Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Jahaira.
Hi Abby, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a US Virgin Islands native, I noticed at a very young age that the expression of beauty was represented through hairstyles like braids, twists, and the freedom of natural curls and kinks. Growing up in Miami since age 8, I realized that the standards of beauty differed, and instead were geared more towards western beauty ideologies – having long and straight hair.
I didn’t realize the influence that this belief had in my personal life and I quickly began to try to fit into these standards of how beauty was defined according to what society required at the time.
When the natural hair movement became prominent on social media, I felt there was a lack of representation of Afro Latinas and women that looked like me. With that, I decided to create a platform where I can showcase natural hair practices that have been passed down to me from my Dominican and Puerto Rican tias and primas (aunts and cousins). What started as a YouTube channel for natural hair secrets, has now flourished into a multitude of platforms where I am able to share much more than hair tutorials. My advocacy for the natural hair and Afro-Latinx community led me to features as a campaign model for Nike and Footlocker’s Air Max Day 2021, the voice to interview trailblazers like Puerto Rico’s very own Justin Quiles and gain a community of collectively over 50,000 supporters worldwide.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wasn’t always as confident in my skin as I am today. My initial struggles were the ones that helped curate the mission behind my brand Abby Jahaira. I struggled with acceptance of self – my hair, my image, and the simple understanding that each of these factors are what made me so beautiful.
Back in middle and high school, the beauty standards were to have permed hair – bone straight and passed your shoulders. That was the identification of beauty, and so I worked towards that. It was difficult trying to fit in to this non-existent bubble and as I grew older and learned more about my culture, it became evident that the social norms that I was adhering to were a direct result of colonialism and imperialism.
Once I overcame that, the inspiration on the business side became a lot easier. I learned that there was an extremely large community of women that felt the same way as I did – a community of women who wanted to feel liberated and free in their own skin.
My platform began initially as a form of expression for myself and has now developed into a safe space for women to learn. Being an inspiration to myself and seeing the struggles within other women who look like me pushed me to a voice that advocates for us all.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Abby Jahaira as a brand is many things. My social media platforms are a meaningful space where my love for natural hair and the more serious aspects of my personal life co-exist. My natural hair portfolio encompasses various projects with brands like The Mane Choice, Bomba Curls, and Miche Beauty. I enjoy sharing some of my favorite beauty products and self-care practices with my audience through informative girl talks and tutorials. I also model for various brands and participate in speaking engagements and panels.
I’m proud of my culture and the influence that it’s had on my upbringing. It has played a significant role in the successes that I have encountered, and I’ve been able to utilize my own traditions as a gift to give back to my community and be a pioneer in the Afro Latinx community.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I am grateful for apps like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok because without these platforms I wouldn’t be able to build the community of supporters that I have today.
Aside from this, I can’t live without editing apps like Final Cut Pro, In Shot, Picmonkey, and Photoshop because they allow for me to use my creativity in an expressive way.
For self-care practices, I listen to podcasts like “Black Girls Heal”, “Hey, Girl”, and “Balanced Black Girl.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abbyjahaira.com
- Instagram: @abbyjahaira
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/abbyjahaira
- Twitter: @abbyjahaira
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/AbbyJahaira
Image Credits
Melody Timothee
Celia D. Luna
