We had the good fortune of connecting with Imani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Imani, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I believe in taking risks, when they make sense. I would never take a risk with the collateral being my family in any way. If the collateral outweighs the actual risk itself, I’ll have to reassess the actual risk to make sure it’s in line with who I am as a person, business owner, and content creator.

In contrast, the risk that I have taken with leaving school from pursuing my psychology degree and becoming a full time content creator and cosmetologist, has been nothing short of a blessing, especially having the support of my husband and family.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What most people don’t know is that I have a YouTube channel dedicated to beauty and family vlogs ( Imani E. ). I’ve had this channel for over 6 years, and after stopping and restarting so many times due to not being confident in my work, I had finally reached a point of self-realization that I can only give an authentic version of myself and use this platform as a means to express myself.

Present day, I was able to become a “professional” in my artistry and creativity by truly believing in myself, enforcing self discipline, and remaining consistent and persistent with myself in order to see true growth and change.

When you take a leap of faith, there’s not a set of instructions that tell you what you to do afterwards. The only thing you know to do is trust god, and start figuring out what it is that you need to heal from in order to truly grown. The road to true success in mental, physical, and spiritual health is not an easy road, and often times there are tests and obstacles there that will make you question whether you made the right decision or not, but if you remain faithful, obedient, and remember the desired goal, the end results will always work out in your favor.

Ultimately what I want people to know about my brand is that I am no different than your average day person trying to achieve their dreams. I am a mother, a wife, and a self employed woman, seeking to obtain more out of the life that I have been blessed with. I have a story to tell and when it’s time for me to share it, I will be able to show people that despite what your life may look like during a storm, the storm is only temporary and the rainbow at the end will make you look back and help you truly understand the purpose of your life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Truth be told, I am a home body and an introvert. I prefer to be inside with my family, cook or get on the grill and just vibe out at home. I also love when people can come by and are able to get comfortable, as if they’re in their own home. However, if I had to go out, I love a good amusement park! You have the rides, entertainment, great food, and just an overall great time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To only give one person credit would be doing a disservice to the amount of people who have showed me unconditional love and support through my journey.

First and foremost, God, without him I wouldn’t be here and nothing that I have achieved would be possible.

Secondly my husband, mother, and siblings. They motivate me to do more, to get up during my moments of creative blocks and brainstorm, and to overall keep going and see it through in order to see the fruits of mg labor.

Lastly, but just as importantly, the support I receive from the individuals who only know me from watching my YouTube videos, or sitting in my chair during a makeup session.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msimanie

Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/ImaniE

Other: https://www.instagram.com/msimanie2.0

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.