Today we’d like to introduce you to Isley Nicole Melton.
Hi Isley Nicole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Ohio but raised in Chicago. As a child, I would always see these beautiful images of California and dreamed of moving there. That dream became reality after I booked a commercial and had residuals steadily coming in to be able to transfer my life to a new city. I sold everything I owned (which wasn’t much) and moved to Los Angeles with $2500,
Since then, so much has happened. My beautiful ups and downs in the journey of life is not for the weak but somehow with God’s grace and love, I’m here and still going.
I’ve had the pleasure of being friends and working with some household names. I’ve also had the pleasure of seeing good friends start from the bottom and become superstars. It’s been magical and I’m very happy I made that leap of faith many moons ago.
I’m an overall artist. I’m brilliant with my hands. I have a beautiful mind and I love coming up with new ideas and executing them. I’m an Actress, Author, Designer, Screenwriter, Producer, Director and Yoga Instructor and I’m looking forward to another magical year with all my planted seeds blooming.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t been easy at all. Sometimes our biggest obstacle is ourselves. I’m a Gemini, so we tend to want to do everything ourselves. My breakthroughs came when I started to utilize my resources and realize I do need people. Also, through yoga and meditation, I was able to quiet my mind and make better decisions. I don’t regret my path though and I’ve learned to not judge it or anyone else. It’s all God’s plan.
We’ve been impressed with Nsombii®, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Nsombii® is an African-inspired athleisure line designed by me, founded in 2016. I’ve been teaching yoga for years and I visited Africa and was so inspired by the designs and vivid colors and prints that I wanted to incorporate that into an athletic line. I googled to see if it existed and it didn’t at the time, so I created it. So happy I did! It has been well received all over the world. It’s a beautiful thing when you run into people wearing your brand and it has been embraced by some of your favorite actresses like Gabrielle Union, Cherie Johnson, KJ Smith and Supermodel Tomiko Frasier to name a few.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
God deserves all the credit!!! When I look back and reflect, I don’t see how I would have been able to survive the downs without God. The strength it takes to persevere when it looks like the end is pure spiritual. Constantly moving in faith when you don’t see the next step is biblical. Some fold. I didn’t and so I have to give myself some credit too. Like Snoop Dogg said at his walk of fame ceremony, I’d like to thank “me”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Nsombii.com
- Instagram: @nsombii
Image Credits
Arnold Turner
