Put That Woman First!
Celebrating Women’s Empowerment with
Beauty for Ashes!
In an era of hostility, violence, and lack of respect, words like “women’s empowerment”, “love”, and “unity” are refreshing to the sore ear. Keeping a level head in the present atmosphere, even within IMVU, can sometimes prove to be a rather daunting task. That is why whenever someone steps in with positivity, it should be celebrated and acknowledged for staying true to the current liberating cause. Mya Derulo (MrsDerulo@IMVU) is tackling that cause head-on with her women’s empowerment company and radio talk show Beauty for Ashes. By addressing issues like colorism, women’s rights, and current hot topics, this show and company is aimed at encouraging women to uplift one another, embrace our differences, and excel through adversity.
Exchange Beauty for Ashes Beauty for Ashes was founded by Mya herself, but she works closely with Lashontae Heckard, Sugar Doll, and FanBxnks to keep the company running smoothly. “They are amazing and their business minds are out of this world!” brags Mya. The show used to be called “Sister Circle” but, once their show gained real-life attention through their giveaways, they had to change the name for legal reasons. “Our senior VP and I started brainstorming,” Mya said, “and she was actually reading scripture and it said ‘exchange beauty for ashes’ and I said ‘THAT’S IT!’” There’s an obvious level of respect and appreciation amongst the team running Beauty for Ashes. The radio show is focused on women’s empowerment, but they keep listeners engaged by hitting a variety of other topics, such as recent events on IMVU and RL, their “Steamy Topics” segment, and even shows dedicated to sex. They started out with giving advice to others on IMVU, which lead to giveaways and challenges pertaining to self-love and empowerment, such as “Bare Face” Challenge and “Pain In Her Beauty” Challenge. These are meant to “unify women and let them know that we all have similar struggles”. Focused on spreading positivity throughout IMVU, they remain relevant with their entertainingly refreshing radio show and by hosting events for the IMVU public.
Reaching The Masses It is a known fact for any successful company or organization within IMVU that in order to remain relevant, one must remain active. Beauty for Ashes is no stranger to this memo, constantly planning and attending events to promote positivity and self-love throughout IMVU. A lot of their giveaways gained RL attention, such as the hair giveaway they hosted for their company. Through active outreach and constant evolution, Beauty For Ashes has maintained their relevance within the IMVU community and beyond. Due to such growth, Mya expresses the company’s need for fresh faces and innovative ideas. “We are going to continue to grow so if you would like to join the family you [definitely] can…” This promising company shows all the signs of longevity and success, and they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon!
Listen to the Beauty For Ashes radio show on @beautyforashesv on Instagram every Friday at 9:30 EST. Link in bio (be sure to call ahead if you plan to call in!)
Disclaimer: the personal views and opinions written in this post are from the writer and do not always express the professional opinion and views of Verve X Magazine.
Interviewer: Tamekah
Writer: RicanDivinity & NabilaHomage
Photographer: Kongan
