Today we’d like to introduce you to Amari Barnes.
Amari, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I come from a single parent household, where the struggle was a sight I saw each and every day of my life, vividly. Being in a single parent household, raised by a man, where I was the only girl among a house filled with men was the hardest time of my life. This was the most critical time for my self-development as a growing female. Having to share clothing with my brothers forced me to become a tomboy and limited my ability to express myself. Image being a female going to your father for fashion advice at 16. I was forced to a t-shirt, jeans and a straight back ponytail for years. It took me a while to feel comfortable with myself as a girl growing up. Everyone around me in school was so cute to me because of how they were able to dress. I remember being upset with myself because I did not look like everyone else. I wasn’t around any female figures that looked like me to help me understand my self-esteem, deal with people who did not look like me or how to properly dress. Moving from Florida back to Alabama, where I was born, allowed me to see my roots and understand why I was shaped like this. Cornbread fed is an understatement.
I can’t lie, it took a long time for me to become confident in myself and understand that self-love is the best love. I went through a period of time where I was broken by other people and did not know that allowing them to dictate what I defined as beautifully kept me from seeing myself. I continued to spiral down, fixating off of other people’s opinion while losing myself. Then, reality hit for me. I lost everything I owned in a drive-by shooting that almost took my life as I slept in my home. Within 24 hours, my reality changed and I relocated here to Atlanta, Ga. Moving to Atlanta was the best thing that happens to me. Not because I had a dream to pursue here, but because it opened up my horizon, my mind and opportunities that I could have only imaged in my wildest dreams.
I began working for an entrepreneur who showed me how to understand my purpose and how to build a dynasty that will benefit other women as well. Plus Equals More came to me when I needed it the most. It became an outlet for my creativity that I was not able to express as a child or young adult. Plusequalsmore.com is more than an online boutique. It is a sisterhood, something I have been wanting my whole life. I want to provide every plus size woman of the world with fashionable yet comfortable and affordable clothing no matter her size. Understand that it will cause a self-love movement that no one has ever seen! I want to ensure that every girl, teenager, and woman knows how to love herself no matter what society tells them about their size.
I knew I wanted to brand myself as a designer but I did not have the funds or connections to me it happen, but now it’s happening. I knew if I had a solid plan, everything else would fall into place. I am at the right place at the right time meeting the people what will help ease this journey that is ahead of me.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Growing as an independent Black Woman in America is the most difficult, yet rewarding honor I have been awarded. The road thus far is a blessing disguised as the struggle and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Everything that I have gotten has been because I worked for it, nothing has been given to me or been easy for me. I fight for everything that I want and the fight has just begun. Anything that comes to you ease isn’t always good.
I’ve realized that this world will test your ability to withstand during the times when you think that you are up. This test will evaluate how long you will stay down. The world is testing me after the passing of my grandmother and my evaluation has begun. She was my biggest supporter no matter what I was doing. This by far is the hardest thing I’ve dealt with. Nothing in this world can or will prepare you to grieve a person who is the reason why you are on this Earth. Knowing how hard she struggled to survive as a Black Woman during the hardest times of this country motivates me to keep going. I can’t stop and I won’t stop because she would not have it any other way.
I am willing to struggle for the lifestyle I want and I am not too proud to say it!
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Plusequalsmore.com is an online boutique, handpicked with plus size women’s needs and challenges in mind. I launched Plus Equals More in March of 2019 as the CEO and Creative Director with nothing but a vision. I review the quality and construction of each item before it is added to the boutique. I want Plus Equals More to be known more as a plus size empowerment community. It’s much bigger than the clothes. It’s about allowing and showing women to be the best version of themselves no matter how someone judges them! I am most proud of the wonderfully amazing women I have connected with. They believe in me, which motivates me to go harder!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
My father always taught me to understand that if I didn’t have bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all. I’ve had an equal amount of both in my life and in my business. I grew up poor which seemed like bad luck. Now that I am grown, I see it as the best luck I could’ve had because the struggle has pushed me to want so much more for myself and out of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: plusequalsmore.com
- Email: psbsfllc@gmail.com
- Instagram: @plus.equals.more
- Facebook: Plusequalsmore.com
Image Credit:
IG @javierthecreative, Dress: plusequalsmore.com
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
