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

Alright, Shalome thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

Women of color have long been underserved and marginalized in society. Throughout history, they have faced multiple forms of discrimination and oppression, including racial and gender biases. This systemic neglect has resulted in limited access to resources, opportunities, and representation for black women.

I created The Unproblematic Queens to be a community for women of color to come and share space. My vision was to bring women together and show that we can build our own environment to help with healing and resources while having a great time through dance an ultimately developing a sisterhood within it all.

Having a place or community to feel safe to be you without code switching, being labeled as aggressive or hyper-sexualize gives women the ability to truly create, become more self aware and more at ease to release and truly dive deep into self. Life is already hard. UPQ provides a place for women to just be whoever they want.

Shalome , 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?

As a young girl, I was captivated by the beauty expression and grace of dance. It was my passion, my escape from the world. Little did I know that pursuing this dream would come with its fair share of hardships.

Some of the biggest challenges I faced was the physical demands of dance, expenses and the competition of it all. There was never enough time in the day or money in my moms pockets. The pressure to be flawless was immense, as judges scrutinized every step and gesture. Countless times, I found myself doubting my abilities and questioning if all the sacrifices were worth it. The cost of classes, costumes, and travel expenses added up quickly. There were moments when my mom couldn’t afford to support my dreams fully, forcing me to miss out on opportunities that could have propelled me forward.

Yet despite these hardships, dance taught me resilience and determination. It taught me that success is not measured solely by trophies or accolades but by personal growth and passion for what you love.

Looking back now as an adult, I am grateful for those hardships because they shaped me into who I am today – someone who knows how to overcome obstacles with grace and perseverance. Dance may have been challenging at times, but it also brought immense joy and fulfillment into my life – something no hardship can ever take away from.

My story is one of many adults today who also had hardships growing up and maybe weren’t able to keep hope alive. Many provide resources for youth to have access to what they didn’t growing up but I’ve always had soft spot for the adults who still are looking for their voice, community and safe place and that has been the root of The Unproblematic Queens.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, often forcing us to reassess our goals and make necessary adjustments. One such instance occurred during my personal development and within the creative process of The Unproblematic Queens. In my first stages of developing UPQ I was determine to provide a space for women to be revered within their sexuality and “set free” using dance. At the time it was what I thought was needed in the community as I felt shackled to being perfect and following the guidelines of what was acceptable in society. Women are continuously being criticized and critique from everyone and everything and i wanted to have a place to be rebellious and free and I was sure that if I felt that way other women did as well.

However, as the shows went by, I realized that the need wasn’t to find freedom in rebellion but to find freedom in healing and sisterhood. In reflection I thought playing into the media negative stereotypes about black women, portraying us as hypersexualized or aggressive individuals would be followed by liberation but that “set free” feeling was only temporary. I knew that continuing this path would only lead to dissatisfaction in the long run because the need wasn’t for women to have a place to be sexy but for women to have a place to share with women who looked like them, relate to them and able to be trusted and with that comes a space to be vulnerable about our trauma and fears and spark true healing together. With realizing this, I am now pivoting UPQ and my personal development to explore the idea of self care, healing and community with using dance to connect it all.

In retrospect, pivoting my vision/goal feels daunting; but I have the courage and self-awareness to move forward successfully. Change is essential for personal growth, growth within the community and fulfillment. By embracing change when necessary, we allow ourselves room for exploration and discovery – ultimately leading us towards paths we may have never envisioned before..

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Most of UPQ’s funding comes from the community itself. We are a community created by women for women. If we need something we come together to get it done and I love that for us. We also take donations from supporters ( wink wink).

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shalomeunique.com
• Instagram: ShalomeUnique
• Facebook: Shalome Unique
• Linkedin: Shalome Harden

Image Credits
Bond Photography White Night Studio