The Story Behind 12Sixteen Self-Care Co. By Princess, LLC
Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to own my own business. I grew up poor and was motivated by the hardships that I experienced to get an education and to build something...a legacy to leave behind for my family. I didn't want us to struggle anymore. Over the years I came up with many business ideas, but those ideas lacked a connection to God's purpose for my life and I lacked the resources and support to get anything off of the ground. Feeling defeated, I put my dreams of owning a business on a shelf and focused on building my career as an educator.
On December 16, 2017 my daughter, Avery, was born! (Labor & Delivery Vlog)
Becoming a mother reignited my fire for entrepreneurship. I grew up without a mother, stability, and consistency. I wanted to give my daughter everything that I never had. From the moment I heard her little cry my perspective changed and I had to figure out a way to create the life that I wanted her to have. I began brainstorming and praying. I wanted my business venture to be meaningful. Yes, I want to make a living, but I also wanted to share my testimony. It was important for me to use my platform to share how I overcame domestic violence, having a mother who struggled with drug addiction, growing up without my father, and the impact that it all had on my mental and emotional health. Then it clicked! I got the idea to create a beauty brand that was inspired by my YouTube Channel. Sharing my love of beauty on YouTube allowed me to connect with so many women and girls on a surface level that eventually led to me mentoring and encouraging many of my subscribers privately. This inspired me to open up on my channel about my life. I wanted my brand to be an extension of my channel. I wanted to establish a brand that advocated for domestic violence awareness, mental health awareness, self-love, self-care, and healing. With all that said, iAmPrincess Beauty was founded on August 17, 2019.
After operating under iAmPrincess Beauty for almost 2 years, I began to feel as though I wasn't telling my story the way that I should be. I didn't feel like I was helping anyone or making a difference. I got wrapped up in products and inventory and forgot about my purpose. I went back to the drawing board and reflected on all of the things that TRULY mattered. My life's story, the women and girls that need to hear my testimony, and my beautiful daughter who inspired me to take a leap of faith. I prayed and asked for clarity and wisdom. Most importantly, I asked God to help me tell the story of how He brought me out of despair through my brand. I asked God to help me to connect my passion to my purpose. I asked and He gave me 12Sixteen Self-Care Co. By Princess, LLC. I officially began re-branding iAmPrincess Beauty to 12Sixteen on February 18, 2021. As you have probably figured out, the new brand is named after my daughter's birthday...the day I became a mommy and my life changed forever!
I finally feel like I am on the right path and I am excited about what is to come. It is my prayer that my transparency and vulnerability with you will allow for 12Sixteen to evolve into a community of self-loving kings and queens that connect through healing, shared experiences, and self-care. It is my hope that my products will accompany you on a journey of self discovery that elevates your well-being. I thank you in advance for supporting my dream and for allowing me/my products to be a small part of your story. Mostly, I thank you for being a major part of mine! I hope to run this business full-time one day and I appreciate everyone who pours into that dream in ANY way.
On that note, I'll end this blog post the same way that I end my YouTube videos. Remember, you are perfectly imperfect. Love all of you, because God does and so do I!
Until next time...Be Blessed!
-Princess A., CEO
