Check Out Ayanna Zahra’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayanna Zahra.  

Hi Ayanna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It’s a juicy one, so be ready… In 2013, I was at a crossroads. I was a mother of a nearly 2-year-old daughter, my unfaithful husband left me, and I had not too long before left my successful career in the Fashion Industry and teaching it overseas. 

Talk about an identity crisis! 

I felt as if I lost whatever purpose I had. I was quite depressed, gained so much weight, and felt so alone. On top of that, I knew I had another person depending on me for EVERYTHING, no matter what. So, I laid on my floor and asked my Creator for “purpose” and reveal my gifts to truly help humanity. 

Days later, I began remembering all the holistic research that I built up over the previous 8 years. Minerals, diet, lifestyle, and the notes I took them down in. 

I mixed…and I cried…then, I didn’t cry so much. 

I created this oil. It smelled like a margarita. I gave this oil to every person that came my way; family, friends, strangers. It didn’t matter. This was all I had to give. Plus, the use of my knowledge and hands were therapeutic. 

A few weeks later, my friend Bohdana (I always shout her out and cry when I tell my story) purchased a jar for $10 (I think). She told me how much she and her mother loved the improvement in their skin and cuticles. 

Remember I told you I was depressed? Well, I couldn’t believe she wanted to pay me for a jar of this oil. My confidence was “floor level.” 

She then mentioned a Pan-African Festival coming up in about 2 weeks if that. She sent me the application via email. The ONLY reason why I filled it out was because she said she would help me. Well, I needed to make some money, so I began planning my menu. 

The oil she purchased needed a name. I love margaritas but didn’t want to be cliche by naming it the same. So, I called it HAPPY HOUR. It made others happy and smelled so fresh and clean. 

From there, I named this new company LEELA’S BODY COCKTAILS, offering many oils and butters for the body. Everything was a cocktail! It was a conversation starter. 

Bohdana and my mentee, Ashley, helped fill jars while I mixed product in my kitchen. 

The festival was a great success. I didn’t know it though. I didn’t have anything to compare it to. I just sold product that actually helped people’s skin, not harm it. 

Since selling products began paying the bills, I signed up for more markets and festivals while working part-time at a hotel, taking additional college classes, and being a single mother. 

I couldn’t give up on myself, though some days were extremely challenging. It seemed like the world was for and against me at the same time. I gradually built up my confidence and continued my research on sun damage, skin cancers, harmful chemicals in skin, and beauty products and came up with resolutions. 

I continued selling in markets and festivals along with opening my kiosk in Georgia. Talk about exhausting! To this day, I am unable to visit a market w/out supporting vendors. It’s hard work. Rain or shine, it’s also a toss-up of whether you will make money or waste it. 

As my knowledge of the integumentary system increased, I changed from cash and carry to a Bonafide Skin Specialist. I was able to educate and heal skin of acne, eczema, sun damage, name it. 

Then I dug deeper into how our genetics play into our skin characteristics within various geographic locations. That just took me to an entirely different level. 

I began offering non-esthetic, holistic skin services that were based on my knowledge and theorems by treating the skin of men, women, and children gently. This obviously upset a few dermatologists and estheticians. But my knowledge ethically guided what people needed. 

I opened my Holistic Skin Clinic in 2018 for my birthday and business just gets better and better. I am educating humans that are ready to “learn skin” and training future Skin Therapists who will support ALL skin. Our approach is so different from what has been offered in the skin service & product industry. 

This pandemic has proven that a skill set to help others is necessary to our society. We all must be different and colorful and own who we are in it. Healthy skin is for everyone. 

In 2020, we changed our name to AYANNA DENISE SKIN (now trademarked, praises). This supports our growth in products, professional training, consumer education, and state-of-the-art holistic services and culture. 

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, our clients have loyally supported us and through the Black Lives Matter movement, my ancestral knowledge, long-term efforts, and industry-advancing intentions are being acknowledged, which is appreciated. 

AYANNA DENISE SKIN is not just a skincare company. We are a Skin Health Company that Heals ALL Skin through education, products, and services which I thoroughly developed and expanding our reach for the skin feeling ignored, looking for this culture apart from the cosmetic-focused industry they know of. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Funding has created limitations to my business. The challenges created have included: lack of powerful marketing, promising real estate for my services and training needs, hiring and training more team members, balancing being an entrepreneur of the same company I regularly cover 12 positions as opposed to having the liberty to focus on further company growth and development as a leader. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The skincare industry has been focused on the European skin up until this point. All major clean skincare brands have fallen short of representing the various beautiful skin that exists. This issue flows through retail, spas, resorts, and retreats around the world. Therefore, all skin is neither represented nor treated respectfully. We have developed a beautiful skincare line that is also a lifestyle with our holistic, caring, intentional services in New Mexico. 

Skin education is a huge miss in the skin industry without us. Majority of humans don’t even understand how the skin performs as an organ, thus abuse this extremely intelligent organ. 

We are ending this. 

My competitive advantage is my background and angle on skin care. 

This company began with natural formulas after years of holistic studies on the human body, specifically the skin organ. After testing traction and demand for clean products with African, Hispanic, and even European skin, we have the advantage of understanding all skin based on genetics. This angle has not been addressed; therefore, skin all over has suffered further damage. 

Our services are not dependent on non-ethical skin care as our sister company produces our clean products and we provide bespoke services from Certified Skin Therapists trained in Skin Organ health, genetic structures, and environmental effects on skin. 

Our understanding that people desire to care for their skin properly, regardless of whether it’s a daily regimen, a special treat, or traveling for work or leisure. The smart consumer desires care and understanding attention for their skin. The estheticians working are not certified in this technique and therefore lose credibility and trust with current and potential clients, especially African, Hispanic, and Indigenous persons. 

My intense, worldwide studies of holistic skin remedies and minerals have provided an expansive knowledge base for the product formulas we sell as well as in our bespoke services. 

This base allowed me to develop a unique training certification program for Skin Therapists all over the world. 

I began offering Skin Classes in 2022. In 2022, I am teaching Skin Classes focused on various genetics, geographic locations, and more variables affecting individual skin. 

As a creative Designer with industry experience, our esthetics are extremely pleasing and attractive to our target customer with the income to support our products and services. 

The most advantageous of my qualities is my Vision. I have been able to set goals with my best intentions and reach/exceed them with focused work ethic and leadership experience, which I have exercised in 5 continents professionally. My understanding of various people and cultures allow my Visions to outplay companies that cater to one particular target customer. I only work on an international level; therefore, I don’t limit these businesses’ reach. 

I have grown from an accidental entrepreneur into a full-fledged 1st generation entrepreneur and business owner in my family. This is important to me as my daughter, nieces, nephews, and cousins are witnessing my growth and success. 

This business was built off the back of my talent, focus, hard work, personal time, and financial investment. As an African American mother, this takes tons of grit. So, I know that I’m meant to be extremely successful. I am proud of myself for betting on me each day. I have been acknowledged as a Top Woman and African-American-owned business in New Mexico, an Impact Ventures Accelerator Alumni, Changing Faces/East-West Center Alumni, allowing my intuition to guide me even when it’s not popular or trendy, raising my daughter, Queen, to be a powerful, loving human being, all while adulting like many other humans around this world. 

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I am not the same Ayanna I was 12 years ago. No one is. Evolution and growth requires radical change. I go through discomfort still. Through the growing pangs, I understand that I must prioritize self-care, rest, health, surrounding myself with support, connecting to spirit, getting grounded as needed, and stay laser focused. This has become routine and who I am. 

Pricing:

• $0.oo Consultations
• $150.00 Signature Skin Treatment
• $30.00 Average Product Prices
• $8.00 Average Book Price

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ayannadenise.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayannadenise_skin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayannadeniseskin
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayannadnelsonfreeman/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Wnk2quUzbzkF9oaOR1AfQ
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ayanna-denise-albuquerque
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/84af1ec88c5f3b7ebec89ac0c6ac3d/

Image Credits
ET PHOTOGRAPHY
Travis Hoffman-Joseph
Ayanna Zahra
Vanessa Vassar