ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Marketing
SwagHer Magazine
Francheska “Fancy” Felder Editor-in-Chief Jarmel Roberson VP of Marketing Christina Woodard Managing Editor Briana Brown Social Media Cousin Khadijah Phillips Cover Design Swagher Magazine Layout Design Andrew Horton Copy Editor Francheska "Fancy" Felder Copy Editor
1
NOV 2023
KIM CROSS vKim is the owner and Happy Skin Formulator at Zhi Bath & Body, a natural skincare shop based in Charlotte, NC. She has been in the beauty industry for the last 30 years as a stylist and skincare formulator. Having dealt with severe psoriasis for over 20 years, she knows the hardship of finding products that are gentle, good for the skin, and smell amazing. 16 years of research and formulating has resulted in a goat milk skincare and soy candle line that is simply amazing. Helping you love you…naturally.
FRANCHESKA "FANCY" FELDER Francheska “Fancy” Felder is a quiet Southern, media mogul in the making. In 2010, she launched SwagHer Magazine, an empowerment and lifestyle publication for the Black woman who likes to keep it real. SwagHer Magazine uses positive media and storytelling to create new narratives and mindsets around Black people, their communities, and the businesses and organizations they lead. Fancy also hosts CEO Chatter LIVE, a business and lifestyle podcast.
KHADIJAH PHILLIPS Khadijah Phillips is a highly driven woman who was born to break barriers. She proves that when powered by purpose, women are unstoppable. She’s built her storied life and career brick by brick, fighting fears, failures, and setbacks to have the success she’s always known was hers to claim. Today, she personifies what it means to ascend above adversity while inspiring countless others to do the same through her media company and strategic partnerships. You can follow her on instagram @bestiesmedia and check out her website www.bestiesmedia.com.
SwagHer Magazine
2
LID’YA C. RIVERA Lid’ya C. Rivera is a HarperCollins author, filmmaker, entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, confidence coach, Vitiligo advocate, and Navy veteran passionate about film, advocating, and encouraging others to discover their confidence and self-love from within. As a creator, she has successfully written and directed her first film project on Vitiligo titled “Beauty Marks.” She has been featured on various podcasts and radio shows, including the Friends in Beauty Podcast, Kickin’ It With Keke, and Conversations Live. Lid’ya has also been featured in magazines such as We Empower Magazine and Influential People Magazine and media blogs such as Living Dappled and Glambitious. Visit her website at lidyacrivera.com and follow her at @lidya.c.rivera.
SwagHer Magazine
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIFESTYLE The Art of Self-Care
07
Confidence Is....
15
Embracing Ease: 10 Tips to Practice Living with Grace and Simplicity
17
Self-Care & Its Origins In The Black Community
36
This One-Day Retreat Allows Black Women to Explore Wellness
38
BUSINESS
FEATURES
The Six Figure Spa Chick Talks the Importance of Self-Care
11
Tasha Lyons: Everything Has a Purpose
29
COVER STORY
26 5 Strategies for Building Stronger Relationships and Enhancing Brand Image
Melody Shari: From Reality TV to Music and Entrepreneurship - A Conversation on Self-Care and Success
21
Visit
HTTP://SWAGHERONLINE.COM SwagHer Magazine
to download this current issue to your tablet
4
Six Figure Spa Chick Talks the Importance of SelfCare By Francheska “Fancy” Felder
C
SwagHer Magazine
Meanwhile, The Black Spa Tribe is a safe space for Black spa professionals to connect, share experiences, and collaborate, and The Black Spa Awards and Black Spa Expo are ways to recognize the best of the best in the Black spa industry.
professionals in the field.
You may have seen Candace in the past on our website or even in ESSENCE Magazine, as her work precedes her. We caught up with this self-care professional to learn how she manages her own selfcare with her busy schedule.
The Six Figure Spa Chick is a platform that empowers and educates spa professionals on achieving financial success. Through workshops, courses, and resources, Candace imparts her expertise to help spa owners and practitioners navigate the intricate
Fancy: Your organization, The SixFigure Spa Chick, has empowered countless Black women to achieve financial success in the spa and beauty industry. What motivated you to create this platform, and can you share a success story that stands out to you?
“I’m so thankful to be back. God gets all the glory for building me into this new warrior for His people.” Candace Holyfield andance Holyfield, aka The Six Figure Spa Chick, is a pioneering entrepreneur. She has impacted the spa industry through her diverse ventures, such as Black Spa Tribe, the Black Spa Expo, and the Black Spa Awards. With steadfast commitment, Candace has transformed the
world of business management, ultimately leading them toward financial prosperity.
11
professionals within this industry, but like most things, I am sure it was a risk for you. How did you decide to move forward with these ideas? Candace: Omg!!! The Black Spa Expo and Black Spa Awards are my legacy!! I have received backlash for serving black spa pros. However, we had no one to serve us, so I did it. These two events have turned into something so magical, and I would do it all over again!! Fancy: Now that you have mastered the spa game, what is something you would have done differently starting? Candace: I would have started with a business coach on day one. I didn’t get a coach until 2015. I was already creative, so my business thrived in year one. Once I got a coach, the game changed for me. I went from $30k months to $100k months!! Fancy: Entrepreneurship often comes with its share of challenges and setbacks. Could you discuss a particularly challenging moment in your journey and how you overcame it, serving as an example of resilience and determination for our readers?
Candace: I was featured in one of the top spa magazines but never won two years in a row. I was already hosting events for spa professionals when I decided one day that I wanted to be a leader in my industry. I already made six figures and had a storefront, so everyone also asked me questions. For the first four years, I never charged. I was just helping others for free. I turned it into a business in 2016. I helped SwagHer Magazine
my entire spa team make six figures each back in 2013, and when I turned it into a business, I helped 23 people make their first seven figures. I just want everyone to win. The black spa industry has been overlooked for years, and I made it my business to be the change I wanted to see. Fancy: Your Black Spa Expo and Black Spa Awards also garner more attention for Black
Candace: My most recent challenge was losing over $1M dollars and starting with a new team after seven years in business. I went into a deep depression and almost lost my mind. As I type this, I’m actually in Africa, still healing from everything that happened. I had suicidal thoughts three times in Q1 of 2024. I had to eventually remember who I was and take control of my life and business. I have worked the last 13 years to build a substantial business, and 12
Confidence Is.....
BY: LID’YA C. RIVERA
Let’s talk “confidence.” Confidence is simply defined as ‘having firm trust in yourself, your gifts, and abilities.’ It is the driving force toward success. Confidence is what puts public speakers in front of crowds, lawyers in front of a courtroom, and divorcees back on the dating scene. Confidence is walking in a room with your head held high, even though others may be looking down on you. Quite honestly, how can you crush the spirit of a woman who enters a room demanding respect with a beautiful smile, gracefully embracing her authenticity, and an aura that just can’t be ignored? Confidence is seeing yourself how Christ sees you, even when others pretend you don’t exist—trust me, Sis, they see you. It’s rather difficult to miss such gracefulness and beauty.
SwagHer Magazine
Confidence is doing it afraid. It’s taking risks. It’s trying something new. It’s taking chances. It’s living out loud. It’s boldly conquering. It’s betting on you! Because confidence is found within, it’s important to begin building from the inside out. First, begin to look within and discover who you truly are and start living as that person —the real you. Secondly, once you’ve become so self-aware of who you are, begin to silence the negative self-talk and the negative opinions from others. You had a purpose before they had an opinion, so seek that—your purpose, not validation from others. Finally, begin to speak life into you. Pour into you. Feed what you want to grow. Therefore, feed your mind with positive affirmations each day--even if you don’t immediately believe what you’re saying.
Say it until you believe it, and believe it until you achieve it! So, why is it easy for some women to have a high level of confidence in which they choose to exert themselves, and others can’t seem to find even an ounce of confidence despite their gifts and talents? Studies have shown that it is all about how we think about who we are and our abilities. Even the most outstanding achievers today have worked incredibly hard to get to their desired place, but the keyword is "worked." It does not happen overnight; it takes work. If someone in your life has ever told you that you would never amount to anything, please believe that you can achieve anything you "work" hard to accomplish. If you ever verbally abused yourself by not believing in yourself and your abilities, please forgive yourself for not treating you how you deserve to be treated. Be willing to put in the work. How you think about you and your life depends on you. Your confidence is what you make it. The more you continue to build upon it, the bigger it grows. You are wonderfully and uniquely made, and the qualities you appreciate in others are also within you. Be gentle with yourself and practice loving 15 yourself a little harder. Flex your confidence muscle!
More than exercise. It's a genesis, a new beginning!
@IMBEVERLYJOHNSON
COACH BEVERLY K. JOHNSON
16 BEVERLY K. JOHNSON
Self -Care
& Its Origins In The Black Community By Khadijah Philliips
The other day, at the recommendation of a friend, I tuned in to a thought-provoking episode of the Balanced Black Girl Podcast. The topic was "The History of Self-Care: A Revolutionary Act," featuring the host of the That Wasn't In My Textbook Podcast. This engaging discussion motivated me to look into the origins of self-care and the reasons behind its increasing popularity. INC magazine values the self-care industry at a staggering 1.5 trillion dollars – yes, you heard that right, a 1.5 trillion-dollar industry. Selfcare encompasses everything from relaxation techniques and wellness retreats to spa days. But it's more than that; it's a philosophy that involves setting oneself up for success and embracing only those practices that foster growth in every area of life. Many may not realize that the concept of self-care has a rich history within our community, extending far beyond what we consider it to mean. To understand the significance of self-care in the Black community, it is essential to look at the history and how it has become so popular in our communities. Throughout American history, we have faced systemic racism, discrimination, and violence. From the era of slavery to the civil rights movement, the Black community has had to develop resilience and survival strategies to cope with oppression's physical, emotional, and psychological toll.
SwagHer Magazine
Self-care is not a new concept; African cultures have a rich history of holistic healing practices, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and spirit. These traditions were brought to America during the slave trade and formed the basis for early forms of self-care. During slavery, Africans relied on their cultural knowledge to practice self-care secretly. This included herbal medicine, spiritual rituals, and communal support systems. These practices served as a form of resistance and resilience in the face of hardships and enslavement. The Black Panthers, founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, emerged during a turbulent period in American history when racial tensions were at their peak. The organization was initially focused on addressing police brutality and advocating for civil rights, but it quickly expanded its agenda to address the community's broader needs. One of the most notable contributions of the Black Panthers to the concept of self-care was the establishment of the Black Panther Party's Free Breakfast for Children Program. This program provided free breakfast to thousands of Black children before school, recognizing the importance of nutrition and education in the well-being of the community. he program not only addressed a practical need but also was another form of self-care by nurturing the physical and mental development of the children.
35