Written by Juniper Promise
Her Journey
I was a carefree child but also insecure and I grew up in a nuclear family with my mother and father, two brothers, and a sister. I often got myself into trouble and, I still do not understand how my mother survived the many traumatic episodes I would put her through. Today, I have the physical scars to show. I remember when I transitioned to high school at age ten after having passed the Common Entrance exam like it happened yesterday. High school was a new and frightening experience for me.
I could have been a scholar, I believe, but I got by. In retrospect, high school was a bit traumatic for me. I think that is where I developed an even greater level of low self-esteem mainly because I was teased. I believe I developed a knack for showing up tough on the outside while insecurity was brewing like a storm on the inside.
The irony of the situation, however, was, I had equal admiration from peers. I was never out of friends, but having many friends did not compensate for the teasing that I endured. I was called names like “toady” because I had big eyes and other names that I cannot remember. The thing I remember most was how being ridiculed made me feel. This feeling became an unnecessary burden I carried.
I would be walking down the school’s corridor, and I would hear names directed at me. The ridicule and teasing came from a set of boys in particular. I was left with feelings of great insecurity and a comparison mindset. I saw myself through the lens of how others viewed me. Over time, I learned how to function by immersing myself in leadership roles like the president of my high school’s Key Club, and then in the sixth form becoming a prefect. Still, I always felt inadequate.
Tell me about The Beyond Woman brand. How long did you have the concept before it became a reality?
So, I shared earlier about my so-called inadequacies as a young girl as well as a young adult. I never felt comfortable in my skin and, I knew these feelings were a stumbling block for me as I evolved; and especially as I became aware of the greatness placed on the inside of me. I identified with the inadequacies, and I knew there were other women like myself.
As I grew mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually, the idea came to me that I could help women who felt the same. The women I am talking about are the ones who felt the fire within but could not bridge the gap. I also had a long-standing love and admiration for Essence magazine, and the idea came that I could have my own. With my magazine, I decided to use storytelling and allow women to experience each other and learn from each other’s journey. That is how it started.
Once again, the way the magazine and the brand evolved seamlessly, and without a hitch, I knew I was on the right path. Subconsciously this idea was within me since 1997, and it came to fruition in 2017, twenty years later. TheBeyondWoman believes that women must begin to take care of themselves first. Our mission is to help women redefine personal success by pursuing self-love and radical self-care while building authentic connections. We can be so much more to ourselves and others when we practice true self-care. That is where it starts. Something we are always talking about.
If you were granted a do-over, what is the one thing you would change?
Honestly, I would have started praying for wisdom earlier, so I would know the things I am just finding out. In the same breath, I would not want a do-over of life; I believe we all have a specific journey, and everything I have experienced in the way I have experienced them was just for me. My experiences, even the unpleasant ones’ have shaped me into who I am today. Perhaps, if I had a do-over, I would not have learned some of the lessons I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR TODAY. I would not have met some of the wonderful people that I now have in my life. I would not have been able to impact the lives that I have. My children would have been different, etc., and so I am grateful for my journey and the roads I have traveled.
What is your big fat why for The Beyond Woman Magazine?
I desire to see every woman have her breakthrough moment on her journey that says I am unique, I can be myself, and I can have it all.
Why should women pick up this magazine?
This magazine was founded with women in mind, and the stories and features are rich and relatable. There is no fluff or pretense. Every woman will get a takeaway from our magazine because she will see her life through the life experiences and lessons retold by other women. She will see that her experiences are not unique to her but shared by women who are unafraid to tell their stories.
How do you stay centered when your dreams are not manifesting according to plan?
I stay centered on the truth from the word of God. We will never know how our lives will be. There is no crystal ball, even though I wish I had one. I dislike when people believe they control their destiny. For years I was a control freak while knowing the truth (that we are not in control), and where did it get me? Like many others, I fooled myself for a long time. And then a time comes for all of us when we are forced outside of our comfort zone and have no idea what our next move is, and we only have a dream in our head and plans on paper; then we must trust in a power outside of ourselves.
And so, to answer your question, I rely on Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I am joined at the hip with God’s will and am in total surrender as he makes his perfect plan for my life manifest.
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