We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dee Hannah. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dee below.
Dee , we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity comes from my Grandmother, Mrs. Birtha LeFlore (RIP). When I was a little girl, she had a mason jar that she only used when someone in the neighborhood passed away. She would go around the neighborhood with the jar and collect money for the deceased person’s family. At times it would be half full and sometimes filled to the brim with money. After she collected the money, she gave it to the families. She never took a dime. I’m not sure who taught her this for she never spoke of growing up in her hometown in Mississippi. However, I watched her be generous to her neighbors when no one asked her to be.
Since she’s been gone I’ve thought about her and the mason jar she used to offer support to those who needed it. Through her actions, she taught me the meaning of servitude. I feel at ease when I’m in servitude to others. On Mother’s Day, I picked up an order at a Mexican restaurant. I saw a man sitting at a booth having a conversation with himself. A feeling I cannot describe came over me. I asked the host if I could pay for his meal. I didn’t ask what he ordered or how much it cost. He gave me the total and I paid the bill along with mine and left. I never greeted the man nor did I feel uncomfortable watching him have a conversation with someone I couldn’t see.
One of my co-workers once told me people with disabilities had a first seat in Heaven. I believe they should have a first seat here as well. Unfortunately, they don’t. It is 2023 and people still stigmatize others. Its truly sad. People shouldn’t have to wait until they die to be shown love. Yes…my Grandmother. She is where my generosity comes from.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My company is 21 BlueLash. We sell cosmetics and our mission is founded on advocacy for mental health. Our products were designed to combat stigma and make individuals who struggle with mental health feel at ease. There are a lot of things I love about 21 BlueLash. First, we have beautiful women showcasing our products. They are from diverse backgrounds and cultures. I’m always in awe to see how they use our products in different ways. For example, most of the ladies did pics with our SIB (Self Injurious Behavior) and OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder eyeshadow palettes.
Each woman brought a signature look that is absolutely amazing to visualize. They don’t just wear the makeup…they breathe life into it. Their personalities and style. Their beliefs and love. I’m appreciative to all of them: Sheila, Leash, Hannah, Angela and Courtney. My two cousins, Nettie and Tamrisha don’t usually wear makeup. However, Nettie did a pic just for me and its stunning! When I initially launched the company, Tamrisha posed for a pic to advertise SIB as. I had the idea of her posing with SIB written on her arm (in blue, one of the colors of our brand) to bring the palette to life. She did and she nailed it on the first attempt.
I asked Kourtney to create an eye combo wearing ‘Mikati’ and ‘Ave’ from the OCD palette to honor Dr. Mohamad Mikati, Chief of Pediatric Neurology and Dr. Ave Lachiewicz, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician (retired) of Duke Hospital for providing amazing healthcare to Isis over the years. Kourtney definitely understood the assignment! I have beautiful and brilliant ladies on our team!
That’s what 21 BlueLash is all about. Bringing people together to take a stand for mental health. For me, makeup is art. These women are living, breathing examples of my vision. We recently launched new products and I started a podcast called Amerisogyny where I take listeners around the world and find threads of mental health in true life stories. The Amerisogyny podcast is streamed on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Samsung and more. I also am very close to owning the trademark to Amerisogyny–a term I coined in protest of the Supreme Court dismantling Roe vs Wade.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think I’ll take one of each to explain. A quality? I am extremely ambitious. Once I make the decision to carry out a task, I never give up. No matter how difficult obstacles are…I have learned I do not know how to accept defeat. I keep going until I succeed. That’s the only way I know how to live. A skill I have developed over the years that has assisted me in my journey is a unique gift I’m not sure what to name. I’m able to feel energy from others. I don’t have to meet them or really know anything about them. However, I can look at someone and tell what makeup would look good on them and what wouldn’t. My models are of different skin tones. Yet, I’ve been able to match up our products with their complexions perfectly.
If you’re going to have a makeup company, that’s one thing you should have. You’d better know what products are going to bring out the best in others. The more skills you possess, the less you depend on others to run your business. Lastly, an area of knowledge is my background in Clinical Psychology. I utilize what I learned in college and on the job to advocate for people with psychiatric disorders and developmental disabilities. Having a degree in Clinical Psychology has helped tremendously due to my genuine interest in it. I didn’t choose my major. It chose me.
My advice for others who are early in their journey is to know who you are before you begin. The road to greatness and achievement isn’t easy. There will be setbacks. People will try to discourage you or not assist you. Its unavoidable. That doesn’t mean you will fail. If you are tenacious, multiply it. If you’re timid by nature, build your courage before you begin. If you have people in your circle who don’t support you, leave them behind. Anything worth having will be paid for in blood, sweat and tears. Once you begin the race, turning back isn’t an option. You will be your greatest motivator on your journey. You must not give up on yourself.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My friend Minister Connie Terry has been the most helpful in overcoming challenges I face. When I met Connie, I was very angry with God for putting me on the path I was on. She helped me see even though we face adversity, it doesn’t last. There is light at the end. I met her in a work environment and we had the best conversations at lunch time and break times.
Our personalities are very different. She’s calm while I’m…(while not as vehement as I used to be) more impatient with the shortcomings of others. I’m very blunt and honest and when I feel someone isn’t treating me the way I feel I should be treated, I shut them out. However, I couldn’t shut people out on the job. I had to face the heat of their issues, anger and unhealed trauma everyday. It was very overwhelming for me. Very traumatizing. Without her guiding me closer to God, I believe I would’ve self destructed for the environment was beyond toxic.
When I met her and she revealed she was a minister…I tried to avoid her. I didn’t want to know anything about God. Yet, she was patient. She didn’t push me or try to manipulate me or make me feel convicted. She welcomed me into her life and shared her family with me. That was about seven years ago.
Now…I am more patient with others. I think before I react. When I’m faced with obstacles, instead of getting upset, I think “What would Miss Connie do?” For example, I recently contacted a radio station to advertise 21 BlueLash.
I inquired about an advertising package and informed the girl what I wanted. Immediately, she tried to discourage me. Although she quoted the price, she kept repeating “that isn’t going to get you much” but she never tried to give me an alternative price either. Therefore, I realized she wasn’t trying to upsell me, she wanted me to forget the idea. She said she’d email information on advertising to me and seemed to write down my business email. I quickly found out she didn’t. She never sent anything to my email. I should’ve known by her condescending tone she wasn’t going to assist me. However, I did not allow this to discourage me.
I’m well aware that some people seek to block others. The crabs in a barrel syndrome and all that jazz. She didn’t realize to whom she was speaking. I NEVER give up. And I have someone I am fighting for: my daughter. All of the conversations I’ve had with my friend Connie were not in vain. When I didn’t receive the email, I didn’t bat an eyelash. I contacted another radio station and sent my information. Nothing stops…and due to Connie teaching me who I am in Christ…that He fights for me when I’m awake and while I sleep….I know nothing will stop me. And no one.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.21bluelash.net
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/21bluelash1225?igshid=OGQ5ZDcODk2ZA==
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/misshunnybunns1225/
Image Credits
21 BlueLash owns the rights to all photos submitted.
