We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Nancy V Brown Willis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Nancy V below.
Dr. Nancy V, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
When people see me posing with balloons in the background, they don’t understand the profound symbolism of power behind that picture for me.
At age 5, the day I had to face my sexual abuser, I was holding on tight to a white balloon and used that balloon to cover my face. I was trying to hide my face because I felt an unbelievable amount of shame, fear and guilt for telling our secret… My mom snatched that balloon out of my face, threw it at his face and told him that he should be the one covering his face and not me….
She then grabbed me by my hand and we stood strong together and walk out of that room. She was and STILL is my SHERO.
Today I put the balloons behind me as a symbol of my Bravery and Strength through my speaking out process as I continue coming forward with my real story.
Healing is a life long journey, it can be a very complex process but healing is possible. We fall down 9 times but we get up 10.
We CAN HEAL TOGETHER.
GOD will get ALL the GLORY out of my story.
Hold you head up, Keep looking forward and keep walking in your healing.
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Dr. Nancy V, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I came to the United States around age 9. When I got to the USA I learned to speak English. I’m still learning English everyday…. When I was Around age 10 My mom went to Beauty school but never worked in the field. She worked nights and while I was bored at home while she slept in the day and worked nights I played with her hair mannequin heads. I would read the cosmetology books and practice braiding. As I became more comfortable with styling I began practicing on my cousin Dalia’s hair.
Around age 14 I went to a hair stylist who encouraged me to put lightener (bleach) in my hair. My hair got completely damaged and I became desperate to fix the problem and restore my hair back to health. I went to the beauty supply store and purchased some glue and hair wefts and started gluing hair in, this was a quick fix but I quickly learned that the glue was causing more damage to my already weak hair. I began educating myself on products and protective services that would support healthy hair growth. People started noticing my work and my name Nancy V Brown NV MY HAIR and NV MY HAIR ACADEMY quickly gained notoriety in Boston as Boston’s Best for hair extensions by CBS Boston and many more publications.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In school kids use to tease me about the way I looked, they would call me ugly, big lip, big nose, scar face, black girl. I began to believe I was ugly, I wished I wasn’t born, I felt like a mistake, a failure and then I began having suicidal thoughts. I felt exhausted. Around age 12-13 while I was home alone in my room, I attempted suicide by taking pills. I fell into a deep sleep but luckily I woke back up. I remember asking why I was still here. I guess GOD had other plans for me.
Growing up I went through a rebellious stage in my teen years, as a result I ended up going through the Juvenile justice system and Foster Care and teenage pregnancy.
Many things happened in between, but the one thing I will focus on here is the fact that what I went through was truly bigger than just me. It has truly leading me to walk into my purpose on purpose. Everyday that I live my focus is in helping others who have been through similar experiences, how can I help save a 5 year old me. I’m constantly getting educated about child sexual abuse, how to respond to abuse and helping educate the public so that we can be a safer and stronger community together.
I have been doing hair since I was 15, I’m currently a Master Hair Cosmetologist with a specialty in hair loss and a master cosmetology instructor. I recently received my honorary doctorate in Christian leadership and I’m currently in school working on my PhD in Christian Psychology and my masters in theology. I studied Hebrew and have many certifications and provide coaching in the areas of mental health, at risk youth, addiction recovery, FosterCare support, trauma healing and child sexual abuse prevention and recovery.
I lost one of my sisters by way of suicide in 2020 3 days after Thanksgiving. Her name was Sailyn, she was 30 years old, she was a twin, had an 11 year old son and was a Jehovah’s Witness who always talked about the Lord. She lived in Costa Rica, was recently divorced, went through spousal abuse, her work hours were cut due to the pandemic, she was about to loose her home which she worked very hard to buy and could not financially care for her son. She moved back in with family as her mental health condition was getting worse. Saylin was under the care of a Dr. for her depression and was taking medication to help manage her symptoms. Many times the medications state thoughts of suicide as a side effect. Unfortunately my sister lost battle with mental illness.
In 2020 People were dealing with depression, divorce, isolation, addictions, loneliness the pandemic and spiritual warfare was at an all time high. People are in pain, feeling alone, people need to know they are not alone, they need support, empathy, understanding and love.
I wrote a book in 2017 called My Costa Rican Hummingbird Sings, breaking the bondage and answering the call. I was not ready to write this book but I was under the guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit and wrote it in 3 months. This book was so prophetic then but I honestly had no idea how powerful and how much revelation I would be getting from my book today. I’m grateful that GOD chose me for such a time as this and He trusted me with the gift. I wrote about my earlier years in Costa Rica, poverty, the sexual abuse I endured, near death experiences, homelessness, challenges with depression, anxiety, addictions and suicidal ideations, divorce, healing tips, scriptures to help light the way and the power of forgiveness. I share many poems that are very timely today.
Although I have been through a lot of trials and still face trials and difficult people, GOD still reminds me of His unconditional Agape LOVE, POWER and His GRACE. I’m a proud advocate in my community, I advocate for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention also for social justice, diversity and inclusion. I share my own struggles in a transparent manner to help others through their healing journey.
I have a new podcast called “My HummingBird Sings” where we will be sharing TESTIMONIES, Poems, inspiration, positive messages, HOPE and HEALING.
Brave Girls Rise Up is an organization that God place in my spirit. It was birth out of my own ability and power to Rise back up and help save other people in their healing journey by being brave to stand in the face of my own shame, embarrassment and fears. Brave Girls Rise Up will be at schools and centers advocating for mental health services, child abuse education and suicide prevention, working with children and adults survivors of sexual abuse. Educating the family and the public so that they can be supportive to the survivors in hopes to stop suicide.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
I am in LOVE with my profession, I met some amazing women along my journey and have heard some amazing testimonies. The beauty Industry has allowed me the ability to meet different people from all over the world and from all different walks of life. This has prepared me to be able to walk in my own ministry (Nancy V Brown Ministries) with an open mind and an open heart and meet people right where they are.
My mom was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in 2017. I was the one who had to cut her hair locs off to help her through the process as she began losing her hair from the chemo treatments. Today she is walking in her healing and living life to the fullest. In 2020 I decided to get my hair locked and I was Blessed to be able to use my moms hair. I’m honored to literally wear her crown and share her story of Hope and Healing with others.
Today I’m on NAASCA Stop Child Abuse Now radio as a host helping survivors of sexual child abuse and trauma share their stories and walk in their own healing.
I started my own podcast “My HummingBird Sings” where people share inspirational testimonies of miracles, hope and healing on many different topics.
I enjoy advocating as a mental health and suicide prevention advocate and speaking up on the topic of abuse, bullying, injustice in the area of diversity and inclusion.
I’m working on my nonprofit “BRAVE GIRLS RISE UP “ I’m a Christian Life Coach with my Doctorate in Christian Leadership and finishing my Doctorate in Christian Psychology. I feel honored to be able to use my pain for the PURPOSE of helping others heal and get unstuck and that my pain is not sitting idle or in vein. I love working with the youth. I think about the 5 year old me who experienced sexual abuse, trauma and bullying and my goal is to offer support to children like myself and the adults and family members who are now left to walk this traumatic journey and help them heal together as a family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/
Nvmyhair - Instagram: @nancyvbrown | @bravegirlsriseup | @myhummingbirdsings | @nancyvbrownministries @mycostaricanhummingbirdsings
- Facebook: @ Bravegirlsriseup | @nancyvbrown | @nancyvbrownministries | @myhummingbirdsings
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/
in/nancyvbrown100 - Twitter: @nancyvbrown1
- Youtube: My HummingBird Sings
Image Credits
Photography Credit: Nancy V Brown Joanna Petit-Frere