Marissa Owner of

Royal Bleau Boutique

of Jackson Expose’ Magazine

Entrepreneur Extraordinaire

Marissa Simms

Novwmber 2012

Owner of

Royal Bleau

Boutique

4

Laces By Lexi Page 5

Marissa Simms (Cover) Page 10

“Mimi” Harris Page 12

Tyler’s Gift Shop Page 14

The Houston’s Reality Show Page 15

More Pics of Marissa Page 16

ON THE COVER (Page 10)

Marissa Simms Entrepreneur Owner of: Royal Bleau Boutique

17

CONTENTS

19

http://www.exposemagazineofjackson.com

Get a Free Subscription!

14 16

It’s Free!

Genesis Variety Store

Home Accessories

Furniture

339 Meadowbrook Road

Jackson, Mississippi 39206

601-362-1133

P. 6

Location: 111 Colony Crossing Way, Suite 270 Madison, MS in the Colony Crossing Shopping Center

adjacent to Bonefish Grill, Papitos, and Home Depot.

Lingerie: Catering to all women and young ladies ranging in sizes from small to adult plus. Featuring

a special line of sleepwear designed to help control perspiration caused by hot flashes.

Community Awareness: Official drop off site for the American Cancer Society’s Bras for Breast Can-

cer. Please donate slightly used and clean bras starting Oct. 1st and register for a chance to win a

$100.00 gift certificate at drawing on Oct. 12th

Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday from 10am - 7pm.

Contact: Shannon C. Brown, owner, at 601-826-8420 or 601-605-8200 FaceBook:// Laces by Lexi

lacesbylexi@gmail.com.

Laces by Lexi….where elegance meets sophistication

FREE Quotes on Liability Insurance, Life Insurance,

Business Insurance and Home Insurance

Bell’s Choir Robes and Worship Aids

3200 Medgar Evers Blvd. 601-982-7112

Chiropractor

601-321-9564 One University Place Suite 8

Marissa was raised in the heart of Jackson, MS, by her parents Kermit and Camille Stutts Simms. She graduated from Calla-way High School, class of 2007, where she was extremely active in various organiza-tions and followed her mom’s footsteps by attending Jackson State University. During Marissa’s adolescence, she always had a personality larger than life, with ambitious dreams. She participated in everything, competed in numerous pag-eants, and succeeded in almost anything she attempted. Throughout her matriculation at JSU, she was crowned, Miss Freshman, Miss Sophomore, Miss Phi Beta Sigma, and a fi-nalist for Miss Jackson State University. When she wasn’t wearing a crown, she participated in numerous organizations such as Insatiable Modeling Squad, held the office of Community Director for the NAACP, JSU22 Community Focus On air Correspondent, and was initiated into the Delta Pi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Marissa was even honored to be on the cover of The Jacksonian Fall 2010. One of her most notable achievements was attaining an Internship at B.E.T. (Black Entertainment Television) Headquarters in

Washington, DC. During her time at BET she was selected as the Student Host of the Black College Tour, worked the BET Awards ’10, and shadowed at 106 & Park in New York City. She was so inspired by BET she even en-tered “The Search” to become the New Fe-male Personality for 106 & Park.

Being so involved molded Marissa to become a well-rounded, highly skilled, poten-tial entrepreneur. She acted on her extensive skills and challenged herself to become a business woman. With a love for fashion and determination to succeed, she was granted the opportunity to open her own boutique adjacent to JSU’s campus, Royal Bleau Bou-tique. Jackson State thought so highly of Marissa, they used her for The Jacksonians Fall 2010 Cover. As a senior Mass Communications stu-dent and entering the world of business, it was very challenging. Balancing school and a new start up was very time consuming, but with perseverance she was able to graduate from JSU April 2012. Marissa’s future aspiration is to become a mogul and to expand Royal Bleau Bou-tique’s platform on other college campuses. Marissa Simms’ advice to anyone who is as-piring to become an entrepreneur, is to find your passion, and follow it wholeheartedly; never do anything for the “money”, that will come.

Owner Of Marissa Simms

Royal Bleau

Bobbie PinzBobbie PinzBobbie Pinz

A Story About

Never Giving Up

on Your Dreams!

Cheryl Chandler-Harris, also known as “Mimi”,

is a West Point, MS native who resides in Jack-

son along with her husband and 2 children. Mi-

mi is an example of someone who started a busi-

ness while she is still working a full time job.

She currently works for Nissan Supplier in Can-

ton, MS.

Her goal of one day owning her own business

started about 10 years ago. She always had a

passion to do hair and she simply LOVES it!

Achieving her dream to become a salon owner

wasn't easy though. There were a lot of ups and

plenty of downs. It all began when she moved to

Jackson in 2004 in search for a Cosmetology

school that she could attend while working full

time. She looked around and finally decided on

the Career Development Center in Jackson

She attended every single class. She was eager

to learn the basics and necessities to complete

the course and to get her license.

After getting her license, Mimi was fortunate to

work with one of her cosmetology teachers,

Mrs. Raynette Nichols, who gave Mimi the op-

portunity to work in her shop.

After about 2 weeks, Mimi was handling the

“shop thing” like a pro. But she kept thinking

about her dream to own her very own salon.

So she started gathering ideas, adding up cost,

saving her pennies and she finally decided it

was time to venture out and do it on her own.

She sought the advice of family and friends

about whether they thought it was a good idea.

Of course everyone’s answer was NO or “just

wait a little longer”.

The only question Mimi had

for herself was “can I do this

AND work a full time job

too?” (I did it at Mrs. Nichols’

shop, surely I can do it at my own

shop.)

That dream finally became a

reality. Mimi found a build-

ing. But her joy quickly

turned into sadness when she

walked inside. She wanted to

cry.

Part of her wanted to

cry because she just

didn’t know if she

could fix the aban-

doned, cold, dark

space enough to look

like a salon. And part

of her wanted to cry

because her dream had

finally come true. Ei-

ther way, she was getting the

keys to her OWN future salon.

So after getting the keys, she

and her husband mapped out

a plan and put it into place.

They did the painting, the car-

pet, tile, installation of the

shampoo bowl, remodeled the

restroom, and whatever had to

be done, they did it together.

Mimi feels blessed to have had

him by her side.

“With the good help of Uncle

Sam, I was able to get all of the

equipment I needed, the salon

products, everything! My

dream was finally beginning

to see the light!”

As different people came by

to take a peek, she could see it

in their faces. "What in the

world is this?" "Do you really

think this was a good

idea?" "Do you think you

could find another place be-

fore you fix this one up?"

Mimi realized that the more

money she put into the re-

pairs, the more negative com-

ments she received. But that

was okay. Their comments

motivated her even harder to

keep going and to keep striv-

ing for what she want-

ed. Then one day when she

was there, she decided to take

a look around at what else

was needed to meet her ex-

pectations. “I went into the

restroom to flush the toilet and it

was backed up and had not been

flushed in quite some time”.

Water just ran every-

where. All over her new

floor, her new carpet, every-

where! “On top of that, as I

ran to get the mop, there was a

huge lizard-looking-thing just

staring at me. Yes, sitting on

the mop! I am afraid of butter-

flies, frogs, spiders, every-

thing. But to see a lizard on the

mop that I needed to use, to

clean up a floor full of

water that was still get-

ting wet from a toilet

that wouldn't stop

overflowing was the

worse day of my future

salon-owning ca-

reer! All I could do was

sit there and cry. I just

said forget this and I

almost decided to give

up. My dream was be-

coming a nightmare be-

cause of a backed-up toilet and a

lizard.”

To make a long story short,

Mimi refused to let that inci-

dent keep her down. She

cleaned up the mess, found

more pieces of carpet and tile

and she pushed herself to

move on.

Then it came to the point to

give her shop a name, she

came up with the name Bobbi

Pinzs. “I have had sooo many

compliments on the name of the

salon. Each time, I just blush with

excitement. “

The next time you are in the Jackson

Medical Mall, stop by to see Mrs. Tyler.

She has the type of warm personality that makes her customers feel joyful to buy

from her wide variety of gifts.

Mrs. Tyler is most proud of being an AVON representative. Her great journey began in May of 2006. Since then she has received several awards and recogni-tion. “I excel to a higher level in leadership. I also recruit people to own their own busi-ness by just selling AVON.”

She started out by having a tent and table on every corner. Mrs. Tyler says: “If you want to succeed in life you have to work hard at it... I love to encourage peo-ple because I know I wanted to give up many times but with God's guidance I made it. Don’t give up on your dreams because you can turn them into a reality.” Her present location inside the Jackson Medical Mall gives her an opportunity to meet, greet and introduce Avon products to customers.

“We are having a business opportunity

Event In the Community Meeting Room

on Nov. 26, 9-4 & Dec.3rd 9-2p.m. Huge

AVON Sale. Buy 1 get 1 Free.“

Get geared up for Football Playoffs!

Any Questions Call Mrs. Tyler at 601-405-

7812. Don't Miss out on the early Xmas

Specials. Deo 2 for $1,

Mr. Willie Tyler is the Owner

of Tyler's Gift Shop & More.

TYLER’S GIFT SHOP Located In The Jackson Medical Mall

Whitney Houston’s Family Reveals Struggles in Reality Show

Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. on the Lifetime Cable Channel

The Scoop: The young man pictured above, Nick Gordon, 23, was a teenager when Whitney

Houston took him into their home to live with her family. Now, Bobbie Khristina, 19, says

that at one time he was her best friend but now she is in love with him. The two are engaged

to be married.

Above: from left to right:

Bobbie Kristina, Nick Gordon, Pat Houston, Gary Houston, Cissy Houston, and Michael Hou-

ston.

Bobbie Kristina and Fiancé Nick Gordon

NEW PERSPECTIVE

New Perspective introduces the testimony section of my first work, Calendars of Creation.

P. 10

Marissa Simms