How it Began............
The time has come to reveal myself, to put it all out there, well not too much. Hi babe, my name is Jennifer Lee. I started my journey many years ago. It all started with me wanting to change who I was. How? Believe or not, I weighed 250 pounds and felt miserable. Unhappy with whom I have become. Change needed to happen, ASAP. In 2002 I signed up to torture myself. Yes, a contract was signed by me to give my sweat and tears to a ………..GYM.
Let the adventure of 02 begin. It started out with 5 am spin classes, then adding on body pump right after. Waking up every single morning was HORRIBLE until I started seeing changes with my body and mind. When I saw these changes, I wanted to share everything I did to other women. Women are competitors ……… UMM NO! We are all here to support our another and empower each other. What was my next step? How did I help? 2003 I became an aerobics instructor! I taught spin, weight training, dance and whatever my my mind let me do. My mind has never stopped me, I kept going. So many women have come in to my life, I saw changes for them. This was my calling.
Calling? 2008 I opened up my own dance fitness studio. I did it! Here in this tiny community, a latina opened up her own place. A sanctuary for any women no matter the race, color their skin , body size, old and young was able to attend. This was a place where we could be free from the outside world. Free from hate, abuse, daily stresses. A place where if you came at our tribe with nonsense we came for you. Seeing how we started off as strangers and became a family did something to me. My heart was filled with joy. Then it disappeared. I lost my studio in 2010. Not because of the beautiful tribe because of the D word. So much happened during the separation of the ex person. 1.5 + years of trauma. Then I met my husband. He helped me get through everything along with my babe tribe. 1, 2 keep a few years , now I live in KC
This has nothing to do with photography ? Some may say. It doesn't but its apart of who I am today. Let’s rewind, FUN FACT I was the yearbook photographer in middle school. FILM was what we used. Fast Forward, In my mind I knew I could give more to this tribe. 2015 I went back to school! For what? To be an esthetician and learn about makeup. I gained over 1300 hours of training, 2.5 years of learning. During this time I was taking pole fitness classes that I started in 2014. EEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK. One of the hardest fitness classes I have ever taken. Here I found an addition to the tribe that I missed dearly. Another place to forget all that another women created for us to feel FREE! She empowered us, she pushed us, she supported us. She is a rock star. This babe is a part of my journey to grabbing my camera once again. RECAP Im a certified instructor, Im a licensed esthetician, Im a licensed makeup artist and I regained my confidence into shooting.
My photography skills were not the best but my tribe supported me. One friend supported me soooooooo much she convinced me to start my own business during our weekly lunch date. I told her what I wanted and why. I wanted a place where all women could come and feel good about themselves. a place that offered fitness, dance, skin care, makeup applications and get their photos done. The name of my business was Fairy Tale Beauty By Jenn Lee. Could I financially open up my own place again? No, but I had a tribe that empowered me a tribe that didn’t give up on me.
2017, Guess What? More inspiring women entered my life. These women had a dream to open up a studio, something like what I had started in 08. My heart just jumped with excitement when they allowed me to be apart their journey. Follow the Call Of the Disco Ball. And I did. I taught dance along side some other amazing women. Not only was I teaching but I was doing makeup , skin care and photography and started my videography journey with these two babes that made their dream into a reality. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT!! Yet, I met another inspiring duo while working at the studio. Kreated to be Kreative! WOWZA! These 2 babes started their own company. It began with helping little girls and their dreams to become a dancer and it has grown into something much more! Ok so between 2017 & 2019 I had 4 amazing women inspire me to be a better more effective , empowering woman. These babes without realizing pushed me to better myself. If they only knew how honored I was to be apart of their adventure.
I learned so much about myself. In 2019 I changed my business name to Meraki Artistry. Why? What’s the meaning? Meraki it is a greek word that means to do something with soul, creativity, or love. When you put something of yourself into what you are doing. whatever it may be. Artistry means creative skill or ability. So I combined them. In One name I can combine all my passions.
2020 covid hit all small businesses HARD. Even though my business wasn’t really bringing in an income, It did do something, It supported all the other small businesses. The business that started off as a dream. Covid was not going to mess them up. ALL women came together to support one another. We were apart of a movement. We all inspired each other to keep going and not give up. Oh how I miss them! HUH? 2021 I moved to the sunshine state.
Here we go 2022! Do I still have a dream? Yes. I still want a place for all to come and be free. But for now we can be free together and discover news ways of pushing each other to NEVER give up. Ladies, coming from a woman who was abused physically, sexually, verbally, depressed, over weight and who had suicidal thoughts, I can tell you, YOU WILL OVERCOME. YOU ARE STRONG! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION! Find your tribe, be apart of my tribe , lets make it one big giant tribe. Do I ever want to give up? Yes. Does it happen? No. Because I remember all the babes that came into my life and pushed me to keep going. All those women who inspired me. All the late night talks with my hubs & even my 3 adultids aka adult kids. But before I go, the #1 thing in our life should be Jehovah God.
God First
Family
Find your tribe
Support your fellow babes
Never Give UP! We are all cheering for you!
How can I Support my fellow babes?
Cheer them on
Share their Art on your social media
Talk to them
STOP THE JEALOUSY
STOP THE GOSSIP
If they own a business DO NOT ask for free stuff
Push them to better themselves
LISTEN TO THEM
Share the love
Repeat Everything
Hold my hand babe we got this!
Jenn
P.s Be apart of my journey and enjoy my monthly blogs. The good and the bad. Ask me something you would like to know about me and I shall respond with love and kindness. Depending on the question. ( crazy face )
