Ylondra Marrero shared her story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ylondra, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m being called to lead unapologetically, through fashion, through faith, and through the platform God has entrusted to me. For so long, I held back out of fear. Fear of judgment, fear of not being enough. But now I realize that my vision is His assignment. I’ve been called to design not just garments, but confidence. To host not just shows, but atmospheres of purpose. What once made me nervous standing out, being bold, being seen is now the very thing God is using to touch hearts and transform lives.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Ylondra Marrero, Founder and CEO of JEM Fab Fashions, a brand built on faith, purpose, and the belief that fashion has the power to transform lives. For more than twenty years, I have walked the runways of countless platforms, from local showcases in Southwest Florida to national stages across the U.S., and international spotlights including Paris, Greece, and Italy. My journey has spanned communities and continents, but through it all my vision has remained the same. To use fashion as a platform to empower, uplift, and ignite confidence in every person I encounter.
JEM Fab Fashions is not just a brand, it is a movement of empowerment. Every stitch, every design, every show carries a message of strength, resilience, and authenticity. I don’t just design clothes; I design opportunities. I create spaces where hidden voices rise, where everyday people step into their extraordinary, and where fashion becomes a language of hope and purpose.
As the sole designer behind JEM Fab Fashions, I pour not only creativity but also vision and conviction into everything I produce. From mentoring at-risk youth to elevating models and artists who thought they’d never have a stage, I’ve seen firsthand how fashion can heal, inspire, and change the trajectory of lives.
Now, JEM Fab Fashions is preparing for our most powerful showcase yet. The Winter Wonderland Gala, happening December 6th, 2025, in Fort Myers. This black-tie evening will be more than a night of beauty, it will be an experience that awakens purpose. Guests will witness breathtaking fashion, live entertainment, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and an after-party designed to celebrate life, love, and legacy.
JEM Fab Fashions is not just my brand, it is my God given mission to touch lives, ignite dreams, and leave behind a legacy that reminds the world: you were created with purpose, and you deserve to shine.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
God!
The author of my life, the One who knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. He never looked at me through fear, insecurity, or doubt. While I was questioning my voice, my purpose, my identity. He had already declared me chosen, equipped, and set apart.
When doubt tried to name me, God stamped identity. When fear tried to silence me, He spoke destiny. It wasn’t applause that pushed me forward, it was the echo of His truth pulling me higher.
Every step I took was by faith, not for validation. Brick by brick, prayer by prayer, tear by tear, I built an altar of trust with Him. And in that sacred place, God revealed what no one else could: my worth, my power, my calling.
He didn’t just see me, He unveiled me.
And now, I walk boldly, not because others believed, but because He never stopped.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering carved a depth in me no spotlight could ever reach. Applause celebrated what I achieved, but suffering revealed who I truly was. It taught me to stand when nothing was holding me up, to hear God’s whisper when the world went silent.
It stripped away pride, titles, and applause, leaving me face-to-face with resilience, grace, and unshakable faith. It forced me to value the process over the prize, to find beauty in the breaking, and to embrace compassion in places achievement could never touch.
In the ashes, I discovered a strength I never imagined and a purpose far greater than recognition.
Most of all, I learned this: true success is not what you build, it’s who you become when everything else crumbles.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The version of me you see in public is only a glimpse. It’s the polished strength, the boldness, the confidence, earned through pain, prayer, and perseverance. But the real me? She lives in the unseen moments, the silent battles, the tears that fall when no one’s watching, the conversations with God when I’ve had nothing left to give.
The real me is raw. She is imperfect, healing, and constantly evolving. She isn’t defined by what I present, she’s the woman I fight to become every single day.
The public may admire the crown, but only God and I know the weight it took to wear it.
So yes, what you see is me, but it’s only a fraction of the story.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they say I was a woman who walked with unshakable purpose, who loved without fear, gave without limits, and lived with courage. That my presence made people feel seen, valued, and empowered, just as they were.
I hope they say I stood for something far greater than myself. That I didn’t just build a brand, but built bridges for others to step into their calling. That I carried light into the darkest places, and that my life inspired change.
I pray they remember that I never waited for permission to be who God called me to be. That my story is told as one of impact, faith, and unwavering love. Not a legacy of perfection, but of divine purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jemfabfashions.com
- Instagram: @jemfabfashions
- Twitter: @jemfabfashions
- Facebook: @jemfabfashions
- Other: Jemfabfashions@gmail.com
