Connect with us

Published

2 years ago

on

Face Melanin Wonder Shanice was 14 when she came to the netherlands, she has been living in Zwolle for almost 10 years now.

“You can be beautiful, black and smart at the same time.”

WHO IS SHANICE?

I choose to not have many friends, I am sort of introvert and usually do not let too many people come in my circle. My experience with friends and people in general has made me make this decision.

Friends need to have at least something to lift each other up or have something of value to each other. My health and peace is the most important for me. 

Family is very important to me, and I have A LOT of family members.  It is so big that they are literally spread out throughout the whole of Netherlands, living in different cities.

PASSION FOR DESIGNING

Designing clothes is my absolute passion. Also, do I want to travel to many African countries. Contributing to the African community is always something I wanted to dp. The company will start out with designing collections and helping out small companies that are in need professional designs. By letting someone design clothes professionally the chance of wrongly manufactured clothes will be smaller. 

 

My Youtube Channel is on hold at the moment, but it will be back and popping. Besides, I want to focus on myself first before I do anything else. Things such as, networking, business and my skincare for example.

“I have bought some weights, dumbbells and a trampoline to keep myself in shape. Also, do I run outside regularly. It is actually not my favorite thing to do. But I forced myself to do it to keep in shape.” *laughs* 

 IS A MELANIN WONDER PLATFORM NEEDED?

There are enough platforms that only promote non-black people. Why would people question a platform that focuses on only black people? I really do not get that! We really need it! Especially, when you look at our media history. More platforms like Melanin Wonder need to be promoted and be online that promote darker shades.

Dark skinned people have a lot to offer and contribute a lot to the economy. We have so much buying power and are very much a part of the economy. We spend our coins on companies that have few to to no black people. To me it sounds very strange. 

DARK SKIN IS BEAUTIFUL

Dark women are the people that buy the most hair products for example. But we are not really in the forefront of it all when you look at where our money goes.

HOW DID YOU GO INTO BUSINESS?

Before I started thinking of creating my own company I really asked people around to advise me. When it comes to administration, it is not a big deal at the moment, because I just started. Designs by Sissi. It is my nickname I got from my grandmother and I simply like it. 

“Family is very important to me”

GOING TO AFRICA?

South-Africa sounds like a dream as well. My plan is to become a fabric expert and use my knowledge to be part of sustainable fabrics. I think this is my way giving back to my home country. It is the place to be when it comes to fabric. People around me also said why go to China when you can go to South Africa. It is out of the box and I really want to do an internship there as well. Anyways, I have always felt drawn to the motherland.

Ethiopia and Nigeria. To be honest I would love to visit every country. I feel like I will get to know myself more and I want to get more knowledge. I sometimes notice that Suriname people do look down on Africans and I want to go there and also document what I experience in Africa. The media always portrays Africa differently and I feel the urge to show the real Africa through images, videos and sharing on social media. 

BE YOURSELF! LOVE YOURSELF!

@shameless_sissi  my instagram profile for example, I use it to be totally my self without any shame. Why can’t you be yourself and I feel like it is like meditation to be yourself and be honest and speak your truth. Of course sometimes things need to be nuanced and respect is number 1 in every conversation. 

Sissibeauty – Facial beauty and promoting skincare so that less foundation will be promoted. I occasionally make some home made products. You can always check my tips and see what works for you. 

More younger girls who need a platform where they can see themselves. The mainstream media doesn’t do it enough for my liking.

“You can be beautiful, black and smart at the same time.!”

 

 

 

Related Topics:
Advertisement
1 Comment

1 Comment

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published.

    Melanin Wonderful story

    Meet our writers!

    Published

    4 months ago

    on

    25/01/2022

    By

     

    Let us introduce you to our newest writers behind the scenes!

     

     

     

    Manou Cristal (@sir.manou) professional athlete turned into a content creator and blogger. From professional basketball playing to displaying his creativity into the digital world. The 29-year old Christal Malalu is now looking forward to showing his creativity in the digital world. Keep an eye on the website for some athletic and creative content and articles from sir Manou.

     

     

    Michelle Amo (@michelleamo_) is a ray of sunshine with a personality as colourful as her fashion. She has been featured on Elle Netherlands, Flaire Belgique and NL Vogue promoting her views on sustainable fashion with style. If you need a dose of colour, happy feet and circular fashion inspiration, then you should surely keep an eye on Michelle’s content and articles.

     

     

    Temitope Oluwatobi (@duchess_teymi) the lady of soul! Temi is a Dublin based Freelance Journalist from Lagos, Nigeria. After she graduated with an honours degree in Masters of Media and Communication (2021) she decided she is ready to conquer the world with her golden pen, telling you compelling stories about love, mental health and social injustice.

     

     

     

    Ayesha Noelle (@ayeshanoelle) is a mindset and business coach, who specializes in imposter syndrome. She mainly helps female online entrepreneurs achieve their business goals & overcome imposter syndrome by implementing science-based strategies. Her background is in Applied Psychology and she appeared as a guest expert on multiple media platforms.

     

    Tiesha Olive (@bnaturalcurls) Latiesha was constantly getting questions about her hair. Not just from women but men too. So she decided to make a channel to educate on the proper way to care for natural hair. She went to school for cosmetology to be able to educate others better and graduated with Honors in September 2018. Latiesha vlogs and blogs about beauty, lifestyle, fashion, hair products and her faith.

     

     

    Stephane-Thierry Ngali was born in France and has been from an early age exposed to the diversity of the world and the value of traditions as the anchor of a nation’s spirit. Together with his father, Stephane-Thierry travelled across 13 African countries where he had the privilege to understand and experience the intrinsic value of the African approach to life’s tenet. Graduated in international business & finance, Stephane had the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge in global finance and European wealth systems. He lives in Amsterdam and works for a cloud provider as a strategic business development manager.

     

     

    Danitzah Jacobs (@danitzahjacobs) is a mother of three beautiful children. Besides being a womanist and a feminist she is also an entrepreneur. Over the years she has accumulated loads of knowledge on various topics such as Afro Caribbean & Latin cultures, African spirituality & Money Confidence. She is currently developing a ready meals food line for her company Danitzah’s Afro Caribbean Kitchen but is also ready to launch a new fashion concept from Ghana.

     

     

     

    STAY TUNED AND ENJOY THE TO BE POSTED ARTICLES!

     

    Continue Reading

    Culture

    RiRi honoured for her ‘extraordinary commitment’ to Caribbean island as it makes a historic political transition.

    Published

    6 months ago

    on

    30/11/2021

    By

    RiRi

    RiRi Rihanna honoured for her ‘extraordinary commitment’ to Caribbean island as it makes a historic political transition.

    The singer was honored Monday in her native Barbados during its presidential inauguration, which served to mark the country becoming a republic. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley told the crowd: “May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honor to your nation by your works, by your actions and to do credit wherever you shall go”.

    Barbados formally cut ties with the British monarchy by becoming a republic almost 400 years after the first English ship arrived on the most easterly of the Caribbean islands.

    @badgalriri

     

     

    Continue Reading

    Melanin Wonderful story

    This is why you should keep an eye on Melanin Wonder NL – Finalist Maryan Stokhof de Jong

    Published

    1 year ago

    on

    19/02/2021

    By

    I am a young woman who was born in Africa and eventually grew up in the Netherlands. I have always admired the strength of my African mother.
     

    Model: Maryan Photo: Pearson Portraits

     
     
    I would like to convince people to continue to believe in themselves and get the best out of their lives. Everyone is beautiful the way they are.

    Model: Maryan Photo: Pearson Portraits

     
     
    I hope to convey the energy right. I stand for strength, positivity, love and acceptance. I think it is important that everyone can be the way they are, whatever the colour of their skin. Love to uplift people and forget about jealousy.
     

    Model: Maryan Photo: Pearson Portraits

    Follow Maryan on instagram: @Maryannnx
    Continue Reading

    Melanin Wonderful story

    This is why you should keep an eye on Melanin Wonder NL – Finalist Heera Dijk

    Published

    1 year ago

    on

    19/02/2021

    By

     

    Chase your dreams

     
     
    I think no matter what colour skin or background you have, you should always chase your dreams. Color doesn’t matter, it’s about what’s inside you. When I was a little girl there was no n’t much color on tv or at my school.
     
    But children don’t look at and now in 2021, there are many changes going on in the world and there is much more possible. More than ever we need role models, we still need them. So let me be that voice and face to show how it can be.
     
     
    Like Marian Wright Edelman an American child advocate once said: color, they look at you as a person. The differences become more obvious when you are older. My roots are from Suriname and the Caribbean, but I was born and raised here in the Netherlands. So I’m a mix of three cultures, I’m a melted melanin.
     
     
     

    ” You need role models. Someone you can identify yourself with, someone who is just like you.”

     
     
    Growing up as a teenager can be quite a challenge, let alone if you feel like you are living in three worlds. As a teenager, I felt different. Where did I belong? When I grew up, I didn’t realize you need role models. Someone you can identify yourself with, someone who is just like you. It helps you as a person. 

    Role models

    Now that I’m older I realize it is necessary to have role models, someone who can be that example for you. Looking back I now know that I certainly had my role models: Off course there were Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, wauw such strong beautiful melanin women! But more close to home (literally), were my mother and my aunt that example for me. They are truly powerful women, strong and independent! At a young age they came here in The Netherlands, without their parents, family or even a guideline to live and work in another country. They showed me that life isn’t always easy, but when you are positive and work hard, you can achieve whatever you want! My whole family exists of strong and independent women. I’m very proud to be part of that!  
     
     

    Model: Heera Dijk Photo: New Monkey Photography

    ◄ Back
    Picture 1 of 4

     
     
    Nowadays, in 2021, there are many changes going on in the world and there are so much more possibilities. We need role models now more than ever! We need them at all times. So let me be that voice and face to show how it can be done. Like Marian Wright Edelman an American child advocate once said:
     
     ‘You can’t be, what you can’t see.’ 
     
     
    That’s my purpose! To be an example. That is why I’ve chosen this Melanin Wonder Platform, which has such a great reach!
     
     
    Photo credits:
    New Monkey Photography
     
    Follow Heera on Instagram: @heera.d
     
     
    Continue Reading

    Trending