcome them back home with open arms. Now it would help if they had a plan like one of my friends suggested, but if not, then we can work on that together. I do not want to ever be the parent that turns my child away for others to prey on.

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Last month I had the privilege to interview Dr. Brian and Pastor Tara Lewis formerly of  TLC’s reality show, “The Sisterhood”. Although the show has been canceled, the couple still has a great deal of projects in the works.

We began our interview first clearing up past issues surrounding “The Sisterhood”. Our first question was for Pastor Tara who was often portrayed as being holier than thou and close minded on the show. I recalled a clip where the other sisters were basically saying that Pastor Tara needed to be more in tune with her followers to be more effective and she did not seem to want to hear that. My question for her was had she found any truth in what the other First Ladies were saying and had she changed any. “What they were saying to me was inaccurate and it was not regarded in truth, because even from the scene where you weren’t able to know the full context of the message, they were actually saying that you don’t need the word of God to minister to the people all the time, and that is not true. Obviously you do not have to quote scripture but in order to convey or be effective for Christ you have to communicate God’s love. You have to communicate how Christ died for you. You have to communicate the essentials of our faith, which is the word of God. You may not be quoting the scripture like my husband mentioned, but the word of God is going to be a part of ministering to people, so with that clip that you saw, actually they were saying that when I come together with other Christian women I don’t need to speak the word of God, and that I could possibly be ineffective by communicating the word of God, and that absolutely is inherent and incorrect concerning the word of God, and what I learned is that they did not understand that you can only really and truly be effective when you do have the word of God working in your life,” Pastor Tara explained.

My first question for Dr. Brian was about an article I found that stated Dr.Brian had admitted he regretted doing the show and that he was fired from the church because they did not want to do the show. “This was my first time doing a reality show, and I don’t what I can say and what I can’t say. I know that the letter that released me was one sentence that said, “Due to the fact that we couldn’t reach a congruent purpose for the church…”, which congruent means like because we are in agreement, this is why they are releasing me, but I know that the underlying factor was that they did not want to have any parts of the show, that they did not feel that it would be good for their church, and that it wouldn’t bring the exposure that they wanted, that it might bring negative exposure to them, so they preemptively before Tara and I signed the contract to do the show, released us,” Dr. Brian says. He also went on to explain that he does not regret doing the show but he does regret that “the cast did not choose this  as an opportunity to exemplify the love, the grace, and the compassion Christ to come together and do things that were powerful, meaningful, and uplifting instead of being ratchet, raunchy, and casting shade. That is what I regret.”

Now that the show is behind them, the couple is focusing their attention on other ventures. Pastor Tara is working on her Mom Fit 4 Life movement, which was launched in 2007 in Los Angeles and began with her teaching fitness classes in Beverly Hills. The following is its mission: “The Power of Moms in Motion!” We exist to establish confidence, balance, vitality and sustainability for all Moms everywhere by empowering and equipping them to redefine themselves in the areas of fitness and fashion and reach personal wellness goals for themselves as well as their families.” Originally Pastor Tara wanted to do a digital magazine with the concept, but they decided to first publish a line of workout DVD’s. She also has an e-book, “Fit, Fine, & Fabulous”. At this time, they are introducing the line to the Atlanta area. Meanwhile Dr. Brian has been invited to a church in London as a guest preacher.

The Lewises also have their joint television ministry, Phenomenal Life Today, where they practice their “tag team preaching teaching style” and teach how people can have abundance and the lives they dream of today as opposed to waiting. This show airs on the Impact Television Network, which is the only founded and operated African-American Christian network. They are also working on a docu-series that they could not say a lot about but their company Mom Fit is behind it.

When I first began to research Dr. Brian and Pastor Tara, Pastor Tara struck me as being the more dominant one in the relationship, but I noticed Dr. Brian speaking a great deal throughout our interview, so I asked them if they thought they had a good balance in their marriage. Pastor Tara says, “Many times when women see strength, they automatically think that she is going to be the stronger one in the marriage, and I have had a lot of elderly women come and say they see the strength and they see the respect that I have for my husband, and how he does take the lead. Sometimes, when you are not accustomed to seeing a strong woman submit and yield to her husband, it’s surprising, so like your saying it does not surprise me, because I am a strong personality. I am strong in my faith and strong in my conviction, yet I am not overbearing and I am not dominant, and I would not dare- especially publicly, disrespect or dishonor my husband. That is not the position, that is not life that I ever wanted to portray, but I am Tara, and so that is what is being conveyed, so we have had people- we’ve had bloggers write like,”She’s faking it. She’s a strong woman, and she looks like she is submitting, but she is faking it.” The truth is there is a level of respect that I feel like every woman should demonstrate- especially publicly, that she has for her husband. How can someone desire a marriage if a woman is leading? It doesn’t look right.” Meanwhile Dr. Brian was in the background jokingly shouting, “No one dominates this!” However he allowed, Pastor Tara to speak first and then he added, “Tara is a very strong and powerful woman, but she is also married to a very strong and powerful man, and I think that has been what God has used to sharpen and perfect us over the years. She has really learned how to respect me, and I have really learned how to love her. You know scripture says, “Wives honor your husbands, and husbands love your wives.” It’s an interesting thing. Neither one of us is perfect, but I definitely have to say I am the lead in our marriage. It’s not always easy, but my wife does submit. She will come around, and when I say submit, we are not using it as a negative term- I mean that she comes under the mission, and when the husband is the lead, he has to take the lead, and I think that a lot of women want husbands to take the lead, but they also want the husband to understand them.”

As we wrapped up our interview they also gave some advice for those who may be interested in being in a reality show. Pastor Tara advised that there are two reason why people are on reality shows. One is for money or two to make a difference. If you are doing it to make a difference, make sure it is something positive because much of our culture is impacted by reality tv now. She also advised to pray, pray, pray. Dr. Brian advised that if you are going to tell a joke make sure it is not something that can be misconstrued. If you are going to do a bath scene, make sure there is plenty of water and plenty of bubbles. Dr. Brian believes there are two types of reality shows, those that are personality driven and those that are content driven. If you are on a personality driven show, be you, but realize that what you say and how you act can be shifted, so make sure you have a defamation of character clause in your contract. Also know how the show is being filmed.

We wish the two the best of luck with their ventures!

-Francheska “Fancy” Felder

@FancySwagHer

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Earlier this week, sources say Hudson was in talks with Fox, but now they are saying Hudson has signed a deal. Sources say Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, and Adam Lambert are also being considered, but Clarkson’s rep denies this.

“Idol” ratings have dropped tremendously and Randy Jackson recently announced his exit from the show.  Other than the the Mariah Carey versus Nicki Minaj spat, we do not hear much about.

“Her (Hudson) addition to American Idol would be part of a revamp that would see former contestants become the judges to usher in “the next generation”, according to one unknown source.

We wish Hudson the best as we love to see our fellow sisters receiving opportunities and advancing!

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Yesterday we asked did former Destiny’s Child member and Grammy winner, Kelly Rowland, have The “X “Factor. Well apparently she does! It was revealed later yesterday that she along with international artist, Paulina Rubio, will be joining the judging panel for the show’s third season and replacing Britney Spears and L.A.Reid.

Rowland already has some experience with judging because she served on the eighth season of the U.K. edition of  The  X Factor. Rowland gave the following statement, “I am very excited to be reuniting with Simon Cowell and The X Factor family. It feels great to be able to take this journey here at home in the States.” Meanwhile, Simon Crowell, says he thinks he is delighted to be working with three girls on the panel.

-Francheska

@FancySwagHer

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Will former Destiny’s Child member, Kelly Rowland, be joining the judges’ panel on the reality singing competition show, The X Factor created by ? It has not been confirmed yet, but sources say she may be. The new panel will be announced today.

Rowland has taken some time to step into the lime light and define herself as a solo artist. Many wondered last year, why she would focus on a fitness video instead releasing an album along with her “Motivation” single. Though she has been moving slowly, she definitely is having her share of successes and creating a buzz. Last week she also opened up about her personal experiences with domestic violence, while releasing another single “Dirty Laundry”.

We’re always rooting for a sister, so we wish Rowland peace and blessings! Hispanic superstar, Paulina Rubio, may also be joining the judges’ panel.

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This weekend I went to see Tyler Perry Presents “Peeples”. I am not a big Tyler Perry fan, nor am I anti-Perry, but I am a supporter. I think it may simply be because I am more of an action movie type of girl and Black movies usually hit too close to home some kind of way. Anyway, “Peeples” was about an uncredentialed social worker and child psychologist, Wade Walker (played by Craig Robinson), who wants to propose to his live in girlfriend, Grace Peeples (played by Kerry Washington).

Walker decides he will surprise his girlfriend and show up at her family’s house during a holiday weekend. Unfortunately, Peeples has not told her family about she and Walker, perhaps because he makes a living by singing potty training songs at children’s birthday parties. Not to mention her dad, Judge Peeples (played by David Allan Grier) is very uptight and does not think anyone is worthy of his Grace.

Personally, in the beginning Kerry Washington and Craig Robinson did not look like a couple to me. I struggled with the image at first, but I thought the movie was pretty funny. The strong sexual undertones did not offend me, and one of the character’s struggled with their sexuality, which is more than common now days.  I enjoyed seeing S. Epatha Merkerson, who played Grace’s mom, in a much lighter role outside of the Lt. Van Buren on Law & Order.

However, I was shocked by the fact that other than my guests and myself, there were maybe only ten other people in the theatre with us, and upon doing an internet search I see that the turnout was not as expected for an opening weekend either. I must say, I really did not hear as much about the movie as I have heard about other films Perry is associated with. I do still encourage everyone to go see it, because we must support our own, especially when they are doing something positive.

-Francheska

@FancySwagHer

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