Today we’d like to introduce you to Aijah Charles.
Hi Aijah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Aijah Charles, also known as “Pose Retals,” is a 25 year old local, multifaceted creative originally from Miami, Florida. Raised by parents that were also creatives, Pose was always encouraged to explore her passions, which led her to embrace music as her first love. Throughout her teenage years in Miami, she performed extensively, eventually attending Berklee College of Music in Boston to major in songwriting. After returning to Miami post-college, she broadened her creative portfolio to include braiding, styling, creative direction, and event hosting. Pose’s personal mission as a creative is to inspire others across all walks of life while fostering the importance of community and connection.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My life hasn’t been easy. I’ve faced significant loss and endured a lot of pain. Looking back on my childhood, there are plenty of beautiful memories, but also a fair share of trauma. People often assume I’ve never struggled, but I decided to use that pain as fuel not only in life, but my work especially. Despite the hardships, I’ve been blessed with even more than I could ever ask for. I choose to focus on gratitude. I don’t let my past define me. Instead, I’m thankful for every experience, good or bad, because they’ve all taught me the value of self-reflection and accountability. It’s through that process that I continue to grow, not just for myself, but as a better person for those around me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Although music was my intro to the creative world, I now see myself as a multifaceted artist. My current focus is my braiding business, PartWizardd, which I launched after picking up braiding skills during the lockdown. This year, I decided to fully invest in myself and, in just a few months, I was able to book out my first month of appointments in November. I also released my first campaign shoot for 2025 that highlights both my braiding portfolio and my creative direction skills. What I’m most proud of and what truly sets me apart is my refusal to limit my creativity. I thrive on the freedom to bring to life ideas I haven’t seen before or concepts I’ve been inspired to create on my own. A perfect example of this is my approach to styling: much of my wardrobe is thrifted or sourced from retail jobs I’ve had, because I believe it’s not about the individual pieces, but how you put them together to make yourself feel your best. For me, the joy comes from curating that feeling, no matter what the medium is.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories is receiving the Candy Girl album by New Edition on CD my birthday. The title track was the first song I can remember instantly falling in love with, and I begged my parents for it every year until I eventually stopped asking. When I finally got it on my birthday, I’m pretty sure I cried. Looking back, I think that was the moment I realized my connection to music went beyond just a passing interest and it was something deeper, something I would carry with me for life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pose.retals/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/partwizardd/
Image Credits
Omari Jones Laine Zim Khami
