When Mansa Fashion. first started, the idea was to create a place that was positive and focused on the beautiful things in the world. After all, there was so much hurt and pain out there already...I needed a space that prioritized positivity. Twelve years later and Mansa Fashion. is still largely dedicated to love and light. I often talk about makeup, fashion, movies, music, holidays, accessories, and anything else that inspires me. However, I recognize now that I can't hide from the realities of the world that we live in. There are times when the not-so-beautiful aspects of life peek through. That is why I have added a list of organizations that offer support and resources on the sidebar (or you can click here) and that is why I am trying to be a little more vulnerable in my blog posts. Mansa Fashion. has long been my safe space and a constant in my life. I want it to continue to be those things, while still acknowledging important societal issues. I care deeply about learning more, being an ally, and standing for what is right. You may have noticed a shift in some of my posts already and that might happen more as time passes. One example? Makeup is one of the ways that I express my creativity, but the makeup world is not always beautiful. In future, I would love to write about brands that I no longer recommend that I might have in the past. (Like Milani Cosmetics. I strongly suggest you avoid supporting such an unethical company. But more on that later.) 

Certain things make me proud. One example? Mansa Fashion. I have officially been running this beauty blog for eleven years. Though it seems impossible that so much time has passed since that very first blog post was published, it has been more than a decade. Time really flies! This blog has long been my creative outlet and the place online where I feel safe. It has been so meaningful to write about the things that I love and to connect with others. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you to everyone who has visited this page, read my posts, and left a comment. I hope you know how grateful I am for all of the support. It is never something that goes unappreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

July 10th, 2011 was a milestone moment in my life. Only I didn't know it at the time. I had graduated from university and most of my days were spent working at a fast-food job. Though I was applying for an endless amount of freelance writing positions, no one would hire me without a published body of work. So...I started Mansa Fashion. It was a way to show potential employers what I could do, but it was also a place for me to channel my creative energy. The decision to start a beauty-focused blog was a good one: it completely changed my life for the better. Today is the ten year anniversary of Mansa Fashion. and this post is a celebration of everything that has happened here over the last decade.