Today, we’d like to introduce you to Chantrece McKnight.
Hi Chantrece, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a wife and mother first, and then everything else comes after. I have been a military spouse for going on sixteen years, a SAHM for going on 14 years, and a Fashion Entrepreneur for six years, and I am a woman of many gifts and talents. I do hair, cooking is one of my specialties, interior design is a specialty, and I am a stylist, which I will be doing more of this upcoming year.
I am from Marrero, Louisiana, and that’s one thing that I will never forget, which is where I came from. My mom did hair, day and night in our living room to provide for my sister and I. That’s where my hustle and entrepreneurship came from. It’s just in my blood. I always knew I wanted to do something in fashion, the way I dressed and did my hair in school I knew it was my calling.
So a few years after I had my children and shortly after finding out I had Thyroid cancer, thank you, God, I’m cancer-free, healed, and healthy. I decided to follow my dreams and start my business, Forever Blessed Boutique.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a self-taught Entrepreneur, I learned everything from merchandising to content creation without mentorship. It’s hard not having a team behind you to help you. I take my own photos, pack and ship orders, and do everything behind the scenes on my own.
It’s a struggle at times with me being a mom and my husband deploying for months on top of everything else I have to do. Tough situations come and go, but giving up is never an option because I trust God. I pray and see what I can change and what I can do to make my business better. I’m determined to figure it out, but I’m point-blank, period.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a wife and mother first, and everything else comes after. Being a military wife is rewarding and challenging at the same time. All the different places we get to travel to and live are awesome, but again, with my husband having to deploy time and time again, it’s challenging.
I miss him so much when he is away because my husband is my backbone; he helps, supports, and lifts me in every way. But the most exciting thing about being an entrepreneur is getting my business out there to the world. Most people may think I get much of my business solely off social media, but that is farthest from the truth.
Social media is one of many great sources for getting your business out there to the world. But for me, I get most of my exposure and business from just being out day to day wearing my pieces, being myself and doing things I love to do, working out, going out to eat, and networking; I make sure I wear one of my pieces. I always carry my business cards, so even when I’m not working, I’m working… I am my brand!!! This upcoming year, 2024, will be bigger and better than ever.
Forever Blessed Boutique is an online fashion boutique. Our clothing gives you confidence. My brand has no discrimination for whoever loves to stand out from the crowd. Our motto is to look good and stylish without breaking the bank. I’m all about self-love, and looking good makes you feel good, not only on the outside but also on the inside. We show you all the latest styles at an affordable price.
What sets me apart from others is my authenticity. Because there is nothing more liberating than being unapologetically you, I accept all that I am and live my best life. I don’t try to be someone I’m not, and when it gets challenging and uncomfortable, I stay true to myself and what I believe in.
One thing about me I always concentrate on how far I came than how far I have to go. It’s about being real and yourself, not perfect, because the ONLY perfect person in this world is GOD.
What makes you happy?
Several things make me happy, such as staying fit and healthy, spending time with family, traveling, trying different foods, and just being in God’s creation. But for real, me being happy is being in control of my happiness.
I realized that my happiness is not always dependent on external things but a choice I make in every moment. I practice being happy every day. It doesn’t just happen. Being grateful and thankful even when things are not going my way, I can still choose to be a happy, peaceful person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ForeverBlessedTrece
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreverblessedtrece/
- Facebook: @ChantreceMcknight
