Rising Stars: Meet Tadrauna Smith of Inglewood, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tadrauna Smith

Hi Tadrauna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hello, Im Tadrauna I have been a creative and into fashion since as long as I can remember. i’m different and I know this, however different is a good thing. I use to dress so different just to make my mom mad at first but really it was because I just loved fashion, every time I saw someone with a cute outfit on it just made me happy I couldn’t wait to grow and and create. It’s so funny because people use to talk about me and the way I dressed, but It was my form of expressing myself I dressed in such a unique way and now I get compliments for my uniqueness so its come full circle. I’ve always loved to make a statement rather it was through the way I dressed or something I was creating to put in my room etc. I was the teenager who went to places like hot topic to get something with holes in it, mixing it together with something you wouldn’t see everyday was my thing. After graduating High school I knew that I needed to start making money to take care of myself so I did what I told my mom I wanted to do in grade school, I went to nursing school. I’ve been in the medical field for over 10 years, helping people in any fashion (No pun intended lol) is my calling, however doing what I was born to do has never stopped me from doing what I love being a creative. Creating doing literally doing anything creative is where I come alive. Ive tried my hand at a number of different things in the creative space, but when we were forced to sit in the house in 2020 is when I really started to put my money where my hands were, I started Beadshappybytadrauna creating accessories like chakra bracelets and a number of other items. It made me come to life being able to sit and create fully. I love making people feel good, I do it on a daily basis being in the medical office, but when I get to creatively dress someone for a special occasion is just something that will never get old to me. Ive heard all my life that I should be in fashion and I agree Im a fashion grille I love feeling like Dorthy Dandrige and I love making others feel that same way. I am a really shy introverted person if I don’t know you so me dressing is my way of expression and using my voice. I got here by faith and Gods grace honestly. My story is crazy, but by his grace Ive made it a long way, with that said, I still have a long way to go. I am a mother of one amazing 16 year old son who is my pride and joy. Ive lost 4 daughters and so I hold my son near and dear, I almost lost my life trying to deliver one of my daughters so I understand all to well what it is to have a second chance at like. God spared my like so I know that I have a big purpose here in the earth. I am so proud of how far I e come because there was a time when I couldn’t even get out of bed I was broken. God is good! I’m alive to tell my story.

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?
Absolutely not! my journey has been anything but easy. I got serious with my now husband (Skyler) at 19 years old, we fell in love and had our first child(Malachi my greatest accomplishment) at 21 years old and it was so easy at first them life started lifing and it got extremely hard. After having our son, I got pregnant again two months later with my first daughter we lost her after a grueling extremely difficult pregnancy which almost took my life, I was literally bleeding internally the entire pregnancy which doctors told me way only a blood clot which resulted in my daughters passing. My husband and I went through soooo much loss after that as including the loss of 3 more daughters which left a complete whole in my heart. hen I tell you I went through a deep dark depression for 10 years straight I mean it, The most traumatic experience of my life. I was just surviving, going through the motions, not well mentally at all, I was suffering so deeply not putting in any effort in life as I knew I had potential. I have not been the same since. we loss so much in that 10 year span i’m honestly surprise our marriage survived the damage and heartache that happened. It has been the hardest thing trying to get back to the Tadrauna people once knew, I will never be her again speaking honestly. I was so afraid to live because of not having my babies earth side I didn’t want to live without them not even. If i’m honest my baby boy didn’t get the best mother he should have had because I was so focused on what I loss and not what God blessed me with, His little amazing self.
Another part of my journey since Middle school has been being told “i’m too dark” for something that carried over Into the medical as well, field being a darker skin woman I’ve had to work 10 times harder compared to my counterparts its been one of challengesI’m still navigating through it gets discouraging for me at times knowing how great you are, but not getting an opportunity based off of your skin being darker. It cuts deep Ive had to work through that as well. I have had to worth through A LOT over the years just to try to feel somewhat normal again. I can go on for days how tough things have been to get here. The road most certainly has been a bumpy one, but a road that Ive embraced so much along the way because it has made me the woman I am today. I am learning to embrace the good, bad and everything in between along the way. I can fully say now, I know i had to go through that to get me here although very painful experiences Im blessed as I continue to keep moving forward because i know without a shadow of a doubt that GOD got me and what he has for me will always find me.
“To get through something, you’ve got to go through something,” right?
Im right where i’m suppose to be. In perfect timing.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am in the medical field by day, I shine there, like I have a mean blood draw. I love the patients I come in contact Ive worked with people from all different walks of life I only pray i’m making a difference in their lives as much as they make a difference in mine. Like I mentioned before I’m passionate about working with people because me getting to make someone feel better is so rewarding. In saying that, I am the owner of the GardenOfEden.Tadrauna brand being a creative is where I really come alive. I am a true visionNista fashionista threw and threw and live and breathe fashion. If I envision something I will bring it to life. I brought my first baby/vision to life in 2020 called Beadshappy.tadrauna accessories it, and is still doing well. In Feb 2024 I bought a moss bag where i started adding flowers & different things to it from that vision, My second vision/ baby The Garden of eden.Tadrauna brand was created. The journey with the Garden of Eden bags has been both hard and rewarding at the same time. I have been putting my blood, sweat tears and funds in garden of eden because i believe in it. To my surprise people have been very receptive to my creations, i’ve sold tons of bags in just 3 months, I have gotten to create handmade items for some real heavy hitters and thats a humble brag. I have so many ideas, visions and creations for the brand coming up I cant wait to get it out of my head, off the paper and into the world. Creating an Item or an outfit from a vision I have in my head to me is a real talent, honestly it is what I was created to do. God put me on this earth to show up and show out! It’s not just something to make money from, The Garden of Eden.Tadrauna brand is really from my heart and thats what makes it special. We’re really small right now, but i’m excited where we’re going. I have been creating all sorts of things since I was little. I can create anything fashion based & put it together bravely & flawlessly. What sets me apart is that I am super unique, passionate, and a survivor, I’m intentional about what I do and I hope to bring joy to those that encounter me. I have a crazy, silly, strong personality and you are defiantly going to remember me. My job as a creative is to create and make people smile that is literally my job and Im grateful to God that I get it do it everyday, Honestly I have such a long way to go, but i’m getting there one GardenOfEden.Tadrauna bag, one blood draw at a time. I’m just getting started!

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I am a California, Venice girl to be exact. I have two brothers, one, three years older and one, ten years younger yes, Im the middle child so as you can imagine I was the wild forgotten child lol i’m kidding I was very independent and my mom allowed space for that. My mom was a singly mom who did her thang taking care of my brothers and I. My Step dad came home when I was a senior in high school and has been my dad since. My favorite thing about childhood is outside with riding bikes, running around, drinking out of water holes. Growing up in Venice was just dope! we were all family, When you went down to that place by the beach everyone knew each other that’s what made it special, our small community was a mighty one. I remember we use to ride our bikes down 4th street hill fall off the bike get all scraped up and had to be home when the streetlights came on. It was crazy, but it was fun. I would change my bandages when I got a scrape criss cross to make them look like basket weave, I always wanted to make a statement. I knew very young I wanted to dress dope, create dope items and help people. Thats my purpose in life. I can proudly say my childhood shaped the woman I am today and i am walking in my purpose. It took a long time to get here but i’m on way way!
I want to leave you with this. Don’t ever let anyone tell who what you can or can’t do because only you can stop you. There is no one in this world that can do you and be you like you so relish in that. Your journey may not be perfect but with consistency and determination you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You are amazing and If I can do it so can you!
Much Love,
Tadrauna

Pricing:

• Pricing for the Garden of Eden moss bag is $45
• Totes are $60 BeadshappybyTadrauna are $20

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@creativeflynshyfits.taje
• Instagram: the.girl.with.the.aqward.name
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tadra.palmore?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: https://linktr.ee/tadrauna?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=03663fea-f405-4de0-a849-90239054ef48

Image Credits
Photos taken by self, Skyler & Malachi Smith.