BY: JADE LEONARD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Christopher James and King Kola
“Anything that you do can inspire others even if you think it doesn’t make a larger impact; it does to somebody.” -- Teosha Meeks
Heavy on the entrepreneurs having 5 to 7 forms of income Teosha does it all! She is a registered nurse, newly accepted into a residency program in a major hospital, and a full-time entrepreneur based in North Atlanta, Georgia; her platform focuses on women's empowerment through business. Her greatest inspiration is definitely her momma; “She has always been there for me. There's no right or wrong with my mom no matter what; even if she doesn't like something, she knows Teosha is gonna do it regardless, and I'm gonna support her, so she always helped; I love her to death.”
We had mutual friends in high school, but her business, Meeky Glamz, is what united us together after all those years. From lashes to teeth whitening, facials, or body contouring. If there's a non-invasive service you want and she doesn't do it? Let her know she’ll be taking a class tomorrow! That's Teosha and that's the energy she’s giving. LITERALLY! “I don't ever really tell a person there's something that I don't do. I just go do it and make sure I get it down pat before they come”. When asked how she gets her confidence, she chalks it up to the Capricorn inside. “We end the year in December, and then we bring in the New Year. Just a joke, but self-confidence really comes within. Give that love you give so freely to other people, to yourself; the confidence is automatically there. There’s nothing someone can discourage you from by God's grace. Just know that you’re it. Like Beyonce energy. Period.” So without further ado, tap into some great advice and life lessons about pursuing your dreams and looking great while doing it; I give you: Teosha Meeks, The Glamour Girl!
The UpNext: What made you want to be a Nurse?
Teosha Meeks: Nursing. I get that question a lot. I like to give back to others, and i feel like I have a super caring personality. Nursing came about by handling a lot of things, and as a nurse, you have 10,000 tasks at a time, and you always have to keep your game face as if everything’s okay. Other patients are having issues, so I know how to keep stuff under control and make people feel better no matter what they’re going through.
The UN: How was balancing school in the midst of the pandemic?
TM: It was a HUGE difference; it was hard. My clinicals were online, classes, and exams; I was paranoid. It was always something. Either the internet was going out, so it was a big task, but I knew there weren't any other options to graduate, so I had to do what I had to do.
During those times, I would make it fun. I would hook up my laptop to the tv, smoke hookah, eat pizza, literally tune in and make myself as comfortable as possible. So that was interesting.
The UN: What made you want to get into the glam business? What training did you have to do to prepare?
TM: I’ve always been the type to be really into [me], like getting my nails done, my lashes done, toes done. I'm like; you gotta look good, girl, don't let yourself go. So I realized that people were always asking me prior what I'm gonna have on or look like, so I asked myself how can I make money off giving all this good advice that I’m giving. That’s how I got into eyelashes. I took a training class, now taking courses worldwide from there; that’s how I got to where I am now.
The UN: Name all businesses and your most highly requested service.
TM: Meeky Glamz (which I’ve been a client) my beauty business is anything cosmetic that’s not hair... even though I do sell wigs I bring to the table.
Eyelashes (really popular)
Teeth whitening
Microshading and Microblading
Body contouring (most highly requested; summers here, everyone wants the snatched waist and the butt lift; booked daily back to back)
Facials
Foot detox
Tooth gems
Lip fillers (that's why she looking juicy, sis)
Lip blush
**Sidenote** For the Microbladers out there, Zensa numbing cream is perfect for your clients. Personal testimony, when I got my brows done by Teosha (Meeky Glamz) for my touch up, she used this cream, and it felt like nothing; if you’ve had your brows done, you know the pain is up there, so the fact that she used this cream made me feel confident in getting my next touch up. It felt like she was running a pen on my brows, which helped me relax, and I felt better during the process.
The UN: What's the difference between microblading and micro shading?
TM: Microblading is where you want the natural hair-looking line structure; micro shading is more if you want color like a tattoo look.
My fitness page is FitnesswithTeosha, for 1 on 1 training, group training, meal plans, and meal prep. So, for instance, when I’m working out with these clients, they want the food to be cooked for them weekly, I’ll do that for them as well. You've known that about me since HS girl; I love fitness and the gym... Get me lit, get me lit !!
The UN: So I know for a lot of entrepreneurs, COVID did their business really well. How did COVID impact your business? What shifts, if any, did you have to make?
TM: COVID did impact my business a lot. I will tell you I was still taking my beauty clients at a minimum as long as we took the proper precautions. For the people that were scared to get serviced died down when they saw I had a mask, hand sanitizer, kept it socially distanced, and I was still able to, you know, come up!
But for fitness clients, all the gyms were closed, so I took it to Zoom; I would pay for a subscription and had a whole hour with clients; we would work out literally in the living room girl, right here. That was a big change for people because they’re used to the energy in-person, that having to do it over the internet, you got kids and cats and dogs, and spiders and roaches just flying by, but we did what we had to do. It was a hassle, but we got it done!
The UN: Tell us about a time you failed in your business; what did you do to resolve it?
TM: That’s a good question. Honestly, I would say during the pandemic, when I was doing training through Zoom, there was a time where I just completely cut it off because I got discouraged. Always jumping in my living room, the distractions are different from being at a gym, so I took it as a time where I’m giving up on this and waited for the gyms to reopen.
The UN: So, how are you balancing without spreading yourself too thin with everything you have going on?
TM: Gotcha well, that saying “consistency is key” is something that I live by. I am a one-woman show; I don't have any help; everything that you see, I do myself. I tell people the beauty, the nursing stuff the same way we can put time and energy into a relationship, families, or whatever we feel has the most value in your life. I chose mines to be business. “So if they don’t make dollars, they don't make sense!” and who doesn't like to get paid? Being able to minister, give back to people, whether making you look or feel better, makes me happy. It's a motivation and stress reliever. I would work all day if I could.
The UN: Spoken like a true Capricorn! What do you do daily to grow as an entrepreneur?
TM: Definitely sticking to the plan, I have a calendar, and if it ain't on that calendar, it's not happening. So, for instance, when you hit me about this interview, I got all my stuff done, so I knew Friday at 5 is Jade’s time. I took it off my books, you cant book an appointment at this time. Using the booking link in your bio is essential for businesses. Then being really hardcore on myself, I don’t compromise priorities. If it's jotted down and written, then I gotta get it done. And I'm literally going crazy pulling off my wig if it did not get completed. Heavy on meditation and traveling, I will pull out my passport real fast and book a flight; outside all summer. Buying things that I want, investing in my business, fellowship, church, paying tithes and offering; Focusing on myself, and giving myself self-love with the things I enjoy.
The UN: How has entrepreneurship affected your family and relationships?
TM: Definitely affected relationships; I know most guys aren't used to a super independent girl being busy all the time; usually, it’s the man that’s always busy and stuff, so that has affected it in the past, but I tell whoever I’m dating that you got to put your priorities first. I let them know my focus and what I prioritize in my life, and unless you can bring something bigger and better to the table? Unless you paying these bills? You can see me after hours. I’m focusing on the business first.
My mom and dad tell me, Teosha its not work work work all the time. My dad lives in Houston. I'll go to Houston; my mom lives in Atlanta, so I spend quality time with both. Siblings, my friends, I make time for everybody. When I get free time, I’ll hit people up like, “Hey girl, I know I’ve been a little M.I.A wassup we going to smoke hookah? LMAO
The UN: How do you market your business, and which tactics have been most successful?
TM: Business cards, social media, websites, any type of promo, and marketing my business through myself; always looking good and up to par. People will compliment me, etc. I always encourage people in their business to use hashtags for the area you’re in. If you do lashes, #Atlantalashes; if you do brows in New York City, #NYCmicroblading. Hashtags make a #bigimpact on social media platforms for any business. When I ask my clients how they find me, they’ll say a hashtag.
The UN: You mentioned previously taking feedback from clients and training on new services. How important is it to include your clients in your business? asking polls on IG, etc.)
TM: Always listen to the client regardless if you like what they’re saying or not. The client is always right; even if they correct me on something, I always try to consider that. Listening to the pros and cons about how people feel makes a big difference in your business, then you know how to project for the next people that come. “This worked for her; maybe it'll work for you.” Outside opinions can help others clients in the future.
The UN: What’s one of your greatest strengths? What is something you’re still working on?
TM: I am the master of not procrastinating. I get stuff done. Even in school during covid, where they gave us a list of assignments, they were done that day. If I’m going to Jamaica next week, I’m doing it all tonight. I will get stuff done proficiently way before the due date. It makes life easier when those times come around. One of my weaknesses is that i don’t give myself a break—my body shutdowns on its own. I, of course, have fun and stuff, but I’m the type to do a whole12 hour shift at a hospital, come home, take 2 clients, still smoke hookah with my friends, and do my African dances in the club. I be lit; I can go 24 hours. Sometimes I have to be like Teosha, say no.
The UN: Besides money, what are your favorite ways to compensate people?
TM: Being a lifetime mentor for people. I think there are so many hidden talents, people who have stuff so deep down, but they don’t have that support, and people to push them and tell them that they can do it and are important; you’re just as good as the girl next door. So I love being able to bring out in people what they thought why could never be. People are really lit in real life, and they don’t even know it.
The UN: Finally, what's been the most satisfying moment in your business so far?
TM: Most satisfying moment - at CVS and I was a pharm tech, and i just walked out, and they were calling me, and I just felt so empowered because I knew I was stepping out on faith to be a full-time entrepreneur, and I never looked back.
Follow Teosha on Social Media and book your next appointment when you're in ATL!! Instagram: @meekyglamz and @FitnesswithTeosha
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