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Cosmo Crush

@cosmocrush

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• C O S M O C R U S H •
boutique hairstyling styling firm
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It’s decided. I am my gift. This birthday, I have so many thoughts. I have rewritten this message many times, but here is where I landed. When I did a photo shoot with Bonnie, she mentioned that she saw me on fire and that I seemed different. She is right; I am very different. I work daily to accept the season I am in. My gray hair is so present that someone recently called me “salt and pepper” on the street. I have started personal training and Pilates to feel stronger while keeping thoughts of my pre-menopausal body at bay. I am also in intensive therapy because I need help with grief, and I am finally ready for it now. This year, the gift I am trying to give myself is more of me and not in an arrogant way, in a way that understands that the opposite of aging is death so why not live, full out. My gift this year feels like this poem I wrote in honor of today. More time spent with God and in the Word, Grateful to my Pastor for the strength conferred. Wherever I live across the land, I stay with the ones who truly understand— Who love all of me, not what I possess, Like Monsieur, Amsy, Booskey, and the rest. With Steph, D, James, Joy, Ray, and Pup, Rudy, Dr. TA, and Lee Lee to lift me up. These are my people who have known me from the start, And for some tonight I will break bread with a grateful heart. I look in the mirror and own what I see, Embracing my story and who I came to be. Every line, every gray, every wrinkle I wear, Is a hard-earned badge, baby I got stories to share. Aging is a gift, and I celebrate today, Happy birthday to me; I am truly blessed in every way. 📸 @d2dfocus Forever glam squad @cosmocrush @makeupwithjossy
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Waiting for #Libra season like… 📸: @d2dfocus Forever Glam: @cosmocrush @makeupwithjossy
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Recently I was asked about success… And honestly, I do not know if there is one specific moment where we can say we have arrived, but here is the realest perspective I have. May it bless you. ⭐️ Do I honor Melvin and Joyce? I do not know a better love story than theirs. They represent a beautiful mixture of fire (Mommy) and water (Dad). I feel a weight to be the best reflection of how deeply my parents loved me. Since my father passed, I constantly ask: what would Melvin do? I will never stop trying to honor the power and strength behind my name. 🌏 Do I represent light in the world? My faith is my anchor. God is my guide. While I work through the reality of my trauma, which has been significant, my hope is that there is grace, light, and possibility in my most of my interactions. Success is turning pain into purpose and building from brokenness. The truth is I like my mess, it strengths the depth of my message that you can truly survive anything. I know I did. I know you will. 💜 Did I contribute? I have found peace with the fact that I will not be a mother. Instead, I serve through my work and pour into my staff—wanting them to be better, smarter, and braver than me. Real talk. I need and want to do more. So here is my question for you: What are your success anchors? I encourage you to identify them. Personally, I am not into material things. I wear the same outfits often (I do not understand fast fashion), and my beauty routine consists of staying clean, which is non-negotiable, and wearing chapstick (although Jossy hates it). When I shift professional paths or my time is up, I want to know that Mamma and Daddy were proud. I want people to see what someone from the bottom can achieve when love fuels their work and they let go of the so-called perfect plan. I want them to say Melva served. I hope they do not lie and say how perfect I was because goodness knows I am not. Oh but please do say, I was beautiful because I meaaan I am still her–lol. What do you want people to say and remember about you? That is yours to uncover. I am rooting for you. Good luck. Glam @makeupwithjossy @cosmocrush Dress & Head Piece @signature.dresses 📸 @lovelifeimages
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Success is never a solo act. For the past seven years, these two remarkable women, Jossy and Alisa, have been by my side through press interviews, keynote stages, television appearances, photoshoots, event days, my wedding day, and countless early mornings and late nights. They have seen every version of me, from the moments I felt completely confident to the ones where I needed a quiet reminder to keep going. People often compliment the final look, but what they don’t always see is the trust that exists behind it. Relationships like these are precious. They are built over years of showing up, believing in one another, celebrating milestones, and weathering challenges together. I do not take that for granted. This photo was captured during a very special project, and I cannot wait to share more with you. Stay tuned. I think you’re going to love what’s coming next. To Jossy and Alisa, thank you for helping me show up as my best self, time and time again.
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Despite what life has thrown at me, I have always believed there was another chapter waiting to be written. And yet I know when people look at success, they often only consider the highlights. What they sometimes miss is what happens after you hit rock bottom; when you need to rebuild alone and in private despite doubt, despite betrayal, and despite not having the perfect set of circumstances. What is real for me is that at some point each of us will be faced with many moments where we get to decide whether brokenness gets to have the last word or if you can take whatever you are left with and rebuild brick-by-brick. As for me, Mamma & Daddy said my success was inevitable and the world would have to deal. Because of their love, I consider myself a builder… One of the questions I was asked was what my parents did right. My honest answer is they did everything right when it came to pouring into me. My mother’s unwavering love gave me confidence. My father’s quiet strength gave me discipline. Together, they taught me that no circumstance has the final word. What I know with every fiber of my body is that we get to decide who we are in our lives, in our work and with our chosen family. This feature isn’t about being fearless. It’s about choosing faith over fear, purpose over pride, and service over recognition. It is about being laser focused on your assignment even when there are whispers about where you have been or what you are capable of. Every challenge I’ve experienced has become another brick in the foundation of who I am and what defines LaJoy Creative. Not because it was easy, but because I chose to fight even when I was afraid. I am grateful to be featured in Modern Luxury and to share more about the journey behind the work. Thank you for creating space for stories that remind us resilience is not about avoiding hardship. It’s about becoming someone stronger because of it. Know this: You are allowed to begin again. Sometimes, the strongest version of you is waiting on the other side of the fire.
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If I had more time in my recent Entrepreneur article (link in bio), I would have added this advice: Engage in networking outside of your industry. Here is my two–part business case: 🎨 First, if the goal of networking is about business development, I hate to tell you this but being in rooms with dynamic creative professionals who are just like you does not lead to more business but it does lead to some amazing good times and interesting conversations. 🍌 Outside of your industry expands you in a good way. Last year, I attended a beautifully curated women’s conference by @inspirelle_paris in Paris where we journey mapped our lives on a banana thanks to the delightful @pretavoyager. Now, did I bring the banana to my next business meeting, not necessarily. But hear me out sometimes when you are only surrounded by people in your industry you can’t unlock a new idea or fresh perspective. I have found that networking outside of my industry enhances my ability to innovate. Finally, let me be clear: I am not saying that you should never network within your industry. You need industry relationships for a variety of reasons most notably that no one does this work alone and building an authentic community really matters. But here is my challenge to all of you. The next time you are thinking about networking ask yourself this question and then plan accordingly. What is my why? I am begging please don’t let the why be about being seen. If you are doing great work, I promise you the world sees you. Remember, destiny cannot be denied. As for me, I am excited to attend some networking events in the Fall. Chances are you will hear me first. IFYKYK. So, if you see me, say hello and greet me with a hug, I am that type of person. I am rooting for you. Have a great weekend in your purpose.
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Happy Tuesday from Paris. As my team prepares for another incredible event with a treasured and 7-year long LaJoy Creative client, I’m reminded that one of the greatest lessons of this season has been learning that leadership doesn’t always require your constant presence. Sometimes, it requires your trust. In my conversation with Canvas Rebel, I shared something I’m actively unlearning: the belief that I always have to be “on.” For years, I equated productivity with worth. But spending time in Paris has challenged me to see success differently. ❤️‍🩹 I still care deeply. 📣 I still lead with intention. 💯 I still expect (and deliver) excellence. But I’ve also learned that making space to simply be has made me a better leader, a better creative, and a better human. That lesson is only possible because of the remarkable people who make up the #LaJoyasphere. Watching this team continue to do extraordinary work while I cheer them on from across the Atlantic is one of the greatest joys of building something bigger than yourself. Know this: The strongest leaders don’t build businesses that depend on them. They build teams they believe in. The full interview dedicated to my parents is linked in my bio. #WatchUsWork
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POV: You ask us to produce your event. Thank you for capturing us @annanproductions 📸
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Some writing stays with you long after you’ve finished. I’m incredibly proud to share my third published article with @entrepreneur, and I can honestly say it is one of my favorites to date. After more than two decades of building businesses, leading teams, navigating setbacks, and celebrating victories, I’ve learned that success isn’t built on one defining moment. It’s shaped by the habits, values, and decisions we return to every single day. Writing has become one of the greatest gifts of this season of my career. It has challenged me to slow down, organize my thoughts, and hopefully leave something behind that serves someone else. In this piece, I share four business essentials that have guided me throughout my entrepreneurial journey: 💡 Know your value before asking anyone else to recognize it. The strongest businesses are built on clarity, not comparison. 🌱 Sustainable businesses aren’t built on hope alone. They are built on preparation, stewardship, and protecting what matters most. 📈 Every entrepreneur should know the story their numbers are telling. Financial clarity creates freedom to make courageous decisions. 🤎 The greatest investment you’ll ever make is in yourself. As your leadership grows, your business has the opportunity to grow alongside it. Know this: Success isn’t built on one extraordinary decision. It’s built on the ordinary disciplines we choose every single day. Thank you to Entrepreneur for continuing to trust my voice. The full article is linked in my bio or check my stories! Photo: @d2dfocus Glam Squad: @cosmocrush @makeupwithjossy
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The dream will cost you more than you can imagine… And yet, when I think about the rewards, I can’t fully describe it to you. If you found your dream, you understand this feeling. The spring/summer LaJoy season provided so much and here are just a few I am sitting with: ▫️LaJoyapoolza, a week where everyone worked their butts off in service of a Shero to me and an organization that deserves it all. In the past 7 weeks we have masterfully managed over 20 projects. ▫️Authoring a poem to celebrate a client's 65th anniversary, as well as writing the narration for their historical video. ▫️Welcoming a new team member, while also wishing goodness to another one who transitioned to fully find her dream. I am always rooting for you. ▫️Celebrating our LaJoy honors graduate with her family. I miss your mom Lorraine. ▫️Ending this part of the event season with two multi-year contract renewals. I am so thankful. True to who we are, we ate our way through many cities and goodness we have had laughs (oysters😃) that we will cherish forever. I am extremely proud of the fact that every single member of my team has grown. Every single member of the team has found their community within the LaJoyasphere which delights me. They like each other and it shows in the work. So, yes the price for the dream is high. I am tired. I have body aches. My rest is not what it should be. Managing both strengthens and stretches me. And yet, I would not choose it to be any other way because this dream allows me to live in a way that I did not imagine to be possible. It allows me to see the brightest smile on my mamma’s face and gives my husband many bragging points I know he is doing right now at Cafe Delmas-Salut! I tend to think that if I am lucky when it is time to walk into the next chapter for me, I will know that I gave it my all because what I am starting to really get it is that this may have been my dream but what I have, what I know is meant to be shared freely without hesitation. This next chapter of LaJoy we will do more our way. But first, time for a little pause. #catchmeifyoucan✈️ Photo: @annanproductions
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Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself.  Grateful to Bold Journey for the thoughtful profile and the space to reflect on the road here, the lessons learned, and the woman I’ve become along the way. One question that stayed with me was being asked what three qualities, skills or areas of knowledge became the most impactful in my journey. My answer started here: I had to fail.  I mean that sincerely. Failure itself became my greatest teacher. It forced me to ask myself hard questions. It forced me to push ahead.  Every failure became a guide. A mirror. A reminder that humility is not optional if you want to build something that lasts. There’s more in the full conversation, but if you’re early in your journey and wondering whether the setbacks mean you’re off track, they may be the very thing shaping you into the leader you’re meant to be. Pic: @d2dfocus Forever Glam: @makeupwithjossy @cosmocrush
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I wrote this piece because I keep returning to a question every time the world feels uncertain: What kind of leader do we choose to be? Too often, we lean into escapism, checking emotions at the door, avoiding hard conversations, insisting everything is “business as usual.” But in doing so, we inadvertently signal to our teams that vulnerability, truth, and human experience are inconvenient. That only erodes trust. That only fractures connections. Leadership isn’t about perfection or pretending. It’s about presence, honesty, and courage, especially when it feels easier to look away. What people need most isn’t a flawless strategy but leaders who listen, who make space for feedback, who hold accountability even when it’s uncomfortable. Empathy isn’t soft. In fact, it is the strategic advantage that builds resilience, loyalty, and long-term success. I learned this the hard way. Not from theory, but from lived experience. In the rooms that demanded authenticity. In the moments when silence would have been easier. In the times when I chose connection over convenience. Because the work worth doing is never separate from the people doing it. So if you find yourself tempted to retreat from complexity, I challenge you instead to lean in with empathy. Not because it’s comfortable, but because it is the work that real leadership requires. Read the full piece at the link in my bio.
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