Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Brown.
Hi Melissa, 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?
My name is Melissa Monique, and I’m from Atlanta. The last time my story was shared, I mentioned that I was adopted — but at that point, I didn’t know many details about my biological family. That all changed in November 2024, when my girlfriend helped me find them. The journey was unbelievable.
I discovered that I was the 11th of 12 children born to my mother, and almost all of my siblings had been living in Atlanta the entire time. Just two weeks before reconnecting with my family, my girlfriend and I went to a car wash and ended up having a conversation with my biological sister — not knowing who she was at the time.
My brother Franklin, sister Mar Lea, and I — the three youngest — were placed in foster care and later adopted, while our other siblings stayed with our mother and largely raised themselves. Sadly, our mother passed away in 2016, and because I was adopted so young, I never got the chance to meet her. Thankfully, we were able to meet our biological father.
I was raised by Joe and Monique Brown, who gave us a loving home and an unforgettable childhood. Sports were a big part of my life growing up, and swimming was the one that stuck with me the most. According to my mom, I never even struggled in the water — the moment I got in, I just swam.
By middle school, I was balancing life as a student-athlete, and in my junior year of high school, I won 3rd place at the Georgia High School State Championships. That moment was monumental for me — not only as an athlete but also as an African American woman. I became the first student in Atlanta Public School history to podium at a state swim meet.
Unfortunately, just before the Olympic Trials in 2016 and my senior year of high school, I tore my hamstring. This injury drastically affected my training and narrowed my college options. Despite that, I was named a 2x Scholastic All-American and went on to major in Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina Asheville.
During my freshman year at UNC Asheville, I stepped away from the sport I loved after facing racism and microaggressions. A turning point came when the head coach put her hand on my face. I reported it to the athletic director, who took action immediately. I decided to take time off from swimming to prioritize my mental health. Although the coach didn’t allow me back on the team, the athletic director gave me an opportunity to lead from within, appointing me as “Student Assistant to the Athletic Director.” Under her mentorship, I earned a 4.0 GPA that semester — a huge accomplishment, especially after struggling academically my freshman year.
In my sophomore year, I decided to try out for the track team. When the coach saw my high school times — achieved with no formal training due to my swim schedule — he welcomed me immediately. I’d never even used track blocks before, but I was eager to learn. We eventually got a new coach who supported me fully, even offering 1-on-1 training so I wouldn’t miss class.
Then, at the start of my junior year, during a set of 400s at practice, I lost all feeling in my legs — a terrifying experience. After countless tests, scans, and MRIs over the next year and a half, I was diagnosed with Cramp Fasciculation Syndrome (CFS), a rare nerve condition that causes constant pain and muscle activity. I began learning how to retrain the lower half of my body — then COVID hit, and we were sent home for the rest of the school year.
When we returned for my senior year, I was still under medical suspension and never competed in college athletics again.
After graduation, I returned home to Atlanta and became the coach of my former high school swim team — a full-circle moment I’ll never forget. At the same time, I worked at a hotel in the city. I loved the job, but standing for eight hours a day became painful due to my condition. I rarely talk about my disability because I don’t want special treatment — and honestly, most people don’t even realize I have one. Society has painted a very narrow picture of what disability “looks like.”
When I finally opened up to my manager about it, she didn’t believe me. I had to go through so many hoops to get my medical records from Asheville and my doctors in Atlanta. After an incident where I passed out in the shower — injuring my back, head, and wrist — I still showed up to work. But when I returned after a short recovery, my manager demanded a note from a “real doctor,” specifically a neurologist, which can take 6 months to a year just to get an appointment.
At that point, I made the difficult decision to leave. It was painful to realize that, despite being injured and doing everything I could, I was still treated differently because of my disability.
That experience is what sparked my side hustle journey — a new chapter that I’m building with the same resilience and drive that’s carried me through every stage of my life.
After leaving my job, I dove into side hustles like Amazon Flex, Spark, and Uber, consistently making over $200 a day. That momentum pushed me to start taking social media seriously. I built and managed eight different pages across TikTok and Instagram, learning the ins and outs of digital marketing on my own.
Then I decided to take things further and launched my own clothing brand, Mezzanine Collection. Our first drop was on January 14 — the day after my birthday — and it sold out within the first month. The brand’s TikTok page quickly grew to 28,000 followers, and it was a huge eye-opener for me.
I’ve battled depression for years — even attempted to take my own life at 21 — but that moment reminded me that everything I put my energy into, I could truly make shine. It humbled me, but it also lit a fire. That’s when I realized it wasn’t just about doing a lot — it was about organizing it all, being intentional, and building a solid foundation.
When people ask me what I do, it’s hard to give just one answer. I’m a serial entrepreneur. I’m an athlete, a coach, a social media manager, a content creator, a musician, a skateboarder, and the owner of a growing fashion brand. A “Jackie of all trades,” if you will. And while people often say you can’t do it all — I’ve learned that you can, especially when you have the right support around you.
Over the past three years, I’ve dealt with some incredibly tough moments. My nerve condition has been a daily battle, and when my little brother was shot in the head (thankfully, he survived), it sent me into another spiral of depression. But 2025 — and the success of Mezzanine Collection — has been my “aha” moment.
Right now, my focus is on scaling my brand while also training to become an athlete again. I’m taking things one step at a time, focusing on my strengths, and trusting that the rest will follow.
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?
It’s been far from a smooth road. From the moment I was born, I’ve faced adversity. I entered the world in foster care, was later adopted, and have experienced more than my fair share of challenges — from injuries that shifted my athletic path to being diagnosed with a rare nerve condition that impacts me daily.
One of the most difficult chapters came when my little brother was shot in the head. We’re not related by blood, but he’s family in every sense of the word. I met him when he was 14, and from that moment, I stepped into the role of his big sister. I took care of him through the aftermath of that traumatic event. He survived — and while the gunshot left part of his body paralyzed, he pushed through. I’ll never forget the day he walked across the stage at his high school graduation with a crutch. It was one of the most powerful and emotional moments of my life.
He’s now 21, alive and well, and his strength reminds me every day that we are built to overcome.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mezzanine Collection is my clothing brand, launched in January 2025. It was a passion project turned business, and the response completely blew me away. Our very first drop sold out within a month — and even caught the attention of WNBA star Natasha Howard (Indian Fever), who made a purchase herself. That moment was surreal and validating. It showed me that the brand wasn’t just resonating with people — it was making real waves.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Although I always got good grades, I was definitely the class clown. Making people laugh or smile was something I naturally gravitated toward — it was just part of who I was. In high school, I won’t lie — I was kind of a jock. But when people found out our school had a Black swimmer, and that I was actually winning, it sparked something special.
I started to notice that I was inspiring others — kids who maybe never felt seen in that space before. That energy made me feel like the neighborhood hero overnight. I never cared if someone lived in Section 8 housing or a mansion — I’ve lived in both, and I’ve learned that real connection goes beyond where you’re from. It’s about who you are and how you treat people.
Pricing:
- Shirts – $15 – $50
- Hats $15- $25
- swim lessons $30 / hr
- fitness coach – contact me
Contact Info:
