Yasmine Jameelah
FOUNDER + CEO, TRANSPARENT & BLACK
What have you been working on? Gas yourself!
This month Transparent & Black is launching a wellness database for Mental Health Awareness Month, where our community will have access to Black therapists, nutritionists, doulas, midwives, and more. We get so many requests for referrals so we decided to create one place for our community to garner the resources that they need and deserve!
How does culture inform your creative work?
My culture impacts every aspect of my work. The wellness work that we do is focused on our community. The lack of access we have, the informed care that we need, and the experts we tap for discussions/events are all dedicated to our culture.
What is your greatest struggle/challenge these days?
Reminding myself that it's okay to be fearless and make mistakes. I started my first brand, Transparent Black Girl when I was 23. I had no fears because I had no idea what it would become. As a now 30-year-old Founder, there's more pressure and responsibility because what started out as something fun is now a fully-fledged wellness company. But as much as I can, I connect with that fearless girl that lives inside of me. With age comes maturity, self-awareness, and mindfulness but to achieve anything great you have to let go of fear. So that part of me who isn't fearful, she's needed to get to where we're going.
What has community meant for you as a creative?
Community is everything. No matter where we fall in the diaspora community is engrained in us. I was raised in community, so naturally, as a creative finding people whether they're in my particular industry or not that are on similar journeys as creatives keeps me going. We encourage one another and speak like into each other, which we all need! Many of us are the first in our families to branch out in the industries that we're in, and that road can feel lonely. Community reminds you that you're never truly by yourself.
What inspires your creative process?
My God, my peers, and my best self.
Is there anything happening in your community that you’d like to shed some light on? Or creative we should keep an eye our for?
Absolutely! This is a beautiful time for Transparent & Black. We're launching our wellness database and gearing up to announce more news soon!
