Meet Jacqueline Jones-Triche, PhD, MBA of DJS Beauty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Jones-Triche, PhD, MBA

Hi Jacqueline, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the CEO and founder of DJS Beauty, affectionately known as, DrJaySlays.  In addition to being a CEO, I am a clinically-focused Scientist and Professor that loves makeup. Aside from “slaying” in the lab, fighting cancer and lecturing in the classroom, I love motivating and uplifting others, especially women. I enjoy helping them discover their beauty and gold within, as well as appreciate their ability to enhance it. I am passionate about connecting with consumers (women and men) from around the world, so I use social media to show the quality and use of the products weekly through lives.

To briefly elaborate on my profession, I am a Tenured Associate Professor in the areas of genetics and biochemistry. I also run a research lab that focuses on prostate cancer, breast cancer and bone metastasis, and the overlying factors that contribute to bone remodeling, regeneration and wound healing in promoting ectopic tumor growth in the bone. I am a proud HBCU graduate, Alabama State University and Tuskegee University. I also trained/went to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Michigan (Go Blue!).

Outside of my professional career, I am a multi-entrepreneur. Interestingly, I’ve always been an entrepreneur, more specifically, since the age of 10. As a child growing up in New England one of the best times were snow days. My brother and I would make money shoveling snow. I would also walk a mile and a half to the local grocery store to bag groceries at 10. In high school, I was a Nail Technician.  Strong work ethics and entrepreneurship has always been a part of my journey. I didn’t understand the why then, but I realized that everything I went through has helped to prepare me for today. Something I was passionate about also presented an entrepreneurial opportunity for me in the beauty and cosmetic industry. It was an opportunity for me to utilize my expertise and intellect in creating and developing my own brand in that industry. My journey has taught me that sometimes in life the puzzle pieces may be scattered and the overall picture may not be readily apparent, but as we mature and progress, we gain the insight on how to connect each piece together. Trust the process called life, as long as you’re walking in purpose, they’ll come together to make something beautiful. So, while I am a scientist and tenured Professor, I am also a woman with a cosmetic line. That may seem fragmented, but my experiences are all a part of the puzzle pieces of my life and the picture is coming together beautifully.

I am most proud that despite my many degrees, accomplishments, and entrepreneurial endeavors, I have created a loving home for my children and husband. It is filled with God, love, truth, encouragement, and laughter. I have 3 children, Madison, Myles, and Makenna, whom I affectionately refer to as my M&M’s, and my King, an Atlanta native, Yusef. We have experienced a lot of transitions because of our careers, but we have always made each other and our children a priority. I take pride in knowing that I played a part in helping create and cultivate 3 amazing human beings with my college sweetheart. We are teaching our children to love God and others, to be entrepreneurs and professionals, and to make a positive imprint on this earth. What sets me apart is that in these diverse arenas that I find myself in, I have always been true to myself. Whether in Academia, a board room in Manhattan, a clinic/research lab, or social media, I am always Jackie. A strong black woman, raised in a low-income single-family home, who should be a statistic, but thanks to God, I defied all odds. Because of my love for God, myself, and my passion for the underserved, I wear the garment that reminds me of my purpose and my past so that I never forget where I came from. I also remind myself daily that someone has to be light and love in a time where we use anything to hate others. I choose to find a reason to love everyone no matter the race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic status.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I had to learn to balance my professional career, which I invested years of my life in college to, with a new start up business that I was not sure would be successful. This would mean, I would work a complete day, travel when needed and have late nights to get my business off the ground all while being a mom and wife. There were many sleepless nights. Sometimes I felt fragmented because I was separating my professional side from my business and social media presence. But I have learned that they are all facets of who I am and should be symbiotic. I had to learn how to promote and protect my brand and peace, because several products and ideas were stolen/plagiarized from my brand. As a result, I had to keep moving and encourage myself because my professional career taught me that while an idea can be stolen; my intellect, authenticity, and creativity can’t. The greater the success, the greater the struggle and fight. Know which battles to fight. 

We’ve been impressed with DJS Beauty, 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?
My brand, DJS Beauty, started with a brush, the infamous “Big Bertha” ™. I had a great love for makeup tools and there was a wide-open area for independent brands. There were very few brands focusing on creating custom brushes and cosmetic tools. In addition to custom makeup tools, I also began to develop my own formulas for other makeup products such as highlighters, blush, and our newly released highly pigmented custom formulated eyeshadow and contour palettes. We are adding products to our brand consistently and are really focused on engaging the entire family with our recent line, the Mortar & Pestle Collection, geared towards everything men, specifically our custom formulated beard products. 

DJS Beauty is a family-based consumer focused company in the USA. Created with consumers in mind, we pride ourselves in having superior customer service and high-quality beauty and apparel products that are affordable. We are constantly adding new products to make the experience with us memorable and we are animal cruelty-free. If anyone would like to shop with us and try out our amazing products, they can use the code – voyage to save 15% off.  Big Bertha™, Thee Face brush, the Baby Buffer (BUB01) brush, and our Pro-Concealer brush set are staples and are a must for all makeup lovers. But don’t limit yourself. Our palettes, lip and brow products are amazing too. In fact, try everything! (chuckles). 

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
This pandemic has reminded me to always be prepared for anything financially and professionally. As a business owner, I rely on international export and import. It was imperative that I ordered products in bulk so that the severe delays did not significantly impair my ability to conduct business. I have also learned that having multiple streams of income is essential, especially in times like the pandemic when many people were solely dependent on one income to survive. One advantage for my brand is that we make a portion of our products in the US and they are not dependent on import, so this was helpful in our ability to have products in stock. I also learned that in my community, I am as strong as the weakest person, so it is essential that I give back and provide assistance to others.

Contact Info:

• Email: sales@djsbeauty.co
• Phone: 334-593-7747 or 334-245-4203
• Website: www.djsbeauty.co
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/drjayslays & www.instagram.com/djsbeautyco
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/drjayslays & www.facebook.com/djsbeautyco

Image Credits:
Photography: Michael Moorer
Makeup: The Monte Method
Influencers/Makeup Artist- Britney Knight, Cheyonna Broomfield, Alana Franklin, Cedreka Johnson, Essence Monet.