Have you ever had a dream or goal that you wanted to achieve but you quit because people didn't believe in you? Have you ever been discouraged from being you? Guess what? You are not the only one! Girl's all across the globe are being teased and discouraged because they are different. But don't let that stop you! I can't begin to tell you how many people did not believe in me or told me that I didn't "fit in." I am so glad I don't fit in and I am so glad I did not listen to any of their negative words! I am here to stay baby! I don't fit and that's perfectly fine with me!

If would have quit I would not be here today sharing the great time I had over the weekend... it was AWESOME! Not only was I able to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mom but I was able to do something that I love to do! Can you guess?... MODEL! I had a photo shoot with thee one and only Brittnee B (our Creative Director of WYC)! AND ON TOP OF THAT! I was able to bring along with me, one of my mentee’s… LaDonna! You might remember her! She wrote a post for WYC a few months ago. ANYWHOO! This was LaDonna’s very first photo shoot and I can guarantee you it will not be her last! You see, what made this photo shoot special was the fact that LaDonna was doing something she had always wanted to do. She was poking out of her shell and starting to WEAR HER CONFIDENCE! For years she has always wanted to model, but being teased at a young age because of burn scars on her legs and vitiligo on her face; her hopes of pursuing modeling quickly faded and she never tried.

UNTIL NOW! I invited LaDonna to the shoot. As I was preparing I asked her if she wanted her makeup done, but she was quick to tell me, no, and that she wanted to be as natural as possible. When she arrived, she had a big smile on her face she was ready to roll. I first took a few pics on my own and then I let her loose to do her own thing. I’m not going to lie but I was really impressed. Every now and then I would poke my head over AWALL’s shoulders (the photographer) to see how she was doing and what she was doing, but she needed little direction. I am so excited to see where the road leads for LaDonna! The pictures came out great!

LaDonna is truly an inspiration to girls worldwide! She turned off the negative voices and turned on her confidence! If she can do it, you can too!

With that being said, what is holding you back from doing what you love? Were teased and picked on? Were people mean and unsupportive? Let me tell you something! No one can stop you from achieving your dreams but you! Let people talk all they want, just do not allow their negative words to replay in your head, over and over. Kill that negative noise and start being positive! Believe in yourself! Believe in your abilities! Remember that you are beautiful! You are courageous! You are brave! You are confident!! Never forget it!

XOXO, 

Cherise
Don't forget your confidence!

Special shout out to our bomb photographer AWALL! He is a beast behind the camera!

Take a look at the pics! See for yourself! How do you think we did?

Behind the scenes fun! It was really hot that day! 

Are you one of the many who suffers with TRUST ISSUES? You don't trust the weatherman because he said it was supposed to be sunny but all of a sudden it rains and your twist out had turned into a fuzz ball! You don't trust the media because all they do is spread lies and propaganda! Or maybe you have trust issues because you have been done dirty by a significant other? You know... had your heartbroken and trust completely taken advantage of? Guess what? You are not alone! Some of us have really bad trust issues! We don't trust our friends or family. And don't get us started on our shadow! It's here one minute and gone the next! We don't trust that shadowy creep! It lurks around just waiting to stalk us! Ok, maybe that last example was a bit much, but trust issues are real!

You don't have to be that way! Check out what I have to say about TRUST!

Have you ever felt like giving up? Stupid question! DUH! I am confident enough to believe that 99.9% of people have felt that way. Don’t leave me hangin’... There have been times when you have felt helpless, frustrated and annoyed. Many of us feel that way with ourselves. Sometimes you feel like your efforts are not getting you anywhere. You press and press. You try and try but the answer is no, or not now, or you don’t get an answer at all! I know I am not the only one!

 If I can totally be honest with you guys and gals, I felt a bit that way as I started to write this blog. I was going to post an old blog and call it a new blog because I just have not had time to sit down and write. I would think, is anyone reading this? What’s the point! This is dumb. I am not getting the response I want sooo this ONE TIME will not hurt! SMH but then I realized, people actually read these and are waiting to see what I have to talk about. Anywhooo, to make a short story shorter, here we are! I write. You read and share! I said all that to say that your efforts are not going to waste and you can’t give up now! WHY? Because who knows, the very day you decide to quit may be the day that you get your YES! 

WHO KNOWS! The day I decide to be lazy with a blog post could be the very day a magazine editor or CEO decides to surf the web and land on the WYC site, but because I decided to let my feelings get the best of me, I BLOW MY CHANCE! (I am getting chills just thinking about it)

As a confident girl, you have to ask yourself:

1. Why did I get started in the first place?

2. Do I believe in myself enough to keep going, no matter how many no’s I get?

We all have moments where our emotions want to get in our way, but that’s when we have to give our emotions the finger! The index finger, silly! We have to put it up and say, “NO, NO, NO, NOT TODAY!” and then keep on going!

You are really close! I can sense it! Just because you can’t see it now, just know that you are closer than you feel and know! Your hard work will pay off! Keep on going my dear!

We don't give up! #confidentgirlfacts


XOXO

Cherise

Don’t Forget Your Confidence!

Big, thick, juicy, luscious...Oh yes! When you see them you can’t believe your eyes, your mouth drops and you find yourself asking the question, “Is that even real?” They come in many different shapes and sizes. While some say, the bigger the better, I on the other hand fall somewhere in the middle. I am trying to think if size really matters. I know for me I like them full, not crazy big and not thick. What is the IT that I am talking about? You know know!... Don’t act like this is something new! I am talking about LIPS…DUH!

It seems like social media and the world are obsessed with lips. Yes, l-i-p-s! The thing that’s on your face that you use to help you talk, make duck lips with… and to kiss with! Lips, lips, lips! Lips are the trending topic of the town and trying to figure out if someone’s lips are real is like unlocking the Da Vinci Code or opening Pandora’s Box. This craze has become the 8th wonder of the world! Why though? In the recent months a celebrity by the name of Kylie Jenner has been in the spotlight because of her lips! People have been trying to figure out if they are real, fake, or if she put her lips in a shot glass and inhaled to make them look the way they do…. I wish I was making that last line up but it’s the truth. Boys and girls of all ages are using shot glasses, medicine containers, cups etc. to make their lips swell up and they have named this act after her. On social media it is called the #KyleJennerChallenger. (you can google the madness for yourself)

Everyone is obsessed with making things bigger. Girls want bigger butts and bigger boobs and you can't forget… bigger hair! Now we can add lips to the list. It is really getting out of control. BUT WHY THOUGH? My question is, why? Can someone answer this for me? Is it the media? Magazines? Celebrities? Our personal insecurities? Do we often compare ourselves to others and want what others see?

Hmmm… I know when I saw the lip challenge all I could do was shake my head. I watched, I laughed and I shared. After the third and second time of seeing this I started to look at my face and my lips. “Hmmm, I wonder what my lips would look like if I did that?” Then, I snapped out of it. You see, I suffer from hives (at the moment) and sometimes my lips would swell and let me tell you something, THAT MESS AIN’T CUTE! 

I’m not even going to lie, but I was I curious to try this lip challenge. But why? Here is my why: To be honest I was just curious. I guess you can say that the images and videos that kept popping up on my newsfeed on facebook did have an effect on me. CRAZY RIGHT!? No matter how old or how young you are, the things you see can and do influence you in some way. They either draw you in or push you away. In this case, don’t get sucked in (pun intended). 
You were made to stand out! Don't do what everyone else is doing, rise above. 

Do not conform! Stand out above the rest because confident girls don't follow trends we set them! Don't forget it!


Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

XOXO,

Cherise

“Don’t forget your confidence.”

Question: Have you ever had a friend that no matter what you did or accomplished in life she NEVER gave you your props? She says she had your back but it feels like she has stabbed you in the back? She has never promoted you or tried to help you? Ok, that's more than one question, but don't you think that's a problem? Girl's of all ages don't help one another out because 99.9% of the time because they:
1. Are fearful that promoting you will take attention off of them
2. Fear... PERIOD
3. They are haters
4. They don't think anything of it...(They have a who cares attitude)
5. They think YOU GOT IT!

It is time for us to help one another out, cut the crap and promote the good works of our fellow sisters! We are in this together! Watch the video and be encouraged!

XOXO, 
Cherise

"Don't Forget Your Confidence."

"OH EM GEE! Becky! Look at her butt!" 
"Eww, I can't believe she's wearing that. I heard she got those pants from the lost and found because her butt was so big she couldn't! her pants!" 
Gossip! Gossip, Gossip! No matter how you look at it or try to justify it...It's not cool! I am guilty and so are you! Today's blog I am doing just that. I saw the IG of a certain makeup artist and I just had to talk about it! 


Watch and share!
XOXO
Cherise

Don't forget your confidence!

I had such an amazing time over the weekend that if I typed it out, you would not feel my excitement. So check out ladies and gents! (If the video is not crisp and clear, click the little icon to the left of the words "YouTube" and choose "Quality" 1080p HD") 
Thanks again GURLIFICATION! You ladies ROCK!

FOR PICTURES OF THE EVENT CLICK HERE!

XOXO, 
Cherise

Don't Forget Your Confidence
Please Share the video!

What is Wear Your Confidence up to? Well, If you haven’t guessed by the picture, I will be speaking at PRETTY IN THE CITY this Saturday! Oh yes, Wear Your Confidence is on the map and will soon be on the road again! This is truly an amazing journey and I am so glad that you guys and gals are taking it with me, with us! Like I said before, we are in this thing together! It is rare that I share something with you that I haven’t gone through or am going through. It would be so awesome if I saw your face in the place on Saturday! Ms. Pennsylvania Teen USA 2015 will be hosting the event (isn't she beautiful). There will be music performances by Bria Marie and Tracey Preston! This is going to be an awesome time! If you are in Philly or live near Philly come on out!

I will be speaking on confidence and self-esteem. YOU KNOW HOW I DO! Not only that, but I will have the opportunity to sell my latest book: BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE WITH COMPLIMENTS, 50 COMPLIMENTS EVERY GIRL SHOULD GIVE HERSELF!! AHHHH! I want to scream with excitement!..... (I just did). I hope you all pray for me as I go this Saturday! I will be sure to take pictures and post them at a later date!

For tickets: Register HERE!
To order your copy of BOOST YOUR COMPLIMENTS WITH COMPLIMENTS: CLICK HERE


I will be sure to bring my confidence!
XOXO, 

Cherise
"Don't Forget Your Confidence."

How has this year been for you so far? Good? Bad? Ugly? Beautiful? Maybe 2015 has been a little bit of all of thee above. Well, guess what? You are not alone! 2015 has been a bit of everything for me and more! I am not surprised. Why, you ask? Because that’s what life is all about. If every single day was full of pain that would suck but thankfully it’s not. We have good and great days mixed in. I heard someone once say that it’s those bad days that help us appreciate the good ones. I guess there is some truth to that. HOWEVER I prefer great days over the sucky ones.

What constitutes a “sucky day” for you? Do you consider rain and clouds a bad day? When your hair is a mess and just won’t cooperate; do you consider that a “horrible day?” What about you breaking a nail? If you think about it, there are a lot of dumb things that happen to us that we allow to ruin our WHOLE day!

But wait a minute! Rewind! Pause! Stop the press! We are confident girls! HELLOOOO!!! We don’t allow little dumb things to knock us off our game!

Are you serious right now? Are you really going to allow the weather transform you into Oscar the Grouch? Are you really going to allow one hair that is out of place to make you frown ALL DAY? Ok, you broke a nail. It is not the end of the world. Get a band-aid, kiss it and keep it moving. Life is too short and worth so much more than the little DUMB things we obsess over.

As confident girls we think differently. We don’t see broken nails, weather and hair as things that make us have bad days. We see things from God’s perspective. Our eyes aren’t focused on ourselves ALL THE TIME. We look up to God and are concerned about heavenly things. We are concerned about others and what God wants to do through us! (Colossians 3:2)

It’s ok to pay attention to yourself. You have to! But don’t allow you paying attention to yourself turn into conceit. NEWS FLASH! The world does not revolve around you, or me.  

Make the choice to have a GREAT DAY, NO MATTER WHAT!

XOXO,

Cherise

“Don’t Forget Your Confidence.”

I like to think that as the seasons change, so do we. Some of us change for the better and others…not so much. There is something about warm weather and sunshine that make most people happier. In the winter many people are angry and their faces are chopped and screwed because they are cold, it’s snowing and cold weather just makes them complain even more! BUT! Now we (on the East Coast) have all defrosted and our smiles are back! We have pep in our step and we are smiling! Right?

Pep in your step is great but what about having some pep on the inside? How is your self-esteem doing? Are you only feeing good because the weather is starting to change? Do you only feel great when the weather is nice? Could people describe you as a mood ring? Meaning, depending on the temperature outside others will know if you are going to be happy for angry? If so, no worries because you can change!

I have come up with a few facts that I would like to cal.. (DRUM ROLL PLEASE) …..#confidencefacts

Say them when you start to get moody or when the weather tries to change your attitude. These little facts will help remind you who you are and help boost how you feel about yourself!

Feel free to add more facts!
 
Confident girls don’t allow the weather to determine their mood; they let the sun shine at all times #confidencefacts

Wearing a smile can brighten any day! #confidencefacts

I don’t need to compare myself because I am in a league of my own. #confidencefacts

When I compare myself I’m telling myself that I am not good enough. #confidencefacts

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. #confidencefacts

I accept who I am, even the parts that I don’t like about myself. #confidencefacts

I believe in myself no matter what others may say. #confidencefacts

I doubt my doubts. #confidencefacts

When others talk bad about me that shows that they are insecure in themselves. #confidencefacts

Confident girls don’t quit; it’s not in our DNA! #confidencefacts


XOXO,

Cherise
"Don't Forget Your Confidence."