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INTERVIEWS | Lisa Price of Carol's Daughter Talks Life After Choices

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Who is Lisa Price and how does she #BloomOnPurpose.. ? Her story is one of the ages. Starting as a curious nurse looking for unique ways to keep the quality and beauty in your ultimate time.. Your bath time. From church friends, pop up shops and flea markets to the couch of Oprah for her Favorite Things…

Her story is so inspiring and she still finds time to pour into countless growing business owners. She has worn my design for almost a decade Check out our interview below I was sooo nervous yawl..

Click here for our Interview !

INTERVIEWS | Renee Knorr of "Global Wealth Women Warriors" Talks Growth

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Renee Knorr is leading the Clubhouse Pack with her Award-Winning Network, “GW3” Global Wealth Women Warriors. With well over 13,000 followers on Clubhouse her range to empower women and even men is growing leaps and bounds. Renee has even created a lane for me within her organization by allowing me to design the group’s signature flower. See it here. That collab still blows my mind. Before you watch our interview down below lets learn more about Renee…

5”Or”4 Things About Renee Knorr

  • Renee had Chickens growing up.

  • Renee was very shy growing up.

  • Renee lost 75 lbs helping someone win in life.

  • Renee set her face on fire.

  • Renee built her confidence after almost dying in a car accident

VINTAGE INTERVIEWS | Perle Noire, An Icon Burlesque Star Icon in 2012

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You can't say Josephine Baker without saying Perle Noir. The world of Burlesque chants her name as she dances all the way to the top. Residing in New Orleans you can find Perle in all top Burlesque productions around the globe. She's performed for Dita Von Teese and more. Meeting Perle was like something out of fun sitcom. It was a late Saturday night and I was eager to attend a swanky club on St. Charles for their Salsa Night. Once inside it was a rush of energy, everyone looked great. I soaked up the scene then found the Ladies room to freshen up.

The line was long but it made for good conversation with other girl club goers. Who walks out the stall but Perle. We said hello, I gave her a bookmark and we chewed the fat a bit. Literally there at the club we had a ' Meeting in the Ladies Room ' & yes we washed our hands !!!!! LOL.... 

 Enjoy my 7 minutes with Perle Noir !! Read & Enjoy. - thai`

Who inspires you most and why ? The person who has inspired me most is Josephine Baker. I fell in love with her because she was the under dog. She was cast aside by her parents and society. Despite growing up poor and black she decided to create her own path instead of the one chosen for her. She reminds me of myself. I'm the underdog. Most of my life I was poor and picked on. I never fit in with the other kids. However, I always had a desire and passion to perform. The stage is the only thing that's never let me down. Josephine Baker's story reminded me of the Ugly Duckling. I saw a woman who went threw the same abuse that I went threw but she decided to strive in opposition. That's why I love her. Of course, the beautiful costumes and ground breaking performances caught my attention as well.

 

When did you know Burlesque was for you ? In 2003, I auditioned for a Burlesque show called " Backstage at the Fonky Burlesque". It was a Burlesque musical featuring classic strip tease, ballet, rock music and of course drama. I auditioned because I was a full time actress and singer at the time plus I knew this was a way to perform a tribute to Josephine Baker. I traveled with this show for three years. I performed in New York and Montreal. It was amazing! After performing in this amazing show I knew Burlesque was right for me. Burlesque involves everything that I love about the Theater. Burlesque features singing, dancing, comedy, story telling and glamor. I feel like Burlesque chose me.
 

 What do you love most about New Orleans ? Like myself, New Orleans is misunderstood. It's an under dog. People only see the poverty, bourbon street and the super dome. It's so much more. New Orleans has great schools, people, architecture and history. That's why I love NOLA.

VINTAGE INTERVIEWS | The Fat Boys " by Thais Mills in 2008

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Say you don't know The Fat Boys and I invite you to log out now. Log out and NEVER come back !! lol... Well no one is loggin out b'cuz we ALL know who The Fat Boys are !!! They're the first group of male rap artists who made it cool to be thick, slick and all that sheet !!! From creative movie deals, branding opps and of course the MUSIC, The Fat Boys are embedded in pop culture.  This is why when I scored the interview I was #ultra ( Hey Swizzz ) excited. I had sooooo many questions. I felt as if I grew up with them on my block. We all know the hard meat FACTS on TFB but what about odd things, mushy things...  I humbled myself and wrote out 7 simple questions. Read and Enjoy ! 

1. I just lub (love) yawl, how have you guys beennnnnnnnn ? Blessed!  Appreciate the love and extremely excited at the support we've been receiving!

2.  You've been in this industry over 3 decades, where is the best place to grab inspiration ? From the heart. Grab inspiration from the heart and reach for the stars. That's what our logo is!

 3. Tell me all about your favorite book(s) ? Without question, The Bible. It teaches, inspires and blesses.

VINTAGE INTERVIEWS | Cameron Russell Model / Advocate by Thais Mills 2009

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When beauty and brains collide its an amazing experience to be a part of. Cameron Russell is walking proof that Victoria Secret isn't really a secret at all. A college educated, business launching young lady can also say she wore wings of an angel, A Victoria's Secret Angel that is. I caught up with " Miz Cam Cam " to talk on what drives her and what pumps her brakes in today's trying times... oh yeah and we chew the New Orleans fat on my favorite... BOOKS !! ~ Thais`

Who inspires you and why ? Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the current finance minister of Nigeria. She is a powerful brilliant woman and many of her solutions to very difficult and corrupt situations have been not only clever but functional. Tibor Kalman and in particular his work on the first 13 issues of Colors Magazine. He provides a fantastic example of how to use mass media to ignite serious discussion. So much thoughtful media is relegated to the sidelines, deemed to niche for the "masses" which is a shame. Most recently the five women we photographed for our first issue of Interrupt Mag: Christine Lewis of Domestic Workers United, Courtney Martin writer & co founder of feministing, Marisa Jahn founder of rev-, Lori Lobenstine founder of DS4SI and Female Sneaker Feind, and Spectra Asala of Queer Woman of Color Media Wire and Spectra Speaks. They all make media for an audience of collaborators. That is inspiring. 

Confess to me your favorite books ! I love to read! I'm a nerd. Currently working on Rebecca Walker's Black Cool and David Sanger's Confront and Conceal. 

How did you get into modeling ? I was scouted, check out my video here at TEDx talk. 

Tell me all about " The Big Bad Lab " I founded the lab with a group of women to build platforms that expand and experiment with new spaces of power. For more visit www.TheBigBadLab.com. 

Whats your favorite color? Green mostly, but sometimes I like to wear purple (when I'm not wearing black). 

Are you single and how does love enhance you as a business woman ? I have a wonderful boyfriend. I think significant others provide an important role in being able to tell you the truth when others might not say it. (Telling you when your ideas are good....and bad!) And, when you've had a bad day at work you get to come home to someone who loves you no matter what. 

INTERVIEWS | Lisa Petty Talks Cutting Edge Fashion in Dallas, Texas.

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I absolutely love telling the story of how we met.. it’s something straight out of a book of tall tales but it’s the honest truth. It was a rainy night in Dallas Texas and it was my first time leaving my 3 month old daughter with my mom who drove in to watch her for me to attend the first competition I’d ever participated in as a designer.

AIN (Accessories In Nude) was a high end Designer Competition where dozens of designers were invited to bring their best pieces. Rain blared on the windshield as I took the 3 plus hour drive in from Houston Texas. Changed in the bathroom minutes before the event started and I was a wreck.

Ran into the bathroom and saw it as my own dressing room… Airing out wet clothes, touching up makeup and trying to compose myself and make myself laugh to take the nervous energy away. In walks this poised, calm natured chick wearing an outfit that was giving a vibe.

Didn’t know her from a can of paint but went to telling her about my entire crazy day…

“ I don’t know who these dayum Judges are but I hope they tipsy cuz Im a mess !! “

We both laughed and had the best conversation. Little did I know I’d walk out to the event and SHE WAS ONE OF THE JUDGES !!! Her name is Lisa Petty and I didn’t win that night but Lisa and I have been pals ever since.. She’s traveled to me as a Star Guest Reader for Bibby Gumbo Book Club and I’ve been invited to her home with my daughter. So happy we met and you’ll be happy to meet her too.

She is Dallas’ Top Tastemaker in Fashion and Philanthropy.. From Fashion to Philanthropy she truly is the one to have on your team. Meet Lisa Petty

INTERVIEWS | Geir Ness of Disney's Frozen Perfume Talks life at Epcot

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He is one of the most vocal Disney voices you’ll see at Epcot Center and for good reason. Geir Ness is the Creator GeirNess.com and has made waves from Norway down into America. Growing up in Norway, Geir Ness spent weekends in the pristine mountains outside Oslo, hiking, skiing, picking wildflowers and kayaking in the fjords.

Decades later, after working with some of the biggest fragrance houses in the world, he returned to those mountains on a mission. He spent four years mining the rich, natural scents of Norway’s countryside on a quest to develop a fragrance of his own.

INTERVIEWS | Omar Tyree, Best Selling Author of "Flyy Girl" Visit The Gallery

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He is as controversial as he is cool and it’s why the world loves him 10 times over. Omar Tyree has empowered us to turn his pages for close to 3 decades. Transferring from the University of Pittsburgh to the Chocolate City territory of Howard University in Washington, DC, Tyree changed his major from Pharmacy—his mother’s field—to print journalism, which would increase his skills in reporting and writing. Discovering this fascinated me even more because my own mom was a Pharmacist.

As a confident hustler with an independent Aries mind, instead of waiting around to find a publisher who agreed to publish his work, Tyree started his own publishing company, MARS Productions from his one-bedroom apartment in Hyattsville, Maryland, and published his first three books; Colored, On a White Campus in October of 1992, loosely based on his college years at Pittsburgh, Flyy Girl in April 1993, the urban classic all about the 1980s era of Uptown Philadelphia teenagers, and Capital City in April 1994, detailing the drug culture of Washington, DC, during its most treacherous “murder capital” years of the early 1990s.

His story in itself is a novel waiting to be written and its why I had to have him here at the gallery for an exclusive sit down. You know why its so exclusive.. ? HE REFUSED TO MOVE!!!! Normally I interview guest on an entirely different angle but in his classic Omar fashion… He wanted to be different.

I thank him because now it’s the LipServiceInk “ Reading Room “ and nobody will ever be able to sit anywhere at my big little gallery and not be ready to film. “ Iron sharpens Iron “ is the take away you’ll have after watching this interview. Its unedited and a bit painful to watch but I held my own and he was an entertaining guest. Never a dull moment. TRUST ME!

It was the weekend of the BET Awards and Omar was in town to promote his Entertainment Omni, LAVA Entertainment. I was his first interview once arriving in Atlanta from South Carolina and boyyyyyyyy did he make me WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK (in my best Rihanna voice). Leaves me speechless to this day just thinking about having one of the most powerful Black Male Authors in my gallery watching him sign his famous book that survived Hurricane Katrina all live during our interview you’re about to see.

INTERVIEWS | Yolanda Doley of Dumonde Training Center in Roswell Georgia

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Who is Yolanda Doley and how does she #BloomOnPurpose ? For starters she has morphed from her hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana into Roswell, Georgia with a wave of ways to benefit the entire community.

Dumonde Management & Consulting exclusively offers Grade-A CNA Graduate Classes alongside employment placement for future medical warriors as young as 17 yrs old. This is great news for parents looking to organize alternative choices after high school that can STILL place them in a 6 figure earning bracket.

I also call her “Boss”. As Dumonde’s Art Director and Creator of our “Art Wellness Program” has been such a fulfilling chapter in my life. This season has been full of color and vibrance and I have Dumonde to thank. Outside of her meetings and more she stopped by the gallery to discuss just how important continuing education programs in place for essential workers and more.

Grab something to snack on and enjoy what’s below. Thanks again!

INTERVIEWS | Devonka B at "Lillie Of The Valley Farms" Talks Black Girls on Farms

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Meet the woman who drove 12 hours to share her gripping story. You wont forget her I promise. Sweet as a Georgia peach yet Waller County, Texas is where she calls home Devonka B. is a proud Sustainable Farmer and Owner/Founder of Lillie Of The Valley Farms in Waller County, Texas. Wait there’s more… In the most creative way Devonka dips her massive farmland in vats of Black Girl Magic on a daily basis. Let me paint you a picture as you hold your smart smarty pants phone or as you sit at your desk…

Close your eyes and ponder back to the first orange juice commercial that “stuck” in your head as a kid. Mom stands bewildered all while wondering which juice to pick and all of a sudden you’re whisked away. Like a dream almost. The grocery store front is torn away like paper revealing lavish farmland of where your oranges are grown in style. THAT’S DEVONKA’S FARM!!!

She drove 12 hours from her farm and to my forest here at the Gallery for a day of painting, brunch and overall just a much needed girls time we all deserve. Before she left we went live in my unplanned styled for one of my most gripping interviews to date. We were both so vulnerable which I think most women should do more of. Thanks to you and the entire Lillie Of The Valley Farms staff. Enjoy below!