Meet Zara Love of Love Glam XO

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zara Love.

Zara, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Love Glam XO was created by my childhood best friend (Terrionna “Terri Renee” Bryan), and I (Nnezarrhea “Zara Love” Durham) at the young age of 17 years old. Every since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved makeup. Especially lip gloss! My mom would buy me Little Smackers roll-ons, Bath and Body Works, or Victoria Secret lip gloss, and I must say it was poppin’ lol! I would apply so much, my mom would always tease me that people miles away could see my lips shining. But, as I’ve always had a “diva” personality, the attention wouldn’t bother me at all. I was so obsessed, I’d even wear it to bed! Then, I got to middle school and I remember my science teacher gave the class an assignment to invent something, and of course, I made something I LOVED which was my own lip gloss.

I was only 11 years old at the time, so I knew nothing of FDA laws, formulas, etc. But, I did know that I loved beauty, and being able to be creative and expressive through it. My invention came out really cute, but at the time I didn’t take it seriously. Then, I got to high school and I was actually able to wear real make-up versus the cute little claire and play palettes. I was excited and really started to perfect the skill of makeup. Still, after using many different brands, I learned the different formulas, and diversity for many brands didn’t cater to all skin types and tones. I also have seen how many brands were producing the same products, color scheme, packaging, and more with just adding a different logo. I honestly felt the beauty industry needed more, but at the time I didn’t have enough confidence to be that “more” they needed.

Then, one day I remember I had a friend sitting in front of me in class, turn around and ask me why I had on pink lipstick. I said “because it looks cute, and I love it”, in response she said, “oh, well black girls aren’t supposed to wear bright colors on their lips.” Of course, I thought this remark was ignorant because there is no law of what any skin tone can wear. Truth is ANY skin tone can wear any makeup and still look gorgeous. That’s the beauty in makeup, it’s personal, and has no limits. From that day forward, I knew I had to do something to change people’s nonsensical way of thinking. So, moving forward, due to my love of beauty, my freshman year of college I decided to create my OWN glam lane of it. I talked to my grandmother and mom about it and they loved the idea. My grandmother even paid for me to get my first L.L.C. and from then on I stepped out on faith and chose to walk in what I felt was my purpose. That’s when Love Glam XO, “the chateau of everything that’ll make you fall in love” was born.

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?
As a young business owner, there have been things that I’ve encountered but I was able to learn and gain knowledge from it. With that knowledge I’ve gained, I’d love to share that experience so that others don’t make the same mistakes and I hope it will encourage people to make better decisions. One of the mistakes I’ve made, as many of us do is at times we forget the worth of our business. As I constantly battle the struggle of balancing school work as I am a college senior, we also try to balance my business in the business world. As I was young (only 17 years old) when starting my business, people often time tried to take advantage of us because we are new to what I did and I craved success deeply. So, often times I would work or do things or work with people just to make sure that I didn’t miss out on an opportunity which sometimes resulted in delay of my process to success. Know yourself & you’re worth.

In the business world, many people are filled with greed and fueled with envy. You know the saying “people want to see you do good, but never better than them”? That is definitely true! Know that every opportunity isn’t a good one and to research people before working with them. No one will love and go as hard for your brand as you do, so always keep that in your mind! It is nothing wrong with reaching out to others for opportunities, but still, recognize the strength and power of your brand! If you must ask others too many times, or you constantly ask for assistance and they’re not trying to help you. Please walk away as greater things are coming.

Especially, if the person is only on a level a little higher than yours, you will get there. Be patient and never ask for things more than once where it seems as if you’re desperate. Also, when people show you that they are professional or aren’t about their business. Walk away quickly, and do not waste time. Your business cannot suffer due to the lack of communication or professionalism of someone else. All these things are things I’ve experienced over a few years in the business world, but they’re also lessons I’d never forget. Find someone just as passionate about their business, brand and name as you are about yours. Then, together you both can make magic. Below are a few tips that I’ve have learned from that may also help you:

• Be sure to ask questions, don’t take what someone else has to say and just run with it. Research things for yourself.

• Please be sure to always have dignity and not settle just for anything just to say that you have it, or to say that you have made money off of it.

• Handle things with style and grace. As in the real-world people talk, they do the same in the business world. Your image is everything! Protect your brand by any means necessary.

• Love what you do and truly love it. Not for what the outcome may be but love it because it’s something your passionate about as times will get tough where you want to quit. Keep going!

• Timing is everything. Plan ahead always!

I hope that our experiences and a few of my personal tips will help others on their journey in the business world. Find your lane, your niche, ride with it and prosper! Remember as the great Oprah Winfrey has said: “Failure is a stepping stone to greatness”. Do not be afraid to fail, it’s how you get up and move forward that matters. I wish everyone many blessings and success. There is room for all of us to eat, so I hope to see many entrepreneurs at the top I’m definitely going to be, so meet me there! Xoxo!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Love Glam XO – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
When it came to my brand, I wanted something that would set me apart from everyone else. So, I wanted a name that would set me apart as well. I came up with about 100 names, but none of them were perfect. Then, I came across the words “love” and “glam, so I thought Love Glam. It was cute but it needed something else to it because I am extra. Then I thought of XO and I’m like “PERFECTTTT”. That’s how I chose the name, and I felt it represented the brand and who I was as a person down to a T. Lovable, Glamourous, and always blowing kisses and hugs to the haters. Lol, I’m just kidding!

But, this became our niche so everything in our brand is related to love or glamour. Anyways, next was finding the perfect beauty product to start selling first. I always was always known as one those girls that were dressed up, looking cute with her makeup done, with some bomb lashes. I literally would never dress down, so many people would call me “boujee”, and I admit I am, but with a purpose, lol! So, I knew it had to be something different, that would catch the attention of others. That’s when my best friend suggested starting off with selling lashes. As we began gaining sales from that, it was time to elevate. That’s when we began handmade (with love of course) lip gloss, to lip scrub and more.

But, that was just a start at what I had in store. I began going to multiple black expos to help gain customers, advertising on social media (with the help and support of family and friends), and I even would call myself “GlamOnHeels” because I would carry around a “Glam Box” with my products, so when someone complimented me on my makeup or wanted to buy from me, I would already have it on hand, and that was just the beginning. As time progressed, I decided it was time to level up and invest in private labeling which would give my brand a more professional and high-end look that I was going for. A lot of times, people always ask me how am I so confident and driven as it must be hard work, but my response is because I truly love what I do. I turned my passion into profit, and when you do that never “work”. My niche is for one I don’t want to be like anyone else, and for two no one will EVER be like me and that is my SUPERPOWER!

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Now, I am a college senior, that will be graduating in 2020, I plan to take my brand and prosper, as I will have more time to solely focus on it. I want every girl to feel like THAT girl with my beauty products. I hope to turn every girl into a GLAM DOLL, that is fearless when it comes to makeup because there is no limit, you’re able to create your own standard and definition of beauty.

I want the world to know, there is a new girl boss in town and I came to prosper and add growth and creativity to the beauty industry. And with my sassy, ambitious, vivacious, and charismatic personality, it’ll be kind of hard to resist me. The brand of Love Glam XO is still going and has so many things coming soon in 2020! But, I don’t believe in revealing everything before it’s time so as always be dazzled, be gorgeous, and STAY GLAMOUROUS in the meantime.