My knack for creativity led me into business – Lashawna Moore

By Lakhram Bhagirat

Lashawna Moore has always been a creative person. She remembers her childhood as being one where she would design pens and pencils and sell them to her peers. It was from there she developed her creative abilities as well as her knack for business.
All throughout her time in secondary school, she knew that becoming an entrepreneur was her end goal.
“Before graduating I always knew I wanted to have my own business, so I started doing nails at age 16. Every day I would save a small amount from my allowance to purchase nail supplies and I knew by the time I left school I’ll have enough products and I would have already built a name for myself. So, while in Fourth Form, I was focusing on my studies and I was doing my friends’ nails whenever there were special occasions. I remember having SBAs (School-Based Assessments) due and I’m on YouTube watching, learning different nail techniques, but I still got my SBAs done on time,” the 19-year-old said.
Being a self-taught nail technician meant that Moore would often encounter challenges and unwarranted critique of her work. However, it did not stop her from pushing ahead and she would go on to qualify herself and is now one of the best nail technicians around.
Her affinity for nail designs stems from her obsession with them from a young age. From the colours to the length and precision of the designs, all sparked a love for the craft.

Nevertheless, when it came to establishing a brick-and-mortar business, she was not completely certain what field she wanted to get into and after much consideration, she decided the beauty and fashion industry was good enough for her. She is a self-proclaimed fashionista and gets pure joy from being able to style someone.

“After I left school, I started with my nail salon and my friends was my biggest supporters. I was not the best in the business and people would talk all sorts of things, but I continued practising my work. I began getting better and then started expanding my business. Things also got better and my business started to grow,” she said.
The challenges of getting to where she is today are perhaps the driving force behind her success. There were many who set out to see her fail. As a teenager, getting her idea off the ground was itself a challenge. Not many people believed in her and it resulted in very little support.

To aid in her dream of becoming a business owner, Moore began working as an accountant before using her savings to further build her brand. She worked and did nails part-time while saving every dollar possible to make her dreams come true, now she is living them.
“Well, I believe that I am already fulfilling my dreams, but I would like to expand my businesses to a greater level. After doing nails as a part-time job because I work as an accountant and realtor, I have decided to expand my business and hire someone that shares the same dream as me. The person is as excited about nails as much as I am,” she said.
She has built her craft to the point where she can now impart her knowledge to others with the same dream as hers.

“It’s hard to balance, but I do. I started my online boutique five months ago because I am passionate about fashion and I want females to be able to feel confident when they get dressed and I want them to be able to afford trendy and cute clothing at affordable prices. With that concept in mind, I named my store “Bhaddie on a Budget”. I am hoping that I can expand my business and possibly have my own nail school in the future.”
Moore continues to learn new techniques and methods for creating unique designs. She is also big on women empowerment and encouraging young women to follow their dreams and carve their own paths.
“I want other young women to start going after their dreams and if they want to do business, then go and start it. They can make it perfect later,” she advises.