Today we’d like to introduce you to Lourdgilyne Sterlin
Lourdgilyne , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hello, everyone! My name is Lourdgilyne Sterlin (pronounced Lord-Juh-Lean Sterlin), but you may know me as Melanin.Luuu or Lulu. I’m Haitian, born in Okap, and the fourth of seven children—the only daughter. My father was tragically murdered in a drive-by shooting, which was devastating for our family. Despite the hardships, my mother worked tirelessly, along with our family, to bring us to the U.S. In 2007, we immigrated to Fort Lauderdale. Adjusting to a new culture and language was challenging, but I pushed myself, often staying after school or working with professors to succeed. The first few years in America taught me the harsh reality of being treated differently when you’re not considered “normal” or come from less. Throughout my life, I’ve faced many trials and tribulations, including family struggles, educational challenges, and financial and emotional hardships. My mother eventually remarried, but the relationship was marked by domestic violence, putting us in both emotional and physical danger. After a year, we moved to Miami-Dade to live with my grandmother, who became my rock. Being raised by my grandmother made me who I am today. She saved me, stepping up to take care of us while working minimum-wage jobs and taking buses to support us through school. We lived in efficiencies, duplexes, couches, and even faced homelessness, yet she never wavered in her faith. She taught me to trust my vision because it’s mine, given to me by God for a reason. I started working various jobs, from under-the-table gigs paying $5 an hour to positions offering $16 an hour with benefits. I don’t regret any of them because they all taught me valuable lessons that shaped my entrepreneurial journey. Growing up in Miami’s “keep-up-with-the-Joneses” culture, I often wished for what others had, but I learned to prioritize responsibility over luxuries. With limited resources, I turned to beauty as my outlet. I started doing makeup and hair as a teenager—doing cheerleaders’ hair in the school bathroom, helping church members, and turning it into a small hustle.During my senior year of high school, I realized my passion for beauty could be my way out, especially given my family’s financial struggles as immigrants. I started taking it seriously, working in salons where I learned both the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship. Despite setbacks like difficult clients and financial hurdles, I stayed committed to my vision.When COVID hit, I decided to return to school and began studying psychology at a community college. That year, I focused on personal transformation—spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I dedicated myself to my health journey and lost over 120 pounds, which helped me discover what I truly wanted out of life. Those years were transformative; I balanced doing hair, makeup, content creation, and hosting women’s empowerment events. Helping other women feel as alive as I did inspired me to pursue women’s empowerment further because I believe there’s room for everyone in every field. Taking a leap of faith, I packed up everything and transferred to FAMU in Tallahassee, Florida, using my last paycheck to cover two months of rent. There, I pursued a degree in journalism with a minor in business administration. Moving into my first apartment while attending school was challenging, but it taught me resilience. My family, while unable to provide financial support, cheered me on as I saved and made this life-changing move. My passion for content creation fueled my decision to study journalism, and I thrived in media and entertainment spaces. Along the way, I realized I didn’t have to limit myself to one category. I explored business opportunities that allowed me to monetize my talents while doing what I loved. I always tell people: if your end goal is just money, it might not be a strong enough “why.” I have a clear vision of what I want—it’s like a movie in my head. I believe we are seeds of something beautiful, and every challenge we face prepares us for what we already know we deserve. If you’re tired today, quit tomorrow—but don’t give up. I have so many projects planned for the next six months, year, and beyond. My advice is to keep going and pivoting. There’s something beautiful in each of our stories.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the hardest obstacles I faced was mental health. Growing up less fortunate, dealing with language barriers, and having no help from inside or outside often felt like hitting a dead end over and over again. Family life was challenging—seeing my family struggle for everything, whether it was groceries or keeping the lights on, was never a fair fight for us. The little things such as transportation, joining sports, having a normal childhood you see on television seem impossible due to lack of support and finances. We were on government assistance for a very long time of my childhood. Going to government food pantries, relying on church members to help us when they can. Going to the neighborhood laundry with barrels in my mother’s broken down infinity that made the cringiest noise in the street people staring. As a kid, you want to help, but it feels like there’s nothing you can do. Growing up around kids/people who couldn’t understand my situation because they had never been in my shoes taught me to give grace to everyone and to myself. As beautiful as it is to heal, we must also acknowledge the struggles we endured to get where we are. I often find myself looking back at my younger self, and if I could, I would tell her that everything is going to be okay and she’s exactly where she needs to be. Healing from past trauma—such as domestic violence, homelessness, the grief of losing a parent, growing up in a broken household, anger, and forgiveness—was not easy. I carried a fear of failure because I came from nothing, and it took me a long time to overcome that. The crazy thing is now I admire failure because in order to win it’s a step that you must be willing to take. Discovering who God is and what He means to me has recently helped me make sense of everything I’ve been through and allowed me to see the bigger picture and heal.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a SHE-E-O, specializing in all things me! I’m always pivoting—whether it’s women’s empowerment, hair, fashion, makeup, or being on screen—I have a passion for it all. What truly sets me apart is how much I care about the impact I have on anyone who connects with me through my passions. I value giving others an unforgettable experience.
I have yet to meet a woman I couldn’t relate to on at least one level. There’s always a way to meet others halfway. I know that what I envision for myself is out there, and I don’t care if it takes 10 or 20 years—I’m going to achieve it. I value consistent progress over sporadic perfection. Who I am as a person—my heart and my mindset—also sets me apart. I believe I see life in a different light than most, and I aspire to help others embrace their higher selves and see life in a new way.
What does success mean to you?
How do I define success? I define success by analyzing how many people you’ve touched—how many can say they’ve had an encounter with you and left your presence feeling renewed, loved, heard, or seen. To me, success is bigger than just myself. I’m merely a vessel here to complete the assignment God has given me to the best of my ability. I believe my success isn’t solely about me; I’m just a seed, and that’s okay with me as long as I fulfill my purpose. While numbers and monetary goals often define success in today’s world, for me, they’re only a bonus.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanin.luuu?igsh=MXdzOTh0OXExZ2o0ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18VKoFJCFe/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@melaninluuu?si=ik1WsGGpM1dleeN3
