Meet Erika Glass of Erika Leah Boutique in Decatur

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Glass.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m from Decatur, Georgia. I’m a Blogger, Boutique owner, Journalist, and Creative at heart. As a kid, I didn’t have many outlets to communicate so writing in my journal and reading on the bus were always my outlets to express myself. That grew into a passion throughout my years of school. In high school, I joined the yearbook staff and I knew I had a niche in the creative field. I’ve always had this BIG dream of becoming an Editor in chief of a magazine of my own one day. So, once I left high school I knew I wanted more. I was accepted into a couple of schools out of state one of which was Bethune-Cookman University in Florida. However, my parents and I didn’t have enough to cover the out of pocket cost, so I ended up studying Journalism at Georgia Perimeter College and that eventually led me to Georgia State University which led me to obtain both my A.A and B.A in Journalism which I completed in Fall 2016 and Spring 2019.

While I was in my A.A program my professor at the time encouraged me to really put my skills to the test and show people my love for writing I eventually joined the local newspaper on campus which was The Collegian at the time. I wrote a few articles and then my good friend Ben told me, I should start hosting events and he led me to another connection which is now a good friend of mines named Josh (currently helping me build my brand) and I started helping him host red carpet events on urban culture and entertainment in the Metro Atlanta area.

Somehow, as life went on we all went our separate ways and I went on to finish my B.A in Journalism which I started working at my school’s news station GSTV – Panther Report and I started building package stories on local news coverage in Atlanta. I had already been suited for events and so there I sharpened my editing skills. I then met another professor which encouraged me to get more in-depth with my reporting skills and start storytelling. I stopped looking for local stories in front of the camera and I got more invested in people telling me their personal stories. Which Ied me to doing more feature stories. While I was in my B.A program I also minored in Entrepreneurship which I started taking start-up accelerator classes which helped me learn how to license myself, build a business plan and start a strong team. That’s what really taught me how to explore being an entrepreneur.

However, I wasn’t at all fulfilled with the status quo of being tied down to a job… I knew it was something tugging at my spirit that I wanted to be more creative and working full-time as a Pharmacy manager wasn’t going to cut it. That wasn’t at all what God called me to do. Like they say God must make you uncomfortable otherwise you would never move. That’s EXACTLY what he did. So, I lost my job close to my graduation and I was taking care of both my parents at the time and I was distraught. My mom had suffered an aneurysm and a stroke and all I thought was what am I going to do now. I have nothing. I was losing everything including my mind left and right and still showing up for life (no choice right) But I knew my faith was much bigger than my circumstance so, I called my cousin immediately and told her my situation. I wasn’t expecting her to NOT sympathize with me. She told me “nobody is going to feel sorry for you, take what you have left and WIN with it.” At the time my mom had just come from being in the hospital for almost six months to a year and she’s literally sitting here telling me this. Once, I stopped messaging her back I shed a tear or two and I got back up. She was right. So, I started within doing the self-work to change my life and my situation.

I came up with the idea of starting a clothing line. I had pondered on this idea for years I think it dated back in my Journal to 2012. I was going to start a blog first. However, I could never think of a name. Until one day, I realized that I am my brand, so I called it Erika Leah LLC. I planned to launch it summertime, but I wanted to take a break from being in school for six years. I didn’t feel qualified to call myself an entrepreneur just yet or self-proclaimed Journalist which everyone can be. I introduced my brand to my social media but I’m still getting my brand where I want it to be. I like to have knowledge and skill and because today there is no faking it until you make it. People want to see what you have to prove so I’m never not working. If I’m not working on my brand, I’m working on my career or being an ear telling someone’s story. Right now, I’m an assistant editor at IBNX Radio and I’m gaining more momentum to continue to influence, motivate and inspire through my clothing line, blog and storytelling. You can think of me as a free-spirited creative.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Most definitely NOT, there have been many obstacles on my journey. I almost lost my mother to an aneurysm and anybody that knows me knows that me and my mother’s relationship has always been up and down, but we’ve always have been stuck together like glue. I remember praying every day in the hospital that she would make it through and come out stronger. I would go to work and get off at midnight and sleep in a chair next to her at the hospital then rush to my morning class all while not wanting to leave her side. I remember the nurses telling me and my Dad that it was okay for us to take a break and go home for a night. But through that experience, it humbled my life completely.

I mean where do I start I lost not one but two jobs, had my car repossessed, failed a couple of courses and so many personal and financial setbacks that nobody could see. I say all this because I was once ashamed by everything I was going through but I’m human, and life happens to the best of us. If I can be open and honest in my struggles that I have overcome nobody can use that against me. Most importantly I say this to motivate people to keep going. I got all those things back, but I took the lessons from it and it has made me who I am today. My mom overcame her battles and she’s back home healthy and back to her regular self still recovering.

Although people looking in always say that they’re inspired by me because I’m relentless. I too have suffered from insecurities of not coming from a perfect family, a great background and not having things handed to me instantly. Although I’m proud to say that all my success thus far has come from my hard work and ability to keep going despite everything else. I mostly just want my life and craft to be an inspiration.

Please tell us about Erika Leah Boutique.
My Business is Erika Leah LLC it’s named after me. I branded it under myself because I have many layers and they’re always unfolding with every new level of life I find myself on. Erika Leah is a Blog and Boutique that covers storytelling, fashion news, inspiration, and clothing. I feel all these parts are my real life and I’m just living vicariously through myself and my own journey. I want to motivate women that they don’t have to do a lot to be themselves. They can be simple and still be enough. So, ill give them the whole embodiment of my brand through my stories, inspirational quotes and feeling more confident and bolder in my clothing. It’s going to be a unique experience. Wow. I get excited just thinking about the real launch which is to be announced soon.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
God is my number one supporter because I’m simply just a servant and a vessel. Also, my parents because they are always there no matter what. My mom deserves a lot of credit because I’m strong because of her. Although I think her strength is unmatched she shows me how to be an optimist daily and to always be true to myself. My cousin has also always been my supporter from showing me new things, buying me books, being more than a friend and closer than a sister although we are years apart and we don’t talk every day her hustle and go-getter spirit always amazes me to be more and do more.

My boyfriend has been my #1 teammate from listening to all my crazy ideas, dramatic meltdowns and inspiring me to be more positive and compassionate daily. I thank all the people I have met thus far on my journey from professors, people that I interview and talk with on a daily from all different walks of life, experiences that shaped me and there is one person I don’t give enough credit to and that is myself. Yes, I think I deserve all the credit for doing the self-work and personal development and pushing myself through everything that has brought me to this moment because I am truly strong, creative, resilient and enough. I’ve been counted out more times than I can count is a true underdog turned living proof that all things are possible through hard work, dedication, and faith.

Pricing:

• Sponsored Post on Blog – $75 and up depending on word requirement
• Ads – $80

Contact Info:

• Website: www.erikaleah.com
• Email: info@erikaleah.com
• Instagram: shoperikaleah
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoperikaleah/
• Other: Personal IG: _queenerika

Image Credit:
Mike A. Atlanta Based Photographer, Instagram: mikonic_

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