The Vision

The vision for Metanoia Melanin began brewing in the summer of 2013 when I lived in my studio apartment in Jamaica Queens, New York. It was at the time when I made the decision to nurture my natural hair – no longer using chemical relaxers that contain harsh, toxic ingredients that are often found in commercial brand products. I remember spending hours searching the internet, including watching countless YouTube videos about how to make my own hair care essentials at home. The more information I found, the more my interest expanded and eventually led me to seek out how to make my own skincare treatments as well. I became deeply passionate about creating my own skin and hair care concoctions in my kitchen. Beyond the concoctions, though, I wanted to know how to recognize ingredients that could potentially cause harm to my health with prolonged periods of exposure. Yet, the more I researched the more I became overwhelmed. I felt like I needed to understand how the layers of the skin worked to better understand what the skin needs, especially when treating various skin and scalp conditions.

Subsequently, I began studying at Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, in Manhattan, New York to become a licensed Esthetician. While studying esthetics, I also worked full-time with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), part-time at Madison Square Garden, and studied online for my master’s degree in Criminal Justice/Public Administration. After successfully completing 600 hours of study over the course of 10 months, passing the New York State Board Written & Practical exams, I became licensed in February of 2015. However, after I obtained my license, I put my passion on hold to pursue my dream career with the FBI – to become an FBI Special Agent. So, I began preparing mentally and training physically to accomplish my dream. In 2017, I became an FBI Special Agent and investigated international narcotics trafficking and violent crime. 

After my son was born in 2018 my passion reignited and my desire to create grew more powerful but, somehow, I was convinced that I did not have the time to commit, especially while working on a very active squad. It was during 2020 when the world shutdown that I made the commitment to build the foundation for my vision, Metanoia Melanin, which officially launched February 21, 2021. Metanoia means, "the journey of changing one's mind, heart, self, or way of life".

I have a heart to serve underserved communities around the world and to encourage communities to take a more holistic approach to their lifestyle – a lifestyle that aims to balance physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. In the first two years I’ve grown my community on Tiktok to over 50k and over 60k on Instagram. I am motivated by the feedback I receive from my community on how my holistic products and daily wellness tips are changing their lives. 

I resigned from the FBI on February 28, 2023, to fully walk in my purpose.