Phylicia Benn of Houston on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Phylicia Benn shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Phylicia , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
I stood up for a belief that cost me my platform. It was back in 2020 when Covid was going on I was one of the few influencers far spoke out against the experimental vaccine along with hundreds of other scientists and doctors. I was deplatformed for the 2nd time and was forced to regrow my audience. I don’t regret it especially with all the evidence of the adverse reactions and deaths it caused.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
PHYLI CI A BENN I S A TRAI LBLAZI NG BEAUTY &LI FESTYLE I NFLUENCER,
MODEL, AND ENTREPRENEUR WI TH OVER 14 YEARS OF EXPERI ENCE
I N THE I NDUSTRY. BORN AND RAI SED I N BROOKL YN, NYC, PHYLI CI A
MOVED TO HOUSTON, TEXAS, AT THE AGE OF 14, WHERE SHE NOW
CALLS HOME. AT 32, SHE I S A DEVOTED MOTHER TO A BEAUTI FUL BOY
AND A FI RM BELI EVER I N PUTTI NG GOD AND FAMI L Y FI RST , WHI LE ALSO
EMBRACI NG HER PASSI ONS FOR TRAVEL, FASHI ON, AND EXPLORI NG
NEW CUI SI NES.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, PHYLI CI A HAS BEEN A STEADFAST ADVO-
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, PHYLI CI A HAS BEEN A STEADFAST ADVO-
CATE FOR WOMEN’ S EMPOWERMENT , USI NG HER PLATFORM TO I N-
SPI RE AUTHENTI CI TY AND CONFI DENCE. SHE HAS TAUGHT COUNT-
LESS WOMEN HOW TO START THEI R OWN BUSI NESSES AND GROW
THEI R SOCI AL MEDI A PRESENCE, MAKI NG A SI GNI FI CANT I MPACT ON
THE LI VES OF MANY. DESPI TE FACI NG CHALLENGES—HAVI NG LOST
HER PLATFORM TWI CE SI NCE 2019, EACH TI ME AFTER AMASSI NG 90K
PORT OF HER COMMUNI TY HAVE HELPED HER REBUI LD AND CONTI N-
UE HER MI SSI ON. AS A PROUD TRI NI DADI AN- AMERI CAN, PHYLI CI A
DEEPL Y VALUES HER CUL TURE AND HERI TAGE, WHI CH I S REFLECTED
I N HER WORK AND PERSONAL LI FE. I N 2012, SHE FOUNDED
CI TYREPUBLI K. COM, A BRAND DEDI CATED TO UPLI FTI NG THE AFRI CAN
AMERI CAN COMMUNI TY THROUGH FASHI ON, HAI R, AND BUSI NESS ED-
UCATI ON. FROM I TS HUMBLE BEGI NNI NGS CREATI NG UNI QUE DENI M
PI ECES, CI TYREPUBLI K HAS GROWN I NTO A GLOBAL ONLI NE RETAI L
POWERHOUSE, OFFERI NG HI GH- END CONTEMPORARY CLOTHI NG,
WI GS, LI NGERI E, AND ACCESSORI ES AT ACCESSI BLE PRI CES FOR WOC.
WI TH A STRONG FOCUS ON PROMOTI NG SELF- LOVE AND CELEBRAT-
WI TH A STRONG FOCUS ON PROMOTI NG SELF- LOVE AND CELEBRAT-
I NG THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF BLACK WOMEN, PHYLI CI A’ S J OURNEY I S
I NG THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF BLACK WOMEN, PHYLI CI A’ S J OURNEY I S
A TESTAMENT TO HER FAI TH, DETERMI NATI ON, AND PASSI ON FOR
MAKI NG A DI FFERENCE. SHE CONTI NUES TO I NSPI RE, UPLI FT , AND EM-
POWER, PROVI NG THAT WI TH FAI TH AND PERSEVERANCE, BLACK
WOMEN CAN SHI NE TOGETHER.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
My father. He was a hustler/entrepreneur and he used to take me with him to work all the time. Growing up, watching him work for himself, was truly motivating and planted a seed in me that flourished as I grew older..

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I’m actually in that space now. Due to the current state of the economy, sales has been the slowest it’s ever been in the last 14 years and it has forced me to pick up other side hustles to get by. But I have faith in God that things will turn around soon.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Right now, I’m committed to raising money to help the families in Jamaica. I was there three days before hurricane Melissa hit. I fell in love with the country the culture, the food, and the environment. Seeing it be destroyed days after visiting is a complete shock to me still. So I’m committed to helping raise money to rebuild back Jamaica.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

I believe that I’m doing what I was born to do. Because what I was told to do was to go to college graduate and get a 9- 5 full-time job. I’m so blessed that I’m able to have the freedom to create my own schedule and wake up when I want to. The greatest blessing is being able to be a stay at home mother and homeschool my child.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.city republic.com
• Instagram: @phy1iciaaa
• Linkedin: Phylicia benn
• Facebook: Phylicia benn
• Other: TikTok @phyliciatemple

Image Credits
Photographer Francis Bassey