Meet Andrea Daughtry | Singer, Songwriter, Event Curator, Founder of “For The Fem In You®”

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

Hi Andrea, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
From a very young age, I showed interests in music and creative outlets. Starting with piano lessons, choirs, and several types of dance, I can truly say I had a variety of paths to choose from. I was witty and independent, and wanted to do everything by myself and music and dance allowed me to do just that. I could create anything with my hands, so started making jewelry and sending catalogs to my parents jobs. I ended up getting overwhelmed at the response (lol) so quit for the sake of maintaining my sanity at 10 yrs old. That type of success ignited a fire in me early on that would grow into who I’ve become today. I had an understanding of business more so than most my age at the time, and knew I had the ability to work effectively in both realms. I never wanted to be perceived as a “Broke Artist” because that didn’t align with anything that I actually believed about my gifts. I knew that my gifts would make room for me, regardless of how “saturated” any of the industries seemed. I wanted to show other artists that they could successfully express themselves without compromising their quality of life or mental health. I was determined to show the world at that point that you could sing, write, curate, and create art all while maintaining a successful business. It’s possible to follow all of your dreams at once with time management and dedication. I am a living witness.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I chose other because my work involves an equal balance of business and creativity. I am a singer-songwriter, the founder and president of non-profit “For The Fem In You®”, Owner of Buttah Babez LLC, a stylist, and creative director via @AndreaShopsForYou. I am currently most proud of the work that For The Fem In You® is doing with honoring ordinary women doing extraordinary things within the community of Los Angeles and surrounding cities. The first of several events in a 6 – month series, For The Fem In You® is focusing on empowering women thru wealth and wellness. We’re celebrating their accomplishments while they are HERE as all women deserve to feel seen and heard. For The Fem In You® specializes in creating safe spaces for women, as this series will be fundraising for a 20,000 sq ft space of our own.

Getting here professionally has been far from easy. Musically existing in a male-dominated industry presents its challenges, especially when trying to navigate this particular world without being over-sexualized and disrespected. There’s a hardness that you have to develop, a clear wall you have to put up to protect yourself within studios and certain spaces.

My skincare business has been fairly easy to present, as most black women are looking for quality skin and hair care products that are inclusive of their skin type. With @ButtahBabez I prefer in-person sales which do exceptionally well for people being able to experience various smells and textures. Online sales can be difficult as pretty pictures only do but so much when people need to know what their purchasing. Luckily, even in the pandemic, I’ve had a solid base of supporters that have kept this small business afloat.

One of the most important lessons i’ve learned in all of this, has been that in most cases, your family and friends will not be your biggest supporters in business. In the beginning, your dreams and aspirations will look crazy to most of the people around you, you MUST remember that you are not on earth to please EVERYONE. It is literally impossible, be bold enough to push past doubt and insecurity. The reward at the end of the tunnel is greater than any negativity or opposition you’ve faced thus far.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m eating at all the vegan spots lol, my favorite right now is @thefreeworldcafe – an online bakery and meal prep service.

Gotta visit the historically black Leimert Park for all things DOPE. Sometimes you may even spot my set-up on Saturdays between the hours of 11am and 6 pm, Sika, Harun Coffee, Nappily Naturals, Neighbors Skate Shop, and Kaos Network are some of my favorite places to hang out.

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?
Black Women have played a vital role in my growth and development. At age 30 (as of 4/5) I only imagined the place that i’m in because of individuals constantly pushing me past mediocrity. Whether at my schools, childhood church, colleges, small business programs, creative outlets, or within businesses and groups I started, black women have always supported my efforts. They’ve poured their own knowledge and wisdom about the goals I set out to achieve into my cup, while supporting me in all of my endeavors. The list of names is extensive, so to not forget anyone, I want to dedicate my shoutout to BLACK WOMEN.

Website: www.forthefeminyou.com

Instagram: @andreashopsforyou, @buttahbabez @forthefeminyou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaShopsForYou . https://www.facebook.com/ForTheFemInYou