Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diamond King. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Diamond, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Delicious Diamonds BBS originally was created from a side hustle in the Summer of 2013. My sister and I originally came up with the idea to create lotion using A big block of Unrefined Shea Butter and oils we purchased from a little African shop inside of a Bazaar. They had different types of brands some were explicit, some were name from known colognes and perfumes such as Issay Miyake and Joop to name a few. My favorites was Baby Powder, I wanted to put that oil in something I can permanently use on my body. The lotion idea was perfect. It sold around the apartment complex we lived in. But, we didn’t continue with the side hustle because I went back to work permanently and so did my sister.

Fast forwarding to Sept 2021, my mother suffers from Type 2 Diabetes. At that time, she struggled hard with having dry and fair skin. We could never find a lotion, cream or even an oil, that would help her hydrate skin. So I thought of that side hustle to see if that would help. But, I wanted a different way of creating the product this time. So we decided to create it into a body butter and it worked perfectly for her skin. She loves using it for the smooth concept and the smell of it.

I was scared to start this business because I knew a few things about running a business, only the street smarts of it all. None of the professionalism parts, such as marketing, branding, labeling, vending, etc. I turned to those whom I seen running they’re own businesses picked their brains on different ways to run my business. It worked for awhile but I still wasn’t happy about it.

Because my passion is cooking.

In Spring of 2014, another side hustle was introduced that took off for about 6 months is where I began to sell plates from the foods that cooked. I created a name for my hustle, Diamond Deva Catering. I asked myself how can I coincide Body Butters into my passion for cooking. I thought back to when I was younger and I first seen the movie BAPS with Halle Berry. I remember thinking I wanted to run a Bistro or Cafe’ and run a daycare. The reason for the daycare is because I was raised around Single Moms, such as my grandmother, my mom, and their friends. I remember as a child ease dropping, how hard it was to either go on a date or go with some friends for dinner or just drinks. I was like well why not create a place where they can do those things and have a daycare with a playground in the back for the children with responsible and trained staff? Now, Present adult me still wants to that but now add a wing to the Bistro or Cafe’ where they can shop as well. Sort of one stop shop type of thing. Although, we are currently rebranding both businesses due to lack of previous marketing skills and tools. We are still going to follow that dream and make things happen for those who love our Body Butters and those who love our cooking.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Well, I am Diamond, single mom of twin teenage girls name Tonisia and TaMya, and a 1 year old fur baby named Princess Fiona whom is also my ESA (emotional support animal). I love to cook, write, listen to different types of genres of music, my all time favorites is R&B and Gospel. Currently, I am a homemaker and Learning Coach for my girls who are homeschoolers they attend Stride K-12. I take care of my mother full-time due to past issues of her not taking her medication. I have a full plate because I attend school getting my Bachelors in Business Administration w/  Entrepreneurship. To help me better understand the importance of marketing, branding, vending, bookkeeping, accounting, etc.

I got into my first business Diamond Deva Catering back in Spring of 2014, selling plates of food to my neighborhood on the strength of a dream as a Chef and working a demanding Barista job. I began to cook at the age 8, taught by my grandmother. She always told me I had potential in creating something BIG with my dreams and ideas. She supported me and believed in me even when I shyly didn’t believe in myself. When she passed away in 2004, I felt lost I didn’t dream anymore. Until my twins were born and that’s when I knew, I said to myself “You are a moma now, you need a legacy, to build, maintain and live on.” Belief and faith came in strong. My neighbors would always stop by my apartment asking what I was cooking, asking for a plate to eat, I generously gave because I’ve always had a giving spirit. When I got so many positive comments and tips on what I should do, some would even give me money for the plates. Selling plates became a lucrative side hustle that fund for bills, food, and things the twins needed.

My second business-Delicious Diamonds BBS happened by accident sort of I wanted to recreate the lotions my sister and I created before, but add a twist to it. I watched different DIY’s on You Tube to get an ideas. When I came across people doing body Butters I remembered how I loved the feel of my first body butter and how it worked for MY SKIN. I wanted try that for my mom who is a Type 2 Diabetic. She struggled with hydrating her skin and keeping it, smooth and non flaky. Names brands such as, Jergen, Baby oil, Avon, and Olay products just to name a few, never gave her that comfortable in you skin feel.

I began testing out different Butters. Back then I tried Shea Butter. Shea Butter works well but it gives you that heavy thickness when it is mixed with Essential oils. Tried out Cocoa Butter a lot of people are not really fans of Cocoa Butter because the textures things out on the skin and doesn’t last when it comes to real dry skin if you are combination oily it balances out. Mango Butter was the winner for me not only does it hydrates it give you a smooth and glossy skin. “Dare to be different” from everyone we mix Mango Butter with different Essential and Fragrance oils. You have to balance that out with some sort of base other than the butter so we use other base products such as Coconut, Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, Avocado and Jamaican Black Castor oil. Each base oil gives you that extra gloss and hyrdation, especially if the product is used after a good bath or shower. Each Body Butter is whipped and piped into with outr 2oz, 4oz, 8oz and 16 oz containers. We are currently searching for a way to add in 12oz containers.To give an example of how everything is mixed, our popular and first Body Butter was what we call, “Just Sherbet” we created this product with Mango Butter, Sandalwood, Vanilla and a hint of Orange Essential oils, we added the Orange pigment color to give it that Sherbet look.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Other than my mom’s story about her having struggling issues due to her diabetic illnesses. Two stories in particular pushed to keep going and never giving up.

First story-Back in the Summer of 2022, I found out a friend of the family who I referred to as my Uncle found out he had Lung Cancer. I was distraught and overwhelmed with continuing my business and working full-time already, I wanted to give up. I had a sit down with my Uncle and he encouraged me to continue with my business after he tried one of our popular Body Butters. He too struggled with dry skin due to all the chemo treatments. “Babygirl, don’t let nothing or nobody keep you from your dreams, dreams are to be made, giving up is a lifetime of pain.” We lost him the Summer of 2023, due to complications with his illness. His words still ring in my head.
Second Story- Was a young woman I claim as my little sister. She too struggled with finding something that was going to make her feeling comfortable in her skin. She told me the latest product we created was a perfect balance in fragrance and smooth skin texture. She got so many compliments it made her feel so good.

To hear that our products not only helped those who were ill and had issues within their skin due to the medications they were taking. It made not only myself but my family as well. Feel good that it was helpful to making some one feel good within their skin.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Procrastination is not healthy for anyone. I struggled with that word hard over the decades of my life. I couldn’t get out of my own way just to get to where I am today. Resilience-My sister and many other supports have told me, I needed to be hungry enough in order to strive to what I want out of life.
I can definitely say over the course of years I have had been working to find ways to fund, build, and maintain that my businesses be some my legacy that I can pass on to my children.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deliciousdiamondsbbs
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Familyjourneywalkwithus
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/diamonddevacatering

Image Credits
Tonisine Avery Tonisia Jeffrie TaMya Jeffrie