Today we’d like to introduce you to Zhamerè Gardner.
Zhamerè, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story starts in Memphis, Tennessee. I’m really a small-town girl with big dreams. Even as a kid, I knew I was destined to be great with whatever I put my hands on. I was an athletic star I ran track and one of the fastest girls on the team. I joined the team at eight. I also wanted to be an actress that was my main go as a young child. I feel like a lot of people might’ve thought I had it great because on the outside looking in, I really did. I lived in a nice house in the suburbs of Memphis. Both parents worked a lot, very hard-working people. Had nice cars. I had everything, so to speak. It’s almost like the cliché of the big house with the Pickett Fence. I think no one knew what was actually going on in the house I called home because I was so well at hiding my pain and I was practically brainwashed in a sense to think what was going on was “ok.” I was sexually abused, emotionally abused, and mentally abused at the age of ten by a relative that used to watch my siblings and me while my parents were away at work.
Once the abused started, it was a lot of mixed emotions. Most of the time, I was scared. But sadly, the abuse would overlap with more sexual abuse by two more relatives and at that point, I became very numb to it. It’s sad to say but I got so used to it happening to me. My behavior started to change. I knew more than the girls did at my age. I was very quick to anger. I would want to fight; my life became filled with sadness. I was being sexualized to fulfill others perverted mentality. I started to self-harm myself because I thought well this is something I can control. If I couldn’t control anything else, I could control that. I didn’t think I was pretty and occasionally starve myself. As I got older, I started getting to popping pills and drinking excessively to suppress my emotions. I still struggle with anxiety and depression. Which I’m so happy it’s a movement for mental health now. Everyone’s mental status is important. You never know who you can heal and touch just by asking.all of that would push me to start writing. I became interested in poetry because I was always great with writing but this was something I could control too.
Poetry at the time became a big advocate in my life. I honestly can’t tell the exact moment I got my strength back because it’s been a long road coming. But when I found it, I snatch it back. My innocence was taken from me and no, I could never get that back, but I could be a voice for other girls who are going through exactly what I went through. Forgiveness takes everyday not just one day. It’s an everyday process. Somedays I wake up and I feel all these emotions and let myself because I am human. The one thing I tell myself and my friends is to be kind to yourself when you are going through things. I know it’s hard because if anyone is like me, I beat myself up a lot. My own worst critic, but don’t be afraid to let yourself go through it because you can and you will get through it. For the young girls out there and even women, that’s been put in situations where you had to grow up fast and had your innocence stripped away from you.YOU are not alone. I am here with you. I stand with you.
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?
Nothing is a smooth road. Life isn’t just that easy. You go through break downs, let downs, and spiritual warfares within yourself. Within this world. I remember being told it’s not what knocked you down but how you got up from it. What I struggled with is believing in myself to be great because of all the trauma I suffered from growing up. Sometimes it is hard and Somedays it’s like, wow, I’m one step closer. I try to accomplish what I want a day at a time. But I also I think as a kid you believe anything is possible, but as you get older. Society starts to put you in a box. Your possibilities starts to shrink; you start to fit in. You stop believing your dreams and one day, you become this regular person. You know in your heart, deep down, this is not what your life was supposed to be. Some people settle for less than what they deserve because society told them to. I try to keep my head up and also manifest my dreams, pray on my dreams and also take action on my dreams. I will definitely will become everything I set out to be and you have to believe that
Please tell us about NuSKIN Esthetics.
I started off being a Mary Kay Skin Care Consultant, which ultimately failed for me. I gave up trying to be an entrepreneur because my first business failed horribly. I will say my first business venture made me want to educate myself more on skin, I just didn’t want to be a consultant I started to think I want to be the girl people come to and I can tell them more than just the basics and really go deep with a person. I quickly enrolled myself into school to be an esthetician. I am currently still in school because I just had my beautiful baby girl, N’lani, so my graduation date was set back for October of this year. This has become a passion for three years now and I’m solely dedicated to making people feel good and look good.
My business name is NuSKIN Esthetics being Nu meaning naked. What this means to me is to be just your authentic self at all times. When you’re naked your exposed, you can’t hide yourself, and you’re forced to deal with the good the bad and the ugly and that’s my business. I’m not here to judge people only to help make people see theirselves in a different light. All skin tones and All skin types will be welcomed in my place of business. However my business is still underway I have no location just yet. I’m actually going back to school to be a registered nurse, so I can also do injectables of all kinds. However, one step to greatness at a time. Focusing on one goal at a time also helps me to get where I want faster than to cluster my mind with different agendas.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was somewhat like a tomboy I had girly ways but definitely outside playing football with my cousins. I would say rough around the edges I didn’t mind getting dirty, so to speak. I wanted to be an actress so bad because I’ve always been an outgoing person. Personality so big even when I’m quiet, you still can feel my energy. Now sometimes I come off like I’m shy but I’m really just reading the room. I make people feel comfortable around me. There’s a dominance in me that’s very subtle. I’m not like super in your face. I’m very mysterious. I think that’s why people draw to me because they want to know who is that girl.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 6789840087
- Email: nuzhamere@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuuzhamere/
- Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MG21uUXp03LuIyHAgMpt6
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