We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angelita Parham. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angelita below.
Hi Angelita , you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
As a child, my grandmother Clara Bell-Dickey taught her grandchildren about giving. In my household we shared almost everything with other families and within our extended family. My grandmother would make fruit preserves from her apple, fig, and peach tree and give them away, She would have us pack vegetables from her garden and if anyone was short of food there was enough food in the freezer to give. My grandmother managed money well only to have an 6th grade education. Bigma, was a lender and never a borrower. We learned the concept of tithing at a young age and have seen blessings from it.
My generosity definitely came from my, “Bigma.” This character trait has proven that it’s far better to give than receive and it store’s blessings.
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?
My life has been pretty interesting I must say. I started my career as a salon owner and cosmetologist over 20 years ago. Working for myself allowed me time to spend time with my children and to work on a flex schedule. What’s unique about my story is that the pandemic forged a new business for me, SteeleDivine Cosmetics under the umbrella of SteeleDivine by Angie Steele.
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic closed many salons and it was mandated that we all stay home. While at home, I found time to think of other money making avenues and created a full cosmetics beauty brand.
Between 2020-2023, I would host complimentary makeup classes with my products and educate women on how to properly wear cosmetics. At the end of the class women would rush my makeup table to buy my products. Then I knew I was on to something and that we would need a small boutique storefront.
My cosmetics store & salon opened in April 2023 in Whitehaven, one of the best areas in Memphis, Tennessee. Whitehaven needed a cosmetics store and after doing the research, women had to travel 15+miles out or across the Stateline into Mississippi from Whitehaven to get to a cosmetics store.
What’s unique is that we’re located inside of the old SouthBrook Mall, a place that was pivotal in the lives of the people in the 38116 & 38109 zip code. The old mall is now revived into the new SouthBrook Town Center and it allows us a place to come back to and relive memories and conduct business in.
Since opening, SteeleDivine Salon & SteeleDivine Cosmetics has done well. We have used our location to serve other women-owned businesses by allowing them to place their product in our store, using our extra space for business classes, and teaching girls entrepreneurship and providing them with a Tennessee Braiders Certification. Girls 14+ are able to get their Tennessee Braid Certification and work.
Continuously, we have women that book us for makeup services for events and classes.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back the threes qualities that helped me survive was, being people-oriented, a good communicator, and building my skill-set.
The advice I have for others is to pursue and learn more in your industry and definitely create and pave a way for others to come through your industry. Life right to me is making an impact in others. Help bring others up and watch how it blesses you. It’s not all about the monetary value, but definitely the fact, you get to see another’s dream come true. We are All dream-pushers. Give often!
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My mother Karen Dickey, a 17 veteran Memphis Police dispatcher showed me hard work. My mother always told me to go for whatever it was that I wanted to do and would be the first person to support me.
Her life impacted me and pushed me to become who I am today. Right before she passed, my mom finished at the University of Memphis with her degree. I’m currently back in school pursuing my degree to make a greater impact in my community.
Contact Info:
- Website: SteeleDivineCosmetics.com
- Instagram: SteeleDivineCosmetics
- Facebook: SteeleDivineCosmetics
- Linkedin: Angelita Parham
Image Credits
Larshay Watson
