Life and Work with Brittney Coke of Classify Beauty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittney Coke of Classify Beauty.

Brittney, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Jamaica. I currently live in Florida. I am a wife and mother. I am a teacher by day and a blogger and beauty queen by night so to speak. I am also a freelance hairstylist. Fashion, style, and beauty for me have always been a huge part of me growing up. When I got to high school that passion grew. As any high school student going through the motions of trying to figure out what career I wanted to pursue, the only interest was fashion designer and entrepreneur. After getting accepted to the Miami International University also known as Art Institute to study fashion design, I decided to attend Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University shortly after to study business. I made this decision with hopes that I could land a great day job, in addition, to still pursue my career in fashion and beauty.

I remember when I use to go to parties and I always looked forward to what outfit I was going to wear and how I wanted my hair. I would take pictures and post them on MySpace and Facebook where I got great feedback. That’s when I first toyed with the idea of starting a blog. I thought well, I am going out, getting dressed, taking pictures. Why not? Why not use this as a stepping stone to becoming a fashion designer as well as building my brand. While in both high school and college I worked part time as a freelance hairstylist. Shortly after, I started to get into makeup application.

In 2015, while sitting in my office at work, one day I decided to start my blog. I wanted to highlight fashion, style, and beauty. My husband was already a graphic designer, photographer, and web designer that ran his own company. I had all the resources, the only thing left to do was just to go for it. So, there you have it, Classify Beauty was born.

I most recently have gotten into beauty pageants. Being a pageant girl has always been a dream of mine growing up but that dream shattered when I was in the 4th grade. I had an accident while playing track with my cousins. One of my cousins’ tripped me on accident and I fell leaving me with a permanent scar in the most obvious place. On my face below my nose. After years of my family and friends telling me I should model. At 5’5, I am way to short to become a runway model so I decided to embark on this pageant journey as an alternative. That decision has paid off and I’ve since been selected as an official delegate to represent my home town in the 2019 Miss Florida USA beauty pageant as well as received inquiries to participate in Ms. Florida, Ms. Florida International, among others.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not been an easy road considering the many hats that I wear. Being a new mom, a career oriented individual, a blogger, and now adding pageant girl, one of the hardest things has been finding a balance and middle ground. This last year has been the most challenging. I embarked on a new career, learned about my automatic high-risk pregnancy, and now adjusting to mommy mode. It gets discouraging sometimes, but I am not a quitter and anything I do I put 100% into it.

Another challenge for me has been putting myself out there. I am reserved, shy, and at times a bit anti-social so being vulnerable and opening up has always been hard for me. This platform that I have created forces me to put myself out there a bit and tear down some of those walls I have up. I continue to overcome these challenges by focusing on quality over quantity, staying current, staying relevant, remaining true to myself, investing in myself, and constantly finding ways to maximize my brand.

My advice to young women trying to start their journey is to have an open mind, do your homework, find your niche, analyze what sets you apart from others, be your true authentic self, remain consistent, stay relevant and put in the work.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Classify Beauty – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am an all around fashion, style, and beauty lover. I am a blogger turned pageant girl. I’ve always been a creative person. Fashion and style is a way for me to express myself in an artistic manner. What is it that fuels me? For me, aside from my family, it is Classify Beauty. Since I got started as a blogger back in 2016, I have found such a sense of fulfillment in my own life. I enjoy writing about my passions, what interests me, what interests other people, and sharing it with the world.

Classify Beauty is the canvas on which I paint a picture. Fashion, style, and beauty is the painted art. Classify Beauty is dedicated to bringing any and everything beauty to your fingertips. The latest fashion, hair, and makeup trends along with my personal style are highlighted on a regular basis. It is designed to empower women (like myself) of diversity who are classy, confident, and comfortable in their own skin; women who inspire others, and women who are beautiful inside and out.

I am most proud of how far blogging and this platform I’ve created has taken me. From countless press features to sponsoring beauty pageants, to participating in a few pageants, to bringing the very first Treasure Coast Int. Fashion Week (Coming Soon) to my hometown, to gearing up for the launch of my very own clothing collection (wait for it.) I am beyond blessed and thankful for my experiences as well as my lessons learned. I am humbled by this experience.

What sets me apart from the rest is that I am true to myself. It is important to be unique in the fashion industry. I try to tap into the not so ordinary. I don’t conform to the norm. I am raw and authentic and a little rough around the edges. I know exactly who I am and I am content with who I’ve grown to become and who I will be in the near future. I see the good in everything. I share positivity, my experiences, and much more with my readers.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
There is definitely a lack of opportunities as it relates to women not just in the fashion industry but also in everyday life. And yes, we are well equipped to take on countless opportunities. Too many to name. However, the change starts with us. We have to support each other, stand with each other, and stand up for each other. If we don’t, who will? If opportunity doesn’t come knocking on your door which it rarely does, be the change. Create your own opportunity. Create your own lane. Break down those barriers. Don’t sit around waiting. Be assertive about it. Just how bad you want it will determine if you will even tackle these opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.classifybeauty.com
• Email: classifybeauty@icloud.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/iambrittneycc , http://instagram.com/classify_beauty
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/classifybeauty
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/classifybeauty

Image Credit:
Shadow Designz (www.shadowdesignz.com)

Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.