Today we’d like to introduce you to Shorna Josephs.
Hi Shorna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
So I’m firstborn in America my parents are from Jamaica so I grew up very immersed within the culture. I’m originally from Jersey but moved all over. Growing up, my parents owned a record shop in San Diego, CA, and would host Reggae Concerts.
Watching them create something of their own and have the freedom to just be able to live inspired me so much that I knew that I wanted to live my life creatively and freely. I started to learn how to sew at the age of 6 making doll clothing, then I learned cross-stitching from my school. With sewing then came designing and learning how to draw and paint.
The fun thing about living in California pretty much everyone your around is an artist or someone with a cool life story. My next-door neighbors taught me about appreciating nature’s art like plants, and crystals. I would watch them make beautiful jewelry pieces and much more. Then I learned to crochet from my grandma I went from making table runners to bikini sets and dresses. When I moved to Orlando/Kissimmee, I had already started my fascination with nails, I saw one of my middle school friends had some cool nail art and so I started practicing and doing my own nails.
Everything was going pretty well until my family went through some rocky life situations. I and my mother ended up living in a hotel for a minute when I was in my senior year of high school. So I started to work to help my mom and slowed down my passion just a bit, I still created just not as much as I use to I mainly just started selling stuff that I made or I would go do people’s hair like rope twist or box braids. Eventually, we got out of that situation which I’m super grateful for. That time period in my life was the hardest thing I had to go through but it’s what motivates me to never give up and remember where I’m coming from.
I started to work two jobs and was a full-time college student. I still don’t know how I found time to still paint and crochet to sell. Fast forward to 2018 I turned 25 and went Sky diving and it woke me up in many ways in my life, I realized that I need to find a way to live back in a creative and freeing way. I quit my job and started to create and work on reconnecting with myself. Which allowed me to realize that I wanted to get my nail tech license, start my clothing line and live with a purpose in life. So I finally got my license in 2020 and I started to work hard on that now I make press on nails and I’m a gel nail artist at Pinkie Orlando and I absolutely love it.
I already started selling crochet clothing but I’m currently revamping that brand which is called Wildlyctld (wildly controlled), which will be handmade clothing and will launch before summer. If anything to take away from my story is to never let your situations force you into a state where you can not still dream and push forward. If you fall off take that moment in and use it to fuel you instead to live your truth. Also never let anyone tell you to focus on one thing, try it all!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nope, not at all I’m always trying to figure out how to get my businesses to flourish and nothing happens overnight. I just use the struggles that I went through as the fuel to just keep pushing on.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
So I’m a Gel nail artist but I’m also creative. I currently work with Pinkie Orlando as a gel nail artist, with nails, I can paint from simple cute nails to cartoon or anime nails. Also, I crochet and design clothing, and I’m going to be relaunching before summer.
I paint and draw what I call creepy abstract art and I paint pretty things sometimes. I’m most proud of my nail art right now because I’ve gotten so much better within a year and I’m only going to get better! What sets me apart is the fact that I bring so many different elements with me whether it be from my culture or life experience.
I’m going to use that to inspire my creations.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Fearless, optimistic but still realistic, driven, and creative. Without these, I would never have been able to do anything honestly.
Contact Info:
- Email: Shornamjosephs@gmail.com
- Website: https://shornajnails.square.site/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shornaj?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shornajnails/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/shorna14
- Other: https://msha.ke/shornaj/
