Meet Geobirttie Wise-Odugu

We had the good fortune of connecting with Geobirttie Wise-Odugu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Geobirttie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a little girl, my mother’s close friend Ms. Eloise Brown use to spray a little perfume on my wrist and apply lipstick and blush each time we visited her. She would then put me front of the mirror and say, “”look at my pretty girl””. Those moments caused me to fall madly in love with the art of makeup, perfumes, fragrances, lotions, and anything that I perceived as beauty, and how it made ”People” feel. This created an awareness of how I and others smelled and looked. There was only one problem, I had sensitive skin . I quickly learned that many of the skincare products that I loved, irritated my skin. Later in life I developed Salivary gland cancer which is a rare form of head and neck cancer that develops in the tissues of the salivary glands. Although the exact cause is unknown, there are many contributing factors. The main one is, you guessed it, toxins. Toxins are found in a lot of everyday products that we use. This information sent me on a 3 year holistic quest. One of the first things I learned is that, our skin is the largest organ in our body. I went to work, researching ,testing and exploring. I tested my products on myself and family member who struggled with skin psoriasis, eczema and other skin sensitivities. Our skin thrived! I was amazed at the ingredients being used in the lotions, toothpaste, makeup, deodorant, body sprays, perfumes etc. There were some natural skincare products out there, but I hated how they smelled and made me feel. It seemed as if what was offered lacked creativity and variety. I simply did not want to smell like a medicine cabinet and a flower. This ignited my passion to develop healthier alternatives to products that we use daily while promoting self love, self care and body positivity. I thought if I make the products, then I know what’s in them. That seed of love for beauty and makeup that was planted as a little girl also developed into a passion to create artistically and transform the lives of the ladies whose faces I get to paint daily. Simply put,I started my businesses to meet a need that myself and loved ones had. My adversity birthed “”Love Your Body by Gigi”” body care line and “”Brushes and Strokes by Chyrell”” Professional Makeup Services. I live by my motto “”Don’t forget to Love On You Daily”” and “”Take Great Care””!

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a professional makeup artist with over 20 years of experience and a Natural Body Care Line Owner/Creator for 5 years.

I believe one of the things that sets me apart from my my peers, is my extreme passion for seeing and bringing out the best in things and people. I literally see beauty in everything and everyone. I’m known for facing challenges head on . I love to solve problems if I have the ability to do so.

One thing that I’m most proud of is finally gaining the courage to showcase my skills and artistry and bringing them to the forefront. I don”t like attention at all. I have always been and still can be very shy. I love to support others and stay in that background. Doing this article alone was extremely uncomfortable for me.
My background is in banking in many facets. I started at the age of 16 in credit care sales for MBNA America.

I learned a great deal of my communication, customer service, marketing, and finance skills from several banks and finance companies that I’ve worked in that industry for over 2 decades. It’s a highly stressful, fast paced, analytical environment. I strongly believe that experience helped developed me as a business owner and a entrepreneur. With that being said, I was hard to break out of just selling to just family, friends, and acquaintances. Showing up on social media and doing local shows and flea market has helped reached broader audiences and community. Consistency is also key. My dedication to personal growth and gaining new knowledge in my field, along with quality products and services has been the secret to retaining and gaining customers and clients.
I’ve learned along the way to pay close attention to what is needed versus what I want to sell or offer.
I would love for the world to know that once you’ve experience using any of my products or been my presence, You will leave feeling loved, cared for, and a sense that it’s ok to take care of yourself and well. I want them to remember that there is a lady that cares about your well being and will Always ask “”Have You Loved On Today?

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?
We are absolutely going to a Beach, Amusement Park, Restaurant, Museum, a Concert and my home. My home is always warm and inviting. I love adventures, serenity, thrill, music, art and food. Experiences are important to me. I’m originally from the southeast. I was born on the shore of Virginia and reared in Delaware. One the the things the Eastern Shore is known for is beaches, hospitality and good food. So cooking for them is an absolute must. I love to laugh so that is also imperative.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This a hard one! I have to first shout my mother the The Late Shirley Ann Murphy-Johnson. My inspiration, my first teacher , and motivator. I am because of her. My creativity, resourcefulness ,and drives comes from her. I also have to shout out my family who supports me, listens to me brainstorm and allows me to test my products and services with them. And last but definitely not least My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My faith is my lifeline.

Website: https://www.loveyourbodybygigi.com

Instagram: brushesandstrokesbychyrell.

Facebook: LoveYourBodybygigi, Chyrell Wise-Odugu, BrushesandStrokesbyChyrell.

Youtube: WithLoveFromtheOdugu’s , LoveYourBodybyGigi.