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

Hi Ebony, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is a literal sacrifice! It’s a scary gamble, but you either win or learn.. you never lose. Taking risks has played such a huge part in my career. I quit a really good paying job during Covid with no backup plan and opened my boutique with no knowledge. I taught myself a lot, and no matter what roadblock I hit the common denominator is that I never gave up! With any risks there’s always a reward.

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.
It all started with my store, Maasé Boutique! It’s more than just another place to buy clothes, it’s carrying my family’s legacy! The M is for my late grandmother Martha, the A is for my late grandfather Andrew, the next A is for my dad Adrian, the S is for my mom Sarah and the E is for me! They molded me into who I am today and I want to express that through fashion. I sell quality high end clothing for women at an affordable price and fortunately I was one of the small businesses that went viral on tiktok. Through that journey I met so many amazing business owners! There are products and services out there that are better than what we see in the stores daily, and I wanted to create a platform for smaller brands to get recognized. 2 years later, I produced The Muse LA Fashion Week! The Muse highlights black owned designers, brands, and creatives throughout LA County. I want my community’s talent to be seen & heard because we have a lot of it! It’s so exciting to help other business owners shine light on their brand. I don’t want to say it’s been hard, but it hasn’t been easy either! Luckily with my experience as a model & boutique owner, I know how a fashion show is supposed to run and I know what’s “in” in fashion. It’s always challenging juggling so many hats but when you love what you do, the challenge is always accepted!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am so big on city views! I love skylines whether it’s daytime or night. One of my favorite spots is Harriet’s rooftop in Hollywood. Great drinks, great music, and the view of Hollywood is breathtaking! Harriet’s food menu isn’t that big though so I would definitely have to stop by Bossa Nova and get their chicken parmesan, my absolute favorite on the menu! If I’m looking for more of a night life I’m going to Monday Night Vibes which is in Hollywood too! It’s R&B karaoke on another level. The people there are great, it’s always a crowd, always celebrities & always a vibe!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people has helped me through my journey of entrepreneurship, but I want to dedicate my shout out to my business partner Parris Harris! In the beginning there were so many conversations of me expressing my fears, saying “I’m not ready” or doubting myself & there’s one thing that stuck with me! He said, “If you’re scared to do something it will never get done, so just do it and learn on the way.” Oh and he also said “If you keep talking about it, all you’re going to do is keep talking about it”. Ever since then, everything I speak out into the universe I have to execute! So if it wasn’t for him I would still be living in fear just talking about my dreams. He pushed me to be the boss I am today!

Website: www.themuselafw.com

Instagram: @_damnnebonyy

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.