Bringing Women Together On Natural Hair Meetup Day

Approximately 100 people came to the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center Saturday to partake in The Confetti Collective’s first ever Southern Arizona International Natural Hair Meetup Day.

A variety of hair, fashion and beauty vendors from Tucson and Sierra Vista areas were provided the opportunity to promote their businesses and showcase their skills during the event, while attendees participated in activities such as raffles, giveaways and live presentations.

Founder of the Confetti Collective, Moneik James hosted the event. She said she was pleasantly surprised at the number of people who came out, considering that she initially expected a group of 75 people.

“I am beyond satisfied with the turnout and the reactions from everybody,” she said.

Most of the vendors promoting their products had established businesses and were used to attending these type of events,but for fairly new entrepreneur Acacia Barnett, founder of Acacia B. Brows & Beauty, being able to display a live demo of her contouring skills was a big step in promoting her business.

Attendees were receptive to her makeup advice, and asked lots of questions. “Oohs” and “Ahhs” echoed through the room when she displayed her model’s finished look.

“I’ve never been to a natural hair event so I really didn’t know what to expect today. But it was a lot of fun,” Barnett said.

Representing the fashion department, Natecia Daniel from Bati Mamselle travel boutique had a rack full of clothes for sale.

Daniel said she hopes that the event helps develop a stronger sense of community in the Sierra Vista area.

“The more vendors that are here supporting, the more the community will notice that this is something that they should get involved with,” she said.

Although a majority of the vendors promoted hair, beauty and fashion. One entrepreneur had a deeper message to spread.

Founder of QT Girls, Queen Holt, sells shirts with uplifting messages to encourage girls to be true to themselves despite adversity.

When the nine-year-old reported to her mother that she had been getting picked on at school, she proposed that she create a shirt line to encourage children who get teased to continue to be strong and be an individual. All the proceeds are going towards Holt receiving a trademark license for her business.

“She’s teaching ladies that it doesn’t matter what anybody else says about you, be you, we’re all different,” her mother Niecey Holt said.

Women weren’t the only ones positively affected by the event.

Buena High School alumni DJ KBK said that this event was unique compared to most of his other gigs, and that he enjoyed the positive energy he felt while being at the event.

He was the DJ for Paris Hilton’s Super Bowl party earlier this year.

“I like events like this because it’s close-knit and personal. Don’t get me wrong, I love DJing big events too, but there’s nothing like that block party summertime feel.”

Finally, during the last 30 minutes of the event, the highly anticipated fashion show happened.

Models ranging from the ages of 5 to 60 gracefully walked the runway in Barbara Lynn’s African fashions.

“Isn’t everyone fabulous?” She said as the event came to an end.

Although the event is over now. James said that there will be another event in September in Tucson. But for now she’s still raving about the reactions of everyone who attended the first event.

“Good feedback is still coming in. I’m still processing it all,” she said.