M
onique Rodriguez has a quiet This led her to spark an interest in
but calm aura about her.
natural hair care as she began to
Petite in stature, she patiently experiment with ingredients to treat
waits on me to come down from the
her own tresses. Anybody who has
studio to open the door for her. My
seen Monique can automatically tell
mind rushes as I hurry downstairs,
that she takes incredible care of her
scrambling to figure out questions to hair; her beautiful crown trails down
ask her to start the conversation.
her back. Considering her education
in science, Rodriguez was extremely
To my pleasant surprise, our
mindful of products she used. Her
discussion flows easy as we talk
ideal product would be one that
about cities we visited. I learn she
contained all natural ingredients that
is not too fond of LA, too many
would keep her hair health y. She
facades. Atlanta is more her style
then decided that she should go
which makes complete sense as
ahead and create
many see it as the
her own.
mecca of Black
"I
STARTED
entrepreneurship.
After researching
and ordering
RECEIVING
Rodriguez always
ingredients to
knew that wanted
LIKE DMS
develop concoctions
to own her business
for her own personal
AND
E-MAILS
at some point but
use, Rodriguez
not before she tried
FROM WOMEN
began to share her
a more traditional
hair journey and
SAYING
THAT
I
route. "A lot of people
on social media.
don't know that my
WAS HELPING
When she set out to
background is in
educate women on
THEM
WITH
registered nursing,"
how to maintain their
she explains as her
ACTUALLY
hair, she started to
face gets painted
receive feedback.
CHANGING
with a versatile
"I started receiving
beat that translates
THEIR LIVES."
like DMs and e-mails
effortlessly with each
from women saying
wardrobe change.
that
I
was
helping
them with actually
"My mom is the one who wanted me changing their lives."
to become a nurse. I went to nursing
school because. I thought that was
Women began to flood her inboxes
the right thing to do."
with questions about the recipes
and inquiries of where they could
I relate to her story, as I too am one
purchase her creations. This is when
of the many children who heeded
Rodriguez decided to take her
their parents' wishes in hopes to
experimental hobby seriously. She
make them proud. Also similiar to
knew this time couldn't be like her
me, Rodriguez believed that there
attempts at business (she first
was much more out their for her than other
tried
her
hand at direct sales and a
working a 9-to-5. "I went through a
jewelry
line).
Rodriguez made sure
very dark time in my life and I was
to
take
her
time
to do the research
just like 'you know God? Help me
to
lay
a
strong
foundation
for a
find something that I can do that I'm
successful
business.
Cue
Mielle
really passionate about that doesn't
Organics.
feel like work."