Vanessa Simmons on U4IA, Self-Care and Her Personal Journey
Photo Credit Marcus Fort
A one-on-one with Vanessa Simmons on her wellness website, self-care tips and achieving career success
There are career hustlers and go-getters, and then there is Vanessa Simmons. Vanessa, previously known for her appearance on MTV’s iconic reality series Run’s House, now joins HOPE for a conversation about her personal journey, finding her passion, self-care and her online wellness community, U4IA.
a career-juggling mastermind
As a business mogul, model, actress and most importantly, a mother, Vanessa shares that she manages her multiple careers by creating her own balance and maintaining her passion. Drawing from her own experiences, she explains, “There is no balance; you create the balance by prioritizing everything.” She places a significant focus on her passion, expressing her desire to inspire women and empower them. She’s involved in projects that she believes make a meaningful impact. Vanessa sees passion as the ‘secret sauce’ to successfully juggling everything in her daily life and being a positive example for her daughter.
pastry and tips for entering the fashion industry
Launched in 2007, the fashion and sneaker brand Pastry was Vanessa’s first step into entrepreneurship. Co-founded by her and her sister, Angela, Vanessa mentions that, despite not currently playing an active role in the brand, she admires its significant influence on others. “We are super proud of where the company went, the young women that Pastry inspired along the way and the impact we were able to make in such a male-dominated space - being in sneakers and adding a positive narrative,” she said.
Navigating the fiercely competitive landscape of the fashion industry was a valuable experience for Vanessa. For those aspiring to venture into the world of fashion entrepreneurship, she emphasizes the importance of crafting a strong vision for your contributions and entering the market authentically. Vanessa advises looking into untapped markets, as she believes, “Fashion can be an over-saturated world, but if you come in and you have something unique, then you can contribute in a meaningful way to fashion. Be authentic, show up, keep striving and keep growing.” Being bold is another key element for success when starting out in the fashion industry, “You want to find ways your brand is unique by sharing your story and your business,” she says.
the launch of U4IA and its future
Prioritizing mental health and wellness is a way of life for Vanessa, and she has taken it a step further by creating U4IA, an online community dedicated to mental health and wellness. She describes U4IA as her new project aimed at highlighting wellness and sparking conversations about living one’s best life. Her inspiration for U4IA stemmed from the increased concern on health during the COVID pandemic. “We were all scared, fearful and didn’t want to get sick. I started doing a deep dive into ways I can keep my family and I healthy with tips and tricks.” This exploration further motivated her to find ways to share these ideas with her social media followers.
Vanessa hopes that U4IA will inspire people and become the primary online community for those seeking health and wellness-related information. She aims to make the world of wellness intriguing, especially for those who have not considered it before. In her words, “With so many distractions and overwhelming factors in the world, I want U4IA to be a safe space where people come to grow and feel secure.” Vanessa will offer various features, including stories, tips, daily affirmations and other wellness-inspired content.
work-life balance and self-care
In her busy schedule, Vanessa maintains work-life balance through self-care. Whether it is dedicating extra time to her skincare routine, meditating, working out, or praying, she always prioritizes self-care. She states that self-care is a personal matter, “I think it’s [tailored] to the individual and what they feel they need the most. For me, activities like working out, journaling and anything that soothes my mind or helps me step out into the world more comfortably is what helps me balance and juggle my careers,” she says. As a skincare enthusiast and finding its practice as a form of self-care, Vanessa mentions that if she had to pick only two products she can’t live without, they would be her facial steamer and her Vitamin C Serum from Buttah.
Buttah’s campaign with Saks collab
Previously, Vanessa was approached by Dorion Renaud, the founder of Buttah, to join his brand’s campaign launch at Saks. Their friendship made the collaboration special, and Vanessa felt honored to promote Buttah’s vision and products, saying, “I wholeheartedly believe in it. I believe in Buttah and its products.” She explains Dorion’s brand serves as an example of tapping into untapped markets, particularly by creating products tailored for melanated skin, “Like I said before, entrepreneurship is all about finding something that’s untapped,” she notes. “He created products catering to melanated skin, something that has not really been explored the way he does it.”
words to entrepreneurs
According to Vanessa, it is essential to have a clear vision and the determination to persevere, “Have a strong vision, be able to persevere through anything life may throw at you and be ready to improvise. Just be strong mentally, physically and in all ways,” she says. She openly shared experiences when things didn’t go as planned, highlighting how improvisation was a key factor in her progress. She states having a visionary mindset and preparing for all possible outcomes are vital for entrepreneurs starting on their journey.
upcoming projects: U4IA on tour
With its ever-growing online community, Vanessa encourages everyone to stay tuned for the full website launch of U4IA. She is beyond thrilled to see where this journey will take her and is going on tour. ‘U4IA Health & Wellness’ event will be held around the country starting next year. The first stop is in Dallas, Texas on March 2, 2024. Attendees can expect immersive workout classes, access to recovery tools and more.
closing wisdom
Vanessa carries a piece of advice from her dad that is her rock: “Show up for yourself and do your best. Do your best and forget the rest.” These words have helped carry her through the toughest of times. “Your best is more than enough,” she concludes.
Tenzin Tsephel is an Associate Editor at Hope Magazine. She is experienced in writing beauty, fashion, and lifestyle topics. Born and raised in Wisconsin, she enjoys hobbies that include traveling, cooking and playing tennis during her free time.