Meet Tonya Chambers of South Fulton, Georgia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonya Chambers.

Hi Tonya, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Tonya Chambers, the creator of Fly Girl Classic, and honestly my story started long before I ever sold a piece of clothing.

I grew up around women who were intentional. My grandmother Agnes was a hats-and-gloves kind of woman. She wore aprons, kept a garden, hosted tea parties with me, and believed in taking care with how you presented yourself and your home. We used to sew quilts together by hand using pieces of old clothing, cutting little squares and turning them into something beautiful and meaningful. I think that’s where my love for style and storytelling really began.

Then there was my stepmother, Beatrice, who introduced me to thrifting long before it became trendy. Back then people would judge you for shopping thrift stores, but she had an eye. She knew how to mix thrifted finds, flea market pieces, and affordable décor in a way that looked stylish and intentional. She taught me that you don’t need the most expensive things to create beauty, you just need creativity and confidence. She used to try sneaking out early Saturday mornings to thrift alone, but I’d already be dressed and waiting to go with her.

Those two women shaped so much of how I see style today.

Fly Girl Classic started from my love of putting looks together and expressing personality through fashion, but it also came from me deciding to finally follow through on something I kept talking myself out of. People had been encouraging me for years because of the way I styled myself and found unique pieces, and eventually I decided to stop overthinking and just start.

I’m still building the brand while working and navigating real life, so this isn’t one of those overnight success stories. It’s a story about creativity, growth, learning as I go, and staying committed to something that feels true to me.

My style is feminine, expressive, and a little unexpected. I’m a gown with combat boots or cowboy boots just because I want to kind of woman. I love ruffles, structure, statement pieces, elegance, and contrast. I like things that feel intentional but still personal.

To me, Fly Girl Classic feels like becoming the woman I always saw for myself—creative, stylish, feminine, and unafraid to stand out. It’s also me finally following through on a dream I almost kept talking myself out of.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, the road itself has been fairly smooth. The hardest part hasn’t really been the business—it’s been me getting out of my own head.

I’ve struggled with overthinking, fear of being judged, fear of failing, and strangely enough, even fear of succeeding. I think sometimes when you’ve dreamed about something for a long time, actually going after it can feel vulnerable because now people can see you trying. They can see you win, but they can also see you stumble.

Putting myself out there creatively has pushed me in ways I didn’t expect. Fly Girl Classic is very personal to me because it reflects my taste, my style, and my point of view. So sharing it publicly required me to become more confident and trust myself more.

I’m still learning to quiet the overthinking and just move. Every time I take action anyway, it reminds me that growth usually happens on the other side of fear.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the creator of Fly Girl Classic, a fashion and lifestyle brand built around personal style, individuality, and secondhand fashion. I shop thrift stores, estate sales, garage sales, flea markets, and anywhere I think I might discover something interesting or overlooked. I love finding pieces with personality and styling them in a way that feels fresh and intentional.

Fly Girl Classic actually started because the people around me believed in me before I fully believed in myself. Friends started donating clothing, shoes, and jewelry to help me get started because they always encouraged my eye for style and the way I put things together. What started very organically turned into something I realized I truly loved.

I think I’m known for seeing potential in things other people might pass by. I enjoy mixing pieces in unexpected ways and creating looks that feel stylish without feeling forced or overly trend-driven.

What I’m most proud of is simply allowing myself to start and keep going. Turning an idea I talked about for years into something real has been important for me personally and creatively. Even though I’m still building, I’m proud that I stopped overthinking every step and began trusting my own vision more.

I think what sets me apart is that Fly Girl Classic feels personal. It’s not just about selling clothes—it’s about creativity, imagination, confidence, and showing people that style doesn’t have to come from expensive places to feel special or look good

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I would say self awareness and imagination.

Self awareness because I’ve had to be honest with myself about the ways I’ve held myself back at times. Overthinking, fear of judgment, and waiting until something felt perfect before moving on it. Building Fly Girl Classic has taught me that growth comes from trusting yourself enough to move anyway.

And imagination because so much of what I do is about seeing potential where other people may not. I can walk through a thrift store, estate sale, or flea market and see possibilities. I’ve always loved taking things people overlook and styling them in a way that feels elevated, personal, and interesting.

I also think consistency matters more than people realize. Not perfection, consistency. Continuing to show up, continuing to learn, and continuing to build while you’re still figuring things out.

Pricing:

• Most Fly Girl Classic pieces range from $10 to $65
• Focus on affordable secondhand and vintage inspired fashion
• New inventory added regularly through live sales and curated drops
• Pieces are sourced from thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets, and garage sales
• Upcoming additions will include Fly Girl Classic lifestyle and affirmation products

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flygirlclassic/](https://www.instagram.com/flygirlclassic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flygirlclassic/](https://www.facebook.com/flygirlclassic/
• Other: https://loyalshops.com/p/FlyGirlClassic/registration