MARZ LOVEJOY
With an Instagram bio that reads “I make it happen”, Marz Lovejoy has made her mark as a leader in her community, quietly disrupting fashion and redefining the importance of being an influencer. With a growing platform and a career that started when she was handed her first modeling paycheck at the age of five, to now donning her bare pregnant belly for Rihanna’s Savage X lingerie campaign, Marz has done it all. She’s an award-winning editor, hip-hop songstress, and model who once graced the runway for Hood By Air; or maybe you’re more familiar with her recent live stream featuring the birth of her second child. A multi-hyphenate and ultimate care-free, Black cool girl, Marz continues to use her growing platform to reach communities far beyond her own, creating a legacy of genuine love that radiates from anyone who speaks her name. Needless to say, Marz is the role model we need; a woman who can, undoubtedly, always make it happen.
What rituals do you have both as a parent and as an individual?
Lots of dancing and listening to music, reading, hugs, kisses, patience, and talking things out.
What are some ways you maintain your individual identity outside of being a mother?
Date nights with my husband and by myself, setting boundaries, and reminding myself when people ask me how I am, I don’t have to reply with “we’re good” and make it about my family. I have to remember that I am many things, play many roles, and have many duties, and I will not forget myself.
What are some of the biggest influences on your personal style?
Hip Hop. Funk. Jazz. Soul. Blackness. Prince. Badu. Diana Ross. Missy. Andre. R&B. Mary. Beauty supply stores. My daughter. LA. Harlem. The South Bronx. BK. Minneapolis. My Man. My Grandmas. My parents. HBA. The Ballroom Scene. Butch Queens. Femme Goddesses. Tomboys. Rih. Lots of SELF-LOVE! Me.
If you could change one thing about the industry you work in what would it be?
People would be more genuine and thoughtful.
What’s the worst piece of advice you have ever received?
My top two: “don’t move out on your own, you’ll fail” and “don’t have a home birth, it’s unsafe.”
What’s one thing you wish you knew 5 years ago?
Nothing. Everything happens in divine timing.
What was the most surprising part of becoming a mother?
How my ability to love continues to expand.
How do you push yourself to continue evolving?
I read. I take action. I learn from others & my mistakes. I remain grateful. Self-love, always.
What quality do you admire most about your child?
I love how communicative and kind my daughter is. Nomi is wild and care-free. She is pure love!
If motherhood could be summed up with one song, what would it be?
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack.
RAJNI LUCIENNE JACQUES
Whether it’s her signature bold lip or overall glamorous appeal, you can’t help but be mesmerized by Rajni Lucienne Jacques. As a New York fashion and media extraordinaire with a few years of impressive work in her CV, the creative and fashion director has a timeless look; it’s clean, simple, and elegant. Born in Queens, Rajni started off studying Journailsm and Political Science before jumping from a career as a sales associate to fashion accessories editor at Vibe Magazine, and now, creative and fashion director for Condé Nast–but it doesn’t stop here. Coming from an educational background in the communications field, her work goes beyond piecing together looks. She also works closely with brands to help build and maintain brand identity, brand awareness, and promote overall growth for these brands; all the while being a mother of two. “I take time for myself. I do things only for myself,” she says of balancing motherhood. “And I make sure I cultivate and maintain the bonds with my friends…that bond is super important to nurture.”
What’s your sign?
Aries.
In your own words, what do you do?
On paper I am a Fashion Director at a publishing house. But what I do goes far beyond just fashion direction. I also do Creative Direction and Content Curation for brands/labels.
Describe home.
Chaotic and loving all at once.
What rituals do you have both as a parent and as an individual?
Taking time for myself — to help me be the best version of myself.
What are some ways you maintain your individual identity outside of being a mother?
I take time for myself. I do things only for myself. And I make sure I cultivate and maintain the bonds with my friends. Don’t lose your support system just because you are a mom. That’s when you need them most! I also learned to do the same with my marriage. That bond is super important to nurture.
What are some of the biggest influences on your personal style?
My mother’s style in the 70s was bad ass. Denim, jeans, dungarees. And me.
What was the first job you ever had?
I worked at Banana Republic as a sales girl.
If you could change one thing about the industry you work in what would it be?
It is what it is. I work in the industry but it is not my life.
What’s the worst piece of advice you ever received?
Only think about yourself.
What’s one thing you wish you knew 5 years ago?
Nothing is going to be perfectly aligned for you to be ready to start a family.
What was the most surprising part of becoming a mother?
Loving another person this hard and this much is, at least for me, freeing. I just stare at them and fall in love all over again. Also, after my first, I was scared that I could not love another the way I loved my first. But I was obviously wrong. There is so much love there. My focus is them. I was surprised at my capacity.
How do you push yourself to continue evolving?
When it gets too comfortable, I know I have to start stirring things up to challenge myself. It’s a forever cycle.
What quality do you admire most in your children?
Diego is fearless and has a three-year-old confidence that I love. Lucienne is a quiet storm. She’s chill but you can not mess with her.
If motherhood could be summed up with one song what would it be?
There are too many songs to list. But the word is “selfless.”
Kai Avent-deLeon
As a third-generation business owner and Brooklyn native, Kai Avent-deLeon is keeping Bed-Stuy’s rich culture and history in the family with her concept boutique, Sincerely, Tommy.
With the alarming rate of gentrification in neighborhoods that were once deep-rooted in community values, Kai’s Sincerely, Tommy broadens the boutique’s connections to reach its surrounding community by holding space for young creatives. Through resourcing emerging designers while traveling, Kai curates the boutique through mending her love for art, exploration, and fashion into one. There’s a restorative trajectory that revolves around this business and it shows in the ways it brings people together; from the shop’s in-house coffee shop to it’s summer block parties. This has extended to the shop’s wellness retreat based in Grenada–a boutique hostel which has included Ché at ST Eat & Stay, a seasonal plant-based eatery named after her baby boy, Ché. Like her mother and grandmother, Kai is strengthening the lineage of her family by directly connecting with her community.
Where did you grow up?
Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
What’s your sign?
Taurus.
Did you go to college? What did you study?
I didn’t finish college. When I was there, for two years, I studied Fashion Merchandising.
In your own words, what do you do?
I am the owner and creative director of Sincerely, Tommy and ST, Eat and Stay.
Describe home.
Home is my sanctuary, it’s where I feel most at peace.
What rituals do you have both as a parent and as an individual?
Rituals are usually something that I keep to myself because I believe rituals to be something spiritual. I think spirituality is something sacred. So, I don’t share my rituals. But I can say something that I do with my son as a practice is creating the space to celebrate things that we create and believe in. So, we don’t celebrate American or Western holidays.
What are some ways you maintain your individual identity outside of being a mother?
I don’t think about it that intentionally. I just try to live authentically and do what feels good, do what leads me to being my higher self.
What are some of the biggest influences on your personal style?
My mother and grandmother. I admire their ability to create their own paths, work hard, be resilient and independent women, be individuals, and really set their own paths forward.
What was the first job you ever had?
I was an intern/sales person at a boutique in Fort Greene.
If you could change one thing about the industry you work in what would it be?
I have never really connected with as an industry because I don’t believe that it was something that was set up for Black people to begin with. I think we have been the pinnacle of style in many aspects. Our culture and style have been appropriated in many different ways throughout the fashion industry. I would love to see my people creating their own platforms in every sense of the word.
What’s the worst piece of advice you ever received?
Generally hearing someone tell another person what they should do is a bad piece of advice. Everyone has their own path and many of the things that we experience are a part of our own manifestations. If anything, seizing the opportunity to become more intune with what you’re manifesting and less of what someone else is telling you, because everyone has an opinion and that’s all it is, an opinion based on a belief.
What was the most surprising part of becoming a mother?
Learning to adapt to someone else’s schedule, your child’s schedule.
How do you push yourself to continue evolving?
I evolve naturally. I think people evolve naturally. I guess I’m intentional in my practice by being still right now. I think I’m evolving into a place of being still and very disconnected from the outside world; sitting with myself, trying not to be on my phone, practicing being present by meditating and journaling a lot, and trying to take on meaningful projects workwise.
What quality do you admire most in your child?
I admire his independence, affection, humor, energy, and exploration of himself.
If motherhood could be summed up with one song what would it be?
Not one song, two. “Adore” by Prince and “The Sweetest Gift” by Sade.
Can you tell us about the exciting projects in the works for Sincerely, Tommy and your new boutique hostel?
Still working on opening up the new restaurant and hostel, hopefully in the next coming months. My mom has ventured out into the wellness side, so she will be leading a wellness retreat in Grenada For Sincerely, Tommy… and that’s it!
Photographer: Cheril Sanchez
Stylist: Tyler Okuns
MUA (For Rajni & Kai): Kelly Bellevue
MUA (For Marz): Dal Eris
Hair: Andrita Renee
Set Design: Karen Nicole
