We recently connected with Meoshia Burgess and have shared our conversation below.
Meoshia , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
As a Black Girl, who started doing what I do at a very young age. Most of the time I’m not only the youngest in the room, but a lot of the times I’m the only little black girl in the room..Because of that I recognizing early on that the rules of success are somewhat different than they are for my counterparts.
At first being the only me in the room felt like a disadvantage, but I quickly learned that, that wasn’t necessarily the case. I’ve learned that being the only me in the room is okay. Because I’ve been recognized for my talents, and a door has now been opened for me.
Due to being the only me in the room, higher standards has always been placed me. I had to learn to overcome self doubt and build my confidence. I had to learn that if I’ve been invited in the room, that I belonged in the room. If they were offering me a seat at the table, I earned it. I learned to place myself firmly at the table. I’ve learned to make it my responsibility to be an integral part of the conversation.
Over the years I’ve learned to stop suppressing the qualities that make the unique person I am. I started to bring my true self into the room. Once I started being the my true unique self God made me to be, more opportunities opened up. I stared to build valuable relationships with big organizations and corporate leaders.
I also learned that even though I may have started out as the only me in the room, that it didn’t mean I had to be alone. I started looking for my village, my tribe. I stared bring other young black girls and boys into them same rooms with me. I started giving them the same opportunities that had been giving to me. By doing this gave me a sense of pride and relief that I am not the only one and should celebrate the distinctive characteristics that make me uniquely qualified to be in “the room.” And for anyone who’s found themselves being an only, I encourage them to recognize their own power, live with purpose, and leverage their strengths to allow them to make a real impact.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In 2024 I plan to take my brand international. I’ll be doing a lot more fashion shows as a designer and also opening up my platform for young people to become brand ambassadors for my brand, Charlotte Princess Inc.
Here is a few cities and counties, that my brand will representing at fashion shows in 2024.
February 20-26 … Milan Fashion Week
March 3… Fashion Is My Passion Durham, NC
March 6-8… Dallas Fashion Week
March 11-16… Tokyo Fashion Week
March 22-27… LA Fashion Week
June 5-8… Detroit Fashion Week
June 29… Black Elegance Fashion Show Durham, NC
August 23-27… Dominican Republic Fashion Week
September 13-17… Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid
October 3-6… Atlanta Fashion Week
Not only will I be doing more fashion shows, I’ll also be continuing my speaking engagements in middle and high school’s and colleges. I will be traveling speaking on gun violence, sex trafficking, self love, bullying, The importance of voting in your local elections and more.
I have a new book dropping in 2024 titled manifesting your business grant. As an entrepreneur. It’s important to know how to stay ahead of the game in order to be successful. My new book that will be dropping in 2024 will provide an easy to understand framework to help young entrepreneurs stay on top of their business game.
My book, Your Business Grant Book, is going to be packed with my best tips, Strategies and hacks for finding, writing and editing grant proposals that get funded. If you’ve ever wanted a start to finish rundown of the grant process, This is it…
✨IF YOU’ VE NEVER WRITTEN A GRANT BEFORE and are stressing out because you have no idea how to get started… This book is for you…
✨If you’ve Written a grant… BUT IT DIDN’T GET YOU THE FUNDING you thought it would… This book is for you…
✨If you’ve had some success but want to save time and effort with a REPEATABLE SYSTEM TO STAND OUT IN YOUR ORGANIZATION… This book is for you…
In my new book you will discover a simple… Streamlined process that saves you time and gets your organization all the funding they need to do important work for your community… And the world!
✨In my book I’ll show you how to raise money and save time by finding only the grants that works for your business or organization…
✨BE READY THE PREP WORK!
You’ll discover how to pick the perfect project for funding… And how to gather your materials… and your team… By being prepared… you’ll avoid the rookie mistake of diving right into grant writing… Without laying the foundation first…
✨THE 7-STEP PROCESS TO GRANT SEEKING
You’ll learn how to think like a Funder… And win more grants… And the proven system to structure your grant seeking for the next 10 years…
✨ HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT FUNDERS AND AVOID THOSE WHO AREN’T
Discover how to find your best grant opportunities without spending all your free time in front of a computer… Nurture relationships so you know how to approach funders before you apply for a grant… And discover how to keep track of it all…
✨ PREPARING YOUR GRANT PROPOSAL
Learn the common elements of the typical grant application for foundation and government grants… Create a 7-day plan to develop your needs statement… Organization and business qualifications… Outcomes and goals… work plan… Evaluation plan… Collaborations and partnerships… Sustainability plan and more… Along with learning how to develop a clear and concise grant proposal that will excite a funder the first time they read it…
✨ KNOW YOUR NUMBERS PLANNING YOUR BUDGET
Discover the steps to developing a perfect project budget for foundation and government grant applications…How to know the true cost of your project… How to develop income projections… How to develop the project budget justifications… And 5 ways to lose a grant… All the mistakes to avoid!!!
✨ WHAT TO DO AFTER THE GRANT APPLICATION IS IN
You’ll learn how to manage deadlines and reporting requirements… Without losing sleep… How to keep the relationship with your funders…How to prepare for site visits… And what to do if the answer is “no”…
My book will also include budgeting template… Letter of Intent… Logic Models… Grant Applications, and so much more…
As the youngest person ever to receive 5 business grants from the city of Charlotte… Along with other major grants… I’m super excited to be able to share my knowledge with all of you…
I’ll be doing all this while attending Spelman College as a prelaw student.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the best thing I’ve learned so far on my journey is to embrace who I am. To love myself. To always show up as me.
Advice I would give another young person starting out is, always show up as their unique self, recognize their own power early on, live with purpose, never allow anyone to dim their light, and leverage their strengths to enable them to make a real impact.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am currently looking for female brand ambassador for my clothing and shoe line.
Qualifications:
Must be 16 year or older
Must be active on social media
Must take their modeling career seriously
Must be willing to travel to fashion shows (not all but at least 3 a year)
Must be will to post and tag me in all photos with my brand on
Must be drama free
I’m also looking to collaborate with MUA and hairstylist for my models at shows and photoshoots
I’m looking to collaborate with a song writer to write me a new theme song to use at events and shows
I’m looking to collaborate with videographers and photographers for brand photo shoots and to attend fashion shows and other events with me
I’m looking to collaborate with event organizers and promoters for shows and appearances.
Anyone who’s ready to work and want to collaborate you can message me on Facebook or Instagram. You can also email . All contact information is below.
Instagram @charlotte_princess_inc
Facebook: Meoshia Charlotte Princess Burgess
Email: [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Instagram: charlotte_princess_inc
- Facebook: Meoshia Charlotte Princess Burgess
