I grew up in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn on Greene Avenue between Bedford and Nostrand. My life has been full of

magic and struggle. I was kicked out at the age of 7 and was forced to wander the streets of Brooklyn. This

forced me to be creative and mature at an extremely early age. I had to resort to my imagination as the number

one tool to keep me alive. I went from sleeping in abandoned buildings to eating out of garbage cans and

sleeping outside in the cold with a t-shirt and jeans.

While I was shivering sleeping on the local G train riding from train to train killing time, I sat there wondering

why was I going through this, and I couldn't get a answer. I would frequent Times Square since that's where the

most people were, so the chances of finding scraps or being offered food was very high.

Not only was my financial security pretty much non-existent, but my schooling was kind of a joke. Through my

struggles and the need to mature at a rapid rate, I had a sincere understanding of how life worked and the

purpose of it. Unfortunately, what we were being taught had nothing to do with life or how to endure it. As a

result, I would always get into debates with teachers in elementary school and was kicked out too many times

to count for unexpressed emotion, turned fighting.

When I reached the 5th grade entering summer school, I really wanted to do this swimming program for the

summer because it was my passion. I left school and never returned. I followed my heart and went swimming

and it was the greatest decision I ever made in my life. Even though I would still suffer, I didn't mind because

the suffering I endured was necessary for me to escape mediocrity.

I was an outlaw, living over the rules of society and I soon discovered there weren’t many people like me;

especially those that shared a broad vision of being something in the world. I learned the traditions of society

were so powerful that, everyone who I thought loved me, turned their back on me because I didn't go to school.

I felt deeply crushed and this was the first time I experienced a heartbreak. I resorted to emerging myself into

the streets. I sold drugs and became violent as a means to protect myself.

Combined that with my passion for strength and fighting, I thought I had become very powerful. But it was just a

sad cry, mostly just for help. I went to jail and was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. I served a

few months and turned 18 in jail. A few years after that, I truly needed and wanted to be my natural self. I went

to jail for possessing drugs in upstate New York. And it was exactly what I needed to break free from my own

cycle. I served a year and few months, but I promised myself I would come out completely as my true self

instead of holding onto this persona as a defense mechanism. I no longer wanted to survive, I wanted to

thrive.

With all of this time on my hands, I started to slowly discover my value and what I was meant to be in the

world. Wherever I went, I made people feel through my words. People felt good hearing my words and story,

and right there I knew what I wanted to do... I wanted to inspire the world and be in a position of natural power.

I discovered my role as a savior of humanity; bringing light to the world. Simply put, my dream was to be myself

and change the world by being just that...myself.

Once I was out, I released all of the deeply hidden pain and shame that I suppressed for years. I continued

my education and shared my life story in a series of public speaking exercises that together allowed me to free

myself. 

I was finally free both in mind, body, and soul, I committed to following my heart and pursuing all of my dreams

of running the world and making a difference by building 

 Shante Oils, which I had been creating since 2004. 

I constantly kept telling everyone I came across, “Don't

let fear keep you in poverty”. I followed my heart by doing exactly what I felt I should and could do. My passion for making products allowed me to fully create a purpose for myself by being in service not only to myself, but

for the world. Shante Oils allowed me to create something that the world needed and I needed to keep it that

way. Shante Oils is my business and it is also an example of my bravery.

I create my products based on the ingredients I know are the most beneficial for the health of my buyers.

Everything is all natural. And it takes a lot of consideration, skill and time to keep it natural. Everything I've

been through has been shaped, molded, and funneled into these oils. This is how I forgive myself and past

because I am creating a product that will make others feel good.

I've encountered numerous losses with my business and in those moments is when I have my brightest ideas.

I've lost a lot of people along the way. A lot of people lied to me and didn't help me promote or push my

business. At the end of the day, I learned that those kind of people never prosper and I will if I keep going. I will

never give up nor will I ever give up on the impact that my product line will have for women across the

world.