Rising Stars: Meet Lanexa Neal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lanexa Neal.

Hi Lanexa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Getting to know Lanexa Neal, “Goddess”. Everyone sees the Model, Barber, Loctician, licensed massage therapist, Energy worker, Role Model, Self Love Advocate, #TheNexxperience but how often do we take a second to see all that truly is within?

As a child, it was always affirmed that I was a strong black queen. I was reminded often that greatness existed inside of me that was destined for the world and that if there was anything I wanted, I could achieve it with perseverance and faith. They didn’t tell me all of the challenges and generational curses I’d have to overcome to achieve it.

My challenges started at the young age of seven when I experienced many of my first real losses physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

After experiencing a house fire and losing everything on the day after Christmas, at seven years old, I developed the innerstanding of valuing things in life that aren’t replaceable. For the amount of destruction that occurred, my family received the same amount of love and support, if not more! At that moment, I realized the dualities of life. I also learned what community was and why it mattered to be kind to people. You never know when you will need someone. Aside from naturally being an affectionate and kind person, I believe that experience shaped me to truly be the healer, leader, creator, and advocate I am today.

Growing up, I was very active in nature, sports, community service, hair, and art. Everything that I was actively involved in could be found in one of the four categories which established the foundation of who I am today. As a child, I enjoyed braiding barbies, mannequins, and my great-grandmother’s hair. As a young teen at the Boys and Girls Club, I’d find myself braiding the staff and volunteers’ hair, which helped my craft. Later I would receive employment as Junior Staff at that exact Boys & Girls Club, which too planted seeds for the fruits of my future.

I attended Open High School, a college-based high school in Richmond, VA that truly “opened” the door to self-love .-discovery, and freedom within and without. My high school wasn’t an ordinary high school, as we only had 200 students in our building and alternative access to the everyday resources of an average high school. ( No school buses, lockers, extracurricular activities on site.) Attending an alternative school shaped my mind, sense of direction, and creativity through different opportunities that were presented to me. I became a model, majorette in the band, and one of the first graduating therapeutic services students of Richmond Technical Center’s STEM academy, which kept my schedule busy outside of work. As a high school student, I developed a level of self-sufficiency that would later open the doors to my freedom.

After graduating high school, I enrolled at North Carolina Central University, where I later got accepted into the Athletic Training program. I was very active on campus serving as a member in different organizations, a modeling troupe as well as serving as Miss Sophomore of the University in 2014. With serving that role came a new level of discovery within myself which led me into a depression. The role itself didn’t make me depressed, but the lack of self-love and understanding of the weight of the roles I’d chosen to commit myself to did. After becoming aware of my cycles of internal destruction and how they affected my outside world, my shadow work healing journey began.

One day, I was at the cafe eating a salad and began to cry. I was so fed up with how I allowed myself to play small, how I wasn’t truly happy with what was consuming me and angry for not giving myself permission to be and show up for myself. I knew that things had to change. I vulnerably went to one of the best therapists on campus and it was her love and attention to my needs at that time that opened the doors to me confidently walking into and embracing my truth. She extended herself beyond her role on campus and created a meaningful relationship that gave me the reassurance that I needed to be who I was without condition. She also showed me, myself in her. She reminded me of the leader, advocate, and queen within that never left me.

At the end of my sophomore year, I returned home due to a lack of financial resources. which opened the door to exploring other passions I’d once considered before attending college. I went through my list and started with what I felt was the most challenging and would create the best lessons for me. Because of my lack of understanding of men and how to aid in their care and healing, I decided to enroll in barber school. In 2016, I graduated and obtained my barber license, and “Lanexa The Barber Goddess” was born. I spent about three years actively engaged in the industry, learning and building genuine relationships with clients and other tonsorial artists before experiencing a trauma that shifted my focus and awareness to deeper healing.

Through experiencing this particular trauma, I experienced many changes financially, mentally, physically, and spiritually that legit felt like death! This was another pivotal point for me because it opened the door to a level of reality I had not once faced head-on. Through this experience, I was able sent back to 7 years old when the lessons and reality were about the things that are not of this world. I was reminded of my values and the strength that exists within me to overcome adversity. While experiencing and overcoming that trauma, I found my voice.

I also found the inner child that had been scared and hiding in the corner with her eyes wide open and her ears shut. I was able to acknowledge things I had not once acknowledged. I was able to see how my daily habits shaped my reality. I was able to see where conditioning had taken over my ability to freely think and be. I was able to realize some of the patterns that had occurred in my life and the synchronicities. In shining light on the things that were hiding in the darkroom, I was able to heal and create space for others to access their own healing. I was able to see how others too may be hiding and afraid. I saw how conditioning affected others and how many people were silently fighting. In this realization came the creation of #TheNexxperience.

#TheNexxperience is a combination of all of my life experiences, skills, and talents coming together to create a safe space and access resources for healers and those healing. Through hair services, bodywork services, creative art, and wholistic healing services, I offer an opportunity to show up as you are and just be. I believe it is so important to have somewhere that makes you feel safe. When you feel safe, you give yourself permission to put the bags down and take some of the weight off of your shoulder. When you feel light, you think differently, feel different and see different. When you change your ways of thinking, you change your ways of living and being. That is what leads us to the ascension and evolution that we all deserve to access. If we desire. I Am here to plant the seeds of healing and help others fill their box so that they can cultivate the garden they desire.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
LOL, if you made it through the story, then you’d know many struggles come along the way. Especially now as I’ve added more intentionalism to what it is I want to cultivate. They say that most businesses usually fail within the first five years, so I am doing my best to rise above that statistic. I am currently wearing ALL of the hats (minus filing taxes, LOL) for my business, which although it may be easy for some; it’s not the easiest for me. I acknowledge and respect my obstacles for what they are and adjust accordingly. One thing I’ve realized is that you must keep going! When you sit around and just “wait” for the solution, you may be waiting forever. It’s okay to rest when you need to but the best way to face obstacles is head-on. One of my favorite poems is called don’t Quit by John Greenleaf Whittier. One of the last lines of the poem says “So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit, its when things seem worst that you must not quit.” And honestly that’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of the challenges faced. Anytime you’re trying to do something new, big, good, or different, you’re going to be met with challenges. Changing how you look at them can be a major key in how they affect you.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Goddess Lanexa. The Multipassionate Divine Creatrix. I am a brand ambassador and published model who takes an interest to print work in commercial, advertising, swimwear, and boudoir modeling. I am truly multi-faceted with range and can acclimate to just about any role with given instruction. I have been cast to model in a few music videos and have the pleasure of serving as a creative director and experienced curator to many photoshoot ideas and events. I have recently gotten into acting and will be working towards starring in plays, short films, and series.

I am also a wholistic health practitioner, offering yoni steam and bodyworker services to women (and men ;P) throughout the city and surrounding states. I am also a certified doula where I have had one beautiful birth experience so far that was life-changing for me. For the last four years, I’ve served in Richmond VA as a Master Barber and a natural hairstylist for over ten years in maintaining healthy locs. I also serve as a role model and leader to many people, younger and older due to my nature to nurture and live authentically and unapologetically. I am known for a little bit of everything because I have been so active and involved in the community and very intentional about establishing meaningful relationships outside of the community. That is where “Goddess” was derived. I am most proud of my ability to stay authentic and still be all that I am with all that I’ve gone through. No matter how raw I am, I am genuine and integral to myself. My ability to connect with others and to leave an impact that won’t be forgotten is what sets me apart from others. You will feel me. My energy is authentic, it is unique and healing. People will never forget how I make them feel whether positive or negative ( we need all experiences to grow), and I know that my love and effect on the people I come in contact with in the world will always be the seed planter to change and unconditional self-love. That’s a powerful thing.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t get so caught up in perfectionism that you forget to do the damn thing! Who said it had to be perfect? What exactly is perfect again???! Oh, I’ll wait…

I don’t care if you only have 30% complete, someone is waiting for that 30%.

I don’t care if you’re not THE BEST right now, someone needs to see that!

Don’t be afraid to share your progress, it gives you a beautiful way to track your growth.

Don’t beat yourself up about any of it, it’s a part of the process, and trusting the process is also embracing it.

Just do it, baybeee.

Please. Do it. DO IT FOR YOU. If no one else believes in you, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOU. The world is forever responding to our internal beliefs and projects them outwardly. Before you try to make sure anyone else believes in you, make sure you believe in yourself so that you won’t have to be like me. Having everyone believe in me, expect me! Everyone was waiting for me, hell, I was too! Then I realized no one was coming to save me, it was me I’d been looking for. The God(dess) within then showed up and now we are starting to show out.

Pricing:

• Loc Services Start @ $70 (Travel Services)
• Bodywork Services start @ $140 (Travel Services)
• Yoni Steam start $65.55 (Travel Services)

Contact Info:

• Email: goddesslanexa@gmail.com
• Website: http://thenexxperience.life/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanexadenise
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NexxaDenise3
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/lanexathebarbergoddess/

Image Credits
Photo CC: Sean King Slik Billion