[Video] “Fix Your Life!” Iyanla Vanzant Empowers Women At Beauties With Brains Event

Raleigh, NC – “From Trials To Triumph” was the theme of the Annual Beauties With Brains Empowerment Event held on Saturday, October 19th at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley. In its 3rd year, accomplished author, lawyer, life coach, and television personality Iyanla Vanzant delivered a powerful message as the keynote speaker. In addition to Vanzant, other speakers included Aliyah Dukes, Lashawn Thompson – First Lady of World Overcomers Christian Church in Durham & Raleigh, Eva Perry, and Colandra McDowell.  

Beauties With Brains (BWB) is a platform created to allow individuals to share how they turned their pain into power, test into testimony and trials into triumph. The goal is to remind individuals that everyone has a story, and everyone has a unique journey.

BWB Founder and event organizer Indira Felder says she decided to create Beauties With Brains although initially being apprehensive about fulfilling her own life’s purpose of helping others. The obvious need for an organization such as Beauties With Brains overtook Indira’s fears. Knowing that if it did not scare her it was her calling, Felder persevered. Now, more than ever, Felder is determined to push individuals, especially Black women, to utilize their talents and gifts to become and remain successful.

“Every year we grow and grow and add something we didn’t do before,” says Felder. “The first year was 175 people, then to 200-250 attendees in 2018. This year we reached 700 attendees.” She also states that reaching millennials is important. “Stop believing the hype on Instagram. We all go through things and should not get caught up in the social media hype.”

Keynote speaker Iyanla Vanzant, the host of “Iyanla: Fix My Life” on the OWN Network, delivered a powerful message about self-love and care. Using the theme, ‘Mirror, Mirror,’ Vanzant expressed how she faced difficulties with her colon in 2017 and having to wear a colostomy bag. “We hold in so many things that we become accustomed to the taste”, says Vanzant. The message touched women of all ages to express that “if you’re covering up your pain with makeup, wigs, and weaves, you have to take a moment to take all of that stuff away and look in the mirror to see who you really are.” 

During an interview after her keynote speech, Vanzant talked about partnerships and being able to communicate “requests” from our partners. “In all partnerships, we are so ready to complain and accuse. I want you millennial moms to learn to make specific requests,” says Vanzant. She also discussed the importance of lifting each other up. 

World Overcomers Christian Church (WOCC) First Lady LaShawn Thompson leads the Fearless & Free Women’s Ministry at WOCC with locations in Durham and Raleigh, as well as the Fearless and Free Women’s Conference movement. Thompson emphasized the impact of fear and how it can overcome your life if you don’t take charge. Using the theme ‘She Overcomes,’ Thompson states “by the time I was in 6th grade, I felt old. Fear is a horrible, terrible master.” She emphasized how important it is ‘to follow your desires, take those chances, and do what you are destined to do.”

Aliyah Dukes, a graduate of North Carolina Central University, was another featured speaker. She spoke about her struggles with self-confidence in her growing years. The message was titled ‘Delayed But Never Denied.’ She became a real estate agent and paid homage to her parents, especially her father, for being able to put her in a position to be successful when she doubted herself.

This event was decorated by Lavish Impressions Events owned by Miyoshi Polk and over 40 vendors filled the halls displaying clothing, food, and art. Also featured was Rell The Artist from Raleigh, who has been painting and drawing for 10 years. “I’ve had in my mind to be the best artist God wanted me to be,” says Rell. He was inspired to do a live portrait of Vanzant because of her spirit and beauty. “Everything turned out amazing. I met a lot of amazing people and Vanzant was in awe when I presented the portrait to her at the end of the event.”

Beauties with Brains will launch their hair products and an E-book during the next year. Felder says she “will begin planning for the 2020 event immediately as I spend the entire year working on this!”

For more information, visit http://beautieswithbrains.com/

Highlights (photos: Gillian Shaw):