BY: JADE LEONARD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ALEXANDER WILLIAMS
Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay" Habakkuk 2:2-3 NIV.
How often do you set goals? What are some goals you need to revisit? Setting goals are extremely important when it comes to your success because goals motivate you, give you direction, inspire new behaviors, and boost your performance. Don't delay what you can accomplish TODAY. Be clear and concise with your goals and with action behind them, watch your dreams come true.
Have you ever written down your dreams and watched them come to life? That's exactly what Samiyah did, a recent graduate of Hampton University and entrepreneur who went viral overnight! Her Business Miy Lifestyle is all about self-love, self-care, and embracing the baddie within you. In this issue, she shares some of her highs, lows, and some of her favorite things. I present to you a young black queen that's writing it down and making it happen...Ladies and gents give it up for "Samiyah Gaddy, The Goal Getter".
The UpNext: Who is Samiyah? What makes her stand out?
Samiyah Gaddy: "Samiyah is a 22-year-old entrepreneur that loves to showcase her personality and work ethic through her business and daily lifestyle. What makes Samiyah stand out is her charisma, versatility, and creativity. Samiyah stands out because she is determined and manifests her dreams."
The UpNext: Where did your love of fashion begin?
SG: "My love of fashion began when I was a little child. You know, the age where your parents are normally still picking out outfits for you to wear to school. I would tell my mom I am picking my own outfits out! I loved to dress up ever since I was young. My favorite quote is, “you can never be overeducated or overdressed.” I make sure to dress up on every occasion."
The UpNext: What’s your favorite part of the work you do? What’s the “scariest”?
SG: "My favorite part of the work I do is WORKING FOR MYSELF. Every time someone would ask me what’s my dream job, I never really had an answer or I would always switch it up because, in reality, I always wanted to be my own boss. I never really had any “scariest” part of work but I will say a lot of people are scared to invest in themselves. I wasn’t scared to invest in myself, but at the time I first wanted to start my business, I didn’t have the money for it. Therefore, I invested in myself, saved up as much money as possible, and started my business."
The UpNext: What is MiyLifestyle? What does it mean to you?
SG: "Miylifestyle is literally “Miy Lifestyle.” I literally picked that to be my Instagram name because what better name than this to showcase Samiyah’s lifestyle? I happened to love the name so much that I made it my business name. Miy Lifestyle means SO MUCH to me, and I will continue to expand my brand."
The UpNext: How did COVID-19 impact your business and personal life?
SG: "Honestly, COVID was a blessing in disguise for me. At the beginning of COVID, I was highly upset because my senior year was cut short and we didn’t have graduation or senior ball. After a while, I got over it, because at the end of the day, I still have my whole bachelor’s degree! I still celebrated my graduation even though there wasn’t a true graduation. As far as business life, Miy Lifestyle reached a goal I did not expect to happen so fast during COVID. I made $47K+ in A DAY. The power of social media! AND of course, GOD!"
The UpNext: Won’t he do it? Yes, he will! That’s such a great accomplishment Samiyah! Are you a full-time entrepreneur?
SG: "I am a full-time entrepreneur. I am currently in the process of getting back to vlogging so I can post some more content on YouTube as well. The content will consist of business tips, a day in the life of Miy Lifestyle, vacation vlogs, etc."
The UpNext: We better stay tuned then! What keeps you going, when the going gets tough?
SG: "My faith, determination, and family/friends keep me going when things get tough. I am very blessed to have a great support system that supports me with any and everything that I do!"
The UpNext: That is so amazing! Support is so important! What piece of clothing/accessories do you spend your money on the most?
SG: "I feel like I spend the most money on self-maintenance. My hair, nails every week and a half, pedicures, facials, massages, and things like that. I need to make sure I look good to myself because then I will feel good. As for clothes, I haven’t really purchased a lot of stuff during quarantine until now (for the fall). I love fall/winter fashion, so it is definitely time to STEP!"
The UpNext: Yas! Sweater Weather is here and I’m here for IT! Who are your fashion inspirations? What’s your favorite brand(s)?
SG: "One of my main fashion inspirations is Teyana Taylor. I love how she can switch it up so effortlessly. My favorite brands are @MiyLifestyle of course, @CommaCrazy, @LeilaAndStitch, and all black-owned brands. I will say I also love @telfarglobal and the drastic impact they made during 2020. It’s very inspiring. I also stan ALL Fenty products."
The UpNext: Thank you for plugging us in! You’re absolutely gorgeous on the outside, what makes you beautiful on the inside?
SG: "My sense of humor, my selflessness, my genuine love and care for those around."
The UpNext: What are 5 beauty products you can't live without?
SG: "Lip gloss x5! Anyone that knows me knows that I will never get caught slipping with ashy lips! Haha."
The UpNext: What’s a huge hurdle you had to overcome when starting or during your business?
SG: "One huge hurdle I had to overcome during my business was something that recently happened. After my business went viral when I posted the “NY State of Mind” Bags that I am selling, I received tons of orders and didn’t expect that many. Being that it was a high volume product with so many orders, it took a long amount of time for me to get the first shipments out to customers. A lot of customers were understanding, but some weren’t and that is expected when running a business. The only thing I could do in that situation was show transparency, keep the customers updated, and wait for the customers to receive their bags. Lesson learned."
The UpNext: Did attending an HBCU help shape you for entrepreneurship in any way? Why or why not?
SG: "Yes, attending an HBCU, the illustrious Hampton University to be specific, helped shape me for entrepreneurship. Being surrounded by so many goal-oriented, determined mindsets like myself kept me motivated. The support from one another was so genuine! From attending pop-up shops in the student center after fashion shows to having panels about business tips, I knew I wanted to start my own business after freshman year."
The UpNext: What are some of the perks you’ve enjoyed throughout your journey?
SG: "One of the main perks that I’ve enjoyed throughout my journey is creating my own schedule for my work life. Also, just seeing things that I dreamed of and wrote down as goals to accomplish coming to life."
The UpNext: What’s a piece of advice you’ve gotten that still holds true?
SG: "Trust the process.” I was told this and it still holds weight into my life because literally the day before my business changed drastically, I was stressing. Trying to figure out where I was going to work because I had just finished school and moved back to New Jersey. I didn’t know what to do. I knew I wanted to keep focusing on my brand though, and that is exactly what I did. That next day I posted my business on Twitter and it went viral. I really feel like manifestation is key. Trust the process and realize that everything happens for a reason. You cannot look at someone else's success and accomplishment and compare that to your life. It's a marathon, not a race."
Follow Miy Lifestyle on IG: @miylifestyle
Website: www.miylifestyle.com
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