We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shelby Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shelby , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I planted the seeds for Beyond the Pretty Face during my college years 10 years ago. Have you ever been told your face will get you far in life? Or should you just solely rely on your appearance? Or even better, it must be nice to be pretty and get everything you want. Well, I heard it all and more. I thought of “Beyond the Pretty Face” nine years ago when I was told, “Do you realize how pretty you are? I’m positive you get everything you want in life with that pretty face of yours.” If I were you, I would just rely on my beauty in life. I’m sure that’s how you’ve gotten where you are in life and gained the success you have. Throughout my life, I have been told I have a pretty face or that I’m extremely stunning. Despite the flattery in these remarks, it has always disturbed me that some people attribute my success in life to my outer beauty. People mistakenly believe that the things I have in life or how I have advanced in my career are because I hold myself to society’s ideals of beauty. Incorrect.

In 2015, I followed my heart, making “Beyond the Pretty Face” a reality. For women of all ages, I decided to create a movement/brand that would genuinely redefine what beauty is. My mission is to let women know that beauty is no longer just a physical attribute. Instead, it is about looking beyond physical attributes and stereotypes as a way to define beauty and, better yet, utilizing self-evaluation as a source of empowerment. Working with women of all walks of life, all faces that bring together all cultures and all women. It’s time to break and redefine the stereotypes and stigmas that society has created for beauty, and I’m doing that one day at a time.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Granite Falls, NC, native, and I am now living in Charlotte, NC. I have been involved in the pageantry and modeling industries for 14 years. I am a professional model and business owner and currently hold the title of “International Ms. Southern States 2024.” I am heavily involved in community service and volunteer on a regular basis. Volunteering is a huge passion of mine. I am the founder and CEO of my own brand and platform, “Beyond the Pretty Face,” which empowers young women to redefine the meaning of beauty and provides them with the skills to develop confidence. Reminding them that beauty is more than just a physical aspect; it’s about looking beyond physical characteristics and stereotypes and instead using that as a source of empowerment. I travel the globe, mentoring, presenting workshops, and giving motivational seminars that I actively present at schools, girl organizations, conferences, and many other events worldwide. I have been able to travel to some incredible places with our state and international ambassador programs, such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and more.

I have been a strong advocate for serving the local community, state, and world. I have volunteered for and been a part of many organizations. In addition, I have been an avid supporter and fundraiser for Special Olympics, Autism Speaks, and the Autism Society of America. Presently, I am a member of the ACHI—Women Supporting Women Association, the newest and youngest member of Women in Power International (WIPI), and volunteers for Special Olympics events every year. I am a two-time recipient of the Spring Leaf Humanitarian Award for her community service across the state of North Carolina, recognized on iHeartRadio for her global philanthropic effort, awarded the “Mentor on the Rise” and “Young Leader Award” for ACHI Women’s Supporting Women’s Organization, and a three-time Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award recipient. I am also a mentor for the Girls Too Women Organization, which focuses on putting an end to the stigma surrounding mental health. When I’m not volunteering or speaking across the world with #BTPF you can catch me in front of the camera or gracing the runway. That’s right, I have been an international model for the last 13 years. I have graced the covers and had features in over 80+ magazines, walked in some of the most elite fashion shows around the world, am currently on 7 billboards, and am the face for many brands and designers.

My mother has always taught me that beauty goes beyond someone’s physical attributes. More importantly, a person’s outward beauty should not be the only asset she relies on. These inspiring life lessons led me to an immense amount of self-reflection about what my definition of beauty should be. With an awakened mindset, I decided to redefine the meaning of beauty for women of all ages; thus, “beyond the pretty face” was created. With Beyond the Pretty Face, I am truly equipping women with the necessary tools, resources, and opportunities to enhance women’s sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others. This concept of “redefining the meaning of beauty” goes beyond simply providing women with basic rights and opportunities; it focuses on enabling them to develop their own skills, knowledge, and self-confidence to achieve their goals and contribute to their communities.

Over the last eight years, I have been able to redefine and dispel the stigmas and misconceptions society has constructed about our beauty. From our international workshops that have been to 10 international locations, to our Zoom meetings and worksheets that cultivate confidence. Beyond the Pretty Face collaborates with organizations like the National ACHI Women Support Women Foundation, Women in Power Organization, schools all over the world, and numerous companies to empower women all over the globe. In 2022, we celebrated the 7-year anniversary of Beyond the Pretty Face and introduced the new brand ambassador program for state and international representatives. In 2023, we were honored to have a proclamation for “Beyond the Pretty Day” for the state of Georgia in the town of Columbus on July 7th, 2023. This year, we are excited to announce some BIG and new things throughout the year as we continue to redefine the meaning of beauty.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The commitment to serve has inspired me to make an impact in this world and has truly led me to create a legacy. I seek to share it by letting young girls know that it’s time to raise the bar on women’s empowerment. Society and pretty marketing campaigns should not dictate our beauty; WE should be doing that for ourselves. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t changed lives across the country, installed confidence in young ladies, and been an example of a positive role model. This is truly my life’s calling, and peer pressure for ladies has never been greater than it is now. Beyond the Pretty Face is changing and truly saving lives every single day across the world. From our Zoom meetings to cultivate confidence to workshops that build self-worth, self-love, and knowledge to our affirmation books that teach you to love yourself and create your own definition of beauty, I have never been more motivated and inspired than I am today.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

As the CEO and founder, we want you to feel valued. We keep in touch with our ambassadors and clients weekly, monthly, and yearly. Social media and our website are two of our main sources for engaging with our audiences. We make you feel valued as individuals through our personal 1-on-1 lessons and workshops, our hands-on activities, and our personal Zoom mentor calls. Not a day goes by that we aren’t “redefining the meaning of beauty.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theshelbybrown.com
• Instagram: @beyondtheprettyface_ personal: @Shelby.brownn
• Other: https://www.theshelbybrown.com/beyondtheprettyface

Image Credits
Iamziyah- Laurence Logan, Traci Harbison, Destiny Berthoud