Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Martin.
Hi Michelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always been an artist and performer and absolutely all things film and theatre related. I am always in search of an outlet to support my passion as an artist. A few years ago, I began blogging to channel positive energy. I wanted to take the blog in a direction that allowed me to travel to different places and interview dope women everywhere. The Covid-19 pandemic put a complete halt to those plans and gave me an opportunity to reevaluate the plan for the blog. After the murder of Breonna Taylor, I felt a need to amplify the voices of Black women and other women of color. I wanted to create a safe space for them to be reminded of how DOPE and MAGICAL they are. From there the idea was born to not just give them a place to visit, but to highlight the many amazing women I encounter on a regular basis. Since the relaunching of the blog iamMichelleRena.com has highlighted over 50+ women and a few Dope Black Men too.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey here has been pretty smooth. The most difficult thing was getting others to understand what I envisioned doing and getting them to join me on this journey. My entire goal is to make Black women feel empowered, loved, and seen. I wanted them to know that even though the world believes us to be pillars of strength and knowing no pain, that I see them for their vulnerability because I share the same softness. I want to help normalize conversations about self-care and mental wellness among my community. Once women saw that what I am doing is truly done from a passion for supporting and empowering others they have been happy to support.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I started my journey as a singer and performer and I have always imagined it ending in the same way. I have been a singer and performer since I was a teenager. But as a wife and mom, my entire focus is on helping to maintain and manage my family. I am the proud mom of three daughters and a bonus whom I affectionately call the Martin Glittergang. These girls are paving their own way as YouTubers and my goal is to empower them in such a way that they are able to live out all of their dreams. I am most proud of being able to not only encourage my girls and even my husband to live out their dreams, but I am also able to encourage so many women to do the same while living out my own. What sets me apart from others is my passion and desire to see other successful, so much so that I exhaust myself sometimes supporting their ventures. But I have even learned in that process that I will never go without but I make sure that others don’t ever go without. Life is cyclic and what you put out into the universe, good or bad, will always circle back. I spend, my time, energy, and money putting as much good out into the world as I possibly can.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t think luck has played a role at all in my life and business. I have been fortunate to encounter people that I have built lasting relationships with. Our interactions have led us to collaborate and with each collaboration I look to gain more relationships. I recognize that work that I do is interdependent. I am able to interview and highlight more women by interacting and making connections with more women.
Contact Info:
- Email: iammichellerena@gmail.com
- Website: www.iammichellerena.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammichellerena/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iammichellerena
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQPGOG5HqHZIUBHFrqJKK-Q
Image Credits
@LoMessam
