Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Perryman.
Hi Mariah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My story is full of twists and turns, but I got my start by ultimately deciding to pursue every passion of mine and not just one. Born and raised in St. Louis, I grew up as a quiet, only child who loved animals, reading books, drawing, and performing. After trying my hand at different sports, instruments, and even singing in the St. Louis Children’s Choir, I discovered my deep passion for dance.
I danced most of my childhood, even competitively, and was trained in various styles including hip hop, African, tap, ballet, and praise dance. I also enjoyed cheer and was part of the St. Louis Jr. Rams Cheerleading Squad for a few seasons. I graduated from Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School, where, yes you guessed it, I danced too! But I also developed my love for community service and curiosity for Historically Black Colleges and Universities while there.
Upon graduation, I was accepted into Howard University where I studied Communications and Philosophy and was fortunate enough to become an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, leading several community service programs and initiatives on campus and in the community. After my time in Washington, DC, I lived in Atlanta and Oklahoma City briefly before calling Jacksonville home. I am currently a Duval County Public Schools educator, foster parent, dog mom, licensed cosmetologist, and owner of Faven Essentials, a vegan-friendly haircare brand.
My work as a public school educator has been purposeful and enables me to impact the future leaders of Jacksonville. In this role, I have held innumerable leadership positions, dedicated countless hours to serving students and their families, and had the opportunity to expand the interests and capabilities of every child I interact with.
While I was honored to be recognized at my school as the runner-up for Teacher of the Year for this 21-22 academic school year, what truly keeps me motivated is my belief in the power of education and having positive role models in place to inspire the next generation.
Though it may sound like my life is full of moving parts, I have always enjoyed the thrill that comes with learning, experiencing, or succeeding at something new.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I honestly wouldn’t consider my journey to be rough or smooth. It’s just my unique journey, and I am grateful for every experience and person, whether positive or negative, that has played a role in my personal growth along the way.
Right now, my greatest challenge comes from teaching and operating a small business while navigating the pandemic. Therefore, my focus has been on staying committed, finding balance, resting, and having fun along the way.
Keeping the momentum up requires self-reflection, inspiration, and discipline, so I am always discovering creative ways to stay motivated amid pressure and fear of the unknown.
We’ve been impressed with Faven Essentials, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Faven Essentials was founded in November 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, however, hair care has always been a passion of mine. My mother had arthritis and carpal tunnel, so I learned to treatmentcare for my hair at the age of six. Since then, I have been fascinated with the limitless ways to style natural hair and how to maintain its integrity.
I am committed under any circumstance through my brand to helping women and children feel beautiful, confident, and empowered. Our mission is to provide sustainable, salon-quality hair care products, share hair care information and tips, and showcase the beauty and versatility of natural hair. Our vegan-friendly products are safe for all hair types, and children ages 2+.
We also pride ourselves on staying active in the community. Pretty Ponytails is one nonprofit organization we regularly partner with that provides hair care kits and services to at-risk youth and young girls in foster care. When we launched, Faven Essentials donated 100% of the profits from our luxury bonnet sales to the nonprofit organization.
In addition, we regularly contribute products to go inside the hair care kits. We have also raised money to fund breast cancer research, mammograms, and treatment, fed the homeless, and participated in a walk to support victims of domestic violence.
As our brand evolves, we will continue to offer healthy hair care options and information, and eventually establish natural hair salons and schools in Jacksonville, FL, across the country, and all over the globe. It is my hope that you will join us on this journey as we celebrate and inspire the beauty, power, confidence, and adventure that lives in us all.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something surprising that most people may not know about me is that I am an introvert, which is why I most enjoy managing Faven Essentials from behind the scenes.
I absolutely enjoy listening to our supporters, observing industry trends, developing new skills such as photography, and learning how to make connections in these new virtual spaces.
I’ve essentially turned introversion into my own business superpower!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.favenessentials.com
- Instagram: www.instragram.com/favenessentials
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/favenessentials
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMuzoFDRHxGVEkTvjbiL0UQ/featured
- Other: www.pinterest.com/favenessentials
