We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pretty Youniq. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pretty below.
Alright, Pretty thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
A risk, well in this particular scenario I’ll call it a leap of faith. Ok, so a little background, in December 2014 I went to Jefferson City, MO to train and test to be a Certified Reassessor/Trainer for the State of Missouri. At the time I was working for this company I want to say for over a little over a year. It was a call center environment they had created for a specific type of medical equipment. I had been selected to be a trainer overseas, which was pretty exciting! We were suppose to let leadership know what was working, what wasn’t and what was confusing with our current training materials and resources to allow them time to iron out any kinks before training our international peers. I had previously let a manager know of a problem, which had not been addressed. I let the head of the overseas training team know, who in turn got on the managers case. Needless to say the manager was not happy and I was removed from the trip because of a phone call of mine they had listened to that was “not up to par” and replaced me with someone I trained, that had only been on the job for 6 months. Along with the additional politics within this particular company, I felt like it was time to go. In August 2015, I went to my supervisors house on a Sunday, laid my badge on her table and asked her to turn it in for me on Monday. I did not have a back up plan or even another job lined up. I, of course had my thoughts of “what were you thinking” and “girl why did you do that” but in the end it was the freedom and mental peace for me! I started my own business called Karelynx, LLC and cold called what felt like every personal care agency in Kansas City and surrounding areas to see if they needed a Certified Reassessor, called some of them twice. All I needed was one! I finally got a call back from an agency by late November. It was a little scary at first and definitely a huge risk/leap of faith. There was no time to second guess, it was what it was. My son depending on me left me no choice but to make it work; which it did and I am grateful especially to my support system! Karelynx had a contractual relationship with that agency for almost 8 years.
Pretty, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those who missed the previous article, my name is RaShidah (Rah-she-duh), however I am also known as Pretty Youniq. I am a professional model, actress, owner of Get Twizted Loctician Services, owner/jewelry creative of YES Accessories, and Founder/CEO of D’vine Intentions Inc., which is a non-profit serving the youth, elderly and disabled individuals in Kansas City and surrounding areas. I love helping people any way I can.
I have always been a creative and lover of fashion. Modeling began I would say right at or around the age of 15. Thanks to my family, their endeavors helped me to be comfortable in front of the camera and nearly perfect my “looks.” My mother was starting her photography business at the time and I was her practice model. I can recall her saying “look happy, look sad, give me surprised, this is a no look shot”. We would also go out and take pictures, sometimes we would just be in the backyard. I also had cousins who would call on me for random photoshoots, one had a photography business and the other, a fashion designer. I absolutely loved it and was always game! After a nice long break, I started actively pursuing modeling again in 2019 under the moniker Pretty Youniq. My father, who transitioned in 2009, called me “Pretty”. I remember drawing the name in angel wings the day or day after he passed with the feeling of not hearing him say “Hey Pretty” ever again, and I had it tatted on my back. Youniq is a reminder that “You” are what makes you unique. As a professional model, I have been blessed to be in multiple magazines (both locally and internationally), countless fashion shows, featured in Art shows, commercials, music videos, movies, and just wrapped up my second play called Judas Kiss in September. I am also in a couple of other projects still in production. As a model and actress, I give 110% to ensure that I embody the vision the designer or producer has for the design, role, or project for which I am selected.
As far as YES Accessories, again, I have always been a creative. I remember times when I didn’t always have the accessories I wanted for my outfit, so I would just make what I needed, necklace, earrings, bracelets, anklets, whatever. However, creating for others started in 2006 when I was pregnant with my son. I was still trying to go shoot pool and my EB’s (pool hall) fam was like no ma’am, basically go sit down somewhere until you have that baby. So, I decided to utilize all of the new free time and started YES! Accessories. YES stands for Youniq, Eclectic, Style., in which each letter of YES not only represents a collection, but also describes each hand crafted piece. We create chokers, necklaces, bracelets and earrings using various beads and stones. We all tend to look for something unique when shopping, not everyone wants to look like someone else or hear “oh I have that exact same (whatever)” especially if you thought you were being ‘different’ when you bought it! Since 2006, I am proud to say there has not been a single piece of jewelry that has been duplicated. Genuine love with pure intentions is poured into every piece. We have created several commissioned pieces for clients who have come to us saying “I need a set in black”, “I am going out of town and need something to go with xyz” or “I have an event and need a set in this color or with this stone”. When clients tell me “I trust your creativity”, it definitely makes me feel amazing! I pride myself on being different, therefore I want my customers/clients to feel exclusive and stand out from the crowd when they are wearing Yes Accessories! They can be more than confident knowing their pieces are 1 of 1 and will not be found or seen anywhere else. By the way, Have YOU said YES yet?
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Well for me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the creating! The creation itself becomes the reward that I share with others. There is a freedom and joy that I feel when putting the pieces together that is hard to explain really. I have had people approach my table at vendor events that have complimented me on my exquisite color palette, “eye for colors” and how I put them together. Honestly, although I appreciate, I have no idea what they are talking about, lol. I just know I put it together. I do not lay stuff out and then create. I create as I go, off the top of my head and if I don’t like it, I start over or change out a bead or add another stone. It is so fulfilling to experience the excitement others feel or to even see it on their faces when they recognize a stone that resonates with them, see a piece that they have been looking for or when they are drawn to something I made. Just recently YES Accessories was a vendor and a young lady saw an Amethyst and Hematite Choker with a gun metal cross with purple rhinestones that I literally made the night before. She said it was made just for her, Amethyst was her stone and she had recently been saved. I am grateful for each and every individual that has ever purchased from YES Accessories dating all the way back to 2006! I appreciate you for saying YES!
Have you ever had to pivot?
Whew chile, ok so in the beginning of the interview I shared that I took a risk/leap of faith in 2015 and started my business Karelyx. We contracted with personal care agencies and visited the homes of between 80-100 consumers a month. In August 2022 after helping someone, who was a former employee of the agency, the client decided to cancel the contract at the end of September. The last check was for $600 at the beginning of October. A few things happened after that; the first thing that happened was I prayed because I had no idea who, what, when, where or most importantly how. The second thing that happened was I found a box with all of my jewelry making tools, beads, etc to bring YES Accessories back to life. Next, I put in applications what felt like literally everywhere and nothing, despite having 2 degrees in Business Management and Business Administration. In January 2023, there was a message in this group chat I was in that said a restaurant was hiring for servers. Mind you I had never been a server in a restaurant, but I had been like a banquet server long long long time ago, like once. Anywho, I was hired and the rest is really history so to speak. It was a necessary and on time pivot that I definitely had to get use to because obviously the money was not nearly the same. However, with my attitude of gratitude it was a great experience! I loved serving people. I didn’t think of it as being a server, I called myself a Professional Networker. I met a lot of incredible people, had some amazing dishes and learned a lot. Just like with being a Reassessor, it put me in the same space with some wonderful people I would have possibly never met in my everyday walk of life and for that I am grateful. Sometimes the pivot is actually realignment, preparing you for your next journey.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/model_prettyyouniq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yesaccessories
- Other: www.facebook.com/dvineintentions
Email: [email protected]www.instagram.com/gettwiztedwithme
Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Destiny Rizen Photography
Brandon Ellington/Be Kustom