Daily Inspiration: Meet Candiss Hart

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candiss Hart.

Hi Candiss, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been into fashion literally my whole life. Even as a child, I was a little diva. My family’s house was the house where everything happened — holidays, birthdays, celebrations, random get-togethers, you name it. We were always surrounded by friends, family, and community, and every time people came over, I had an outfit ready… actually, multiple outfits. I treated every gathering like a mini-runway. I always needed a theme, a look, and a moment.

Looking back, fashion wasn’t something I picked up — it was just naturally part of who I was. As I got older, I started to understand the deeper side of it. People form an impression of you before you even speak, and I realized how powerful your appearance, posture, and presence can be. Style isn’t just clothing; it’s confidence, poise, and energy. It’s the way you show up in the world.

That understanding is what really shaped me. I’ve always had a high standard for how I carry myself, not out of vanity, but because I believe in leading with intention. Fashion became my way of expressing that — of saying who I am without having to say anything at all.

Outside of fashion, my career has been rooted in finance. Numbers, strategy, and understanding how money moves have always interested me just as much as creativity. After graduating from UCLA with my bachelor’s degree, I stepped fully into the finance world and built a solid foundation in business operations, financial planning, and management.

Working in finance taught me discipline, structure, and how to look at ideas not just creatively, but strategically. It helped me understand the business side of things — how to budget, scale, forecast, and make decisions that actually drive growth. Those skills have been a major asset in everything I do, including building my brand.

Right now, I’m continuing to level up by pursuing my MBA, which has pushed me even further. Being in this program while working and building my brand has shown me how capable I really am. It’s expanded my knowledge in leadership, marketing, entrepreneurship, and organizational strategy, and it’s reshaped the way I think about my long-term goals.

For me, fashion is the passion — but finance and education are the backbone. They allow me to approach my brand with confidence, not just creativity. I’m building something that’s stylish, intentional, and also smart, and my career path in finance and my MBA journey both play a huge part in that.

Entertainment has become another exciting extension of who I am and what I love to do. I’ve been blessed to build a strong portfolio in modeling, which opened the door to short film features and ultimately led to one of my favorite experiences so far — being cast on Issa Rae’s Suite Life: Los Angeles on HBO Max. The show is now airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network as well, which still feels surreal. Having my personality, my story, and my energy showcased on platforms led by Black creatives and storytellers has been such an honor.

But I’m nowhere near done. I’m ready to step into scripted work — film, television, anything that allows me to tap into deeper roles and bring different sides of myself to the screen. I’ve learned so much from reality TV and modeling, but now I’m hungry to expand, stretch, and challenge myself creatively in new ways.

And of course, all of this is happening while I’m also rebranding and relaunching my fashion line, Cree. My launch party is literally this Sunday on the 23rd — the same day I turn 30 — so it’s a huge moment for me. It feels like everything is aligning at once: the next chapter of my career, my brand relaunch, and stepping into a new decade of life.

I really see myself as a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur. I believe you can do all things — as long as it makes sense and stays true to your purpose. I don’t believe in limiting myself or letting anyone else cap who I can be. Whether it’s fashion, finance, entertainment, or business, I carry the same drive and identity across every space I step into. I think my journey shows that, and I’m excited to keep connecting all the dots as I grow.

At the core of everything I do — whether it’s fashion, entertainment, finance, or simply showing up as my authentic self — is my passion for creating opportunities for my community. That has always been the root of my purpose. I want people to see what’s possible, not because I’m perfect, but because I’m real. Whether someone connects with my style, my storytelling, my transparency, or my journey through business, I want them to feel encouraged and empowered by it.

Especially in finance, I’m passionate because I understand how deeply our communities have been deprived of access and resources for generations. That inspires me every day to be intentional about who I am and how I move. I truly believe God uses our lives as examples — as tools and vessels — to open doors for others. If I can be that vessel in human form, then I’m fulfilling my purpose. My vision is for us to live without limits, to achieve what He sees fit for our lives, and to break cycles by building confidence, wealth, creativity, and opportunity across the board.

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?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but I think that’s what’s made me who I am today. Nothing about my journey has been handed to me — I’ve had to work for everything, learn through experience, and sometimes start over more times than I expected. Balancing different parts of my life and career has been one of the biggest challenges. I’m pursuing an MBA, rebuilding and relaunching my fashion line, working in finance, and still pushing to expand my presence in entertainment. Managing all of that at once requires discipline, commitment, and a level of focus I had to grow into.

Financial obstacles have also been real. Coming from a community that hasn’t always had access to generational resources or wealth, I’ve had to figure things out on my own, make calculated decisions, and trust God through seasons where things were uncertain. There were moments when I questioned myself, moments when the vision felt bigger than my circumstances, and moments when I had to walk by faith and not by sight.

Identity has been another challenge — not letting people box me in. I’m a multi-dimensional woman, and sometimes the world wants you to pick one lane. But I’m proof that you can pursue fashion, finance, entertainment, entrepreneurship, and education all at the same time, as long as it’s rooted in purpose. Learning to embrace all parts of myself, without shrinking or apologizing, took time.

But every challenge has strengthened me. Every setback pushed me to grow. And I know that everything I’ve experienced — the highs, the lows, the pauses, and the breakthroughs — has prepared me to step into my next chapter with confidence and intention.

At the heart of everything I do is mental toughness and intentionality. I approach life like an athlete: I focus on winning the day. If you win the day, eventually you win the week, the month, and ultimately, you start winning at life. Every small win matters, and none of it happens by accident — it takes practice, discipline, and pushing beyond what you think are your limits.

Whether it’s in fashion, entertainment, finance, or personal growth, I treat every challenge like the “last rep” in a workout. When you think you’ve hit your limit and push one more time, you break through into a new version of yourself. That’s how I approach every obstacle, every opportunity, and every dream I pursue.

This mindset — combined with faith, focus, and purpose — allows me to continue creating, leading, and inspiring. It’s a reminder that no matter the challenges, breakthroughs come when you push beyond the moment you want to quit. That’s just who I am, and that’s the story I hope inspires others to push limits, pursue their passions, and never cap their potential.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a survivor of domestic violence, and while I don’t share all the details, I can say that those experiences could have easily taken me off my path entirely. Looking back at my 20s and reflecting on my romantic relationships, I realize how much those challenges shaped me — and how much I had to rely on faith, resilience, and sheer determination to overcome them. As I approach my 30th birthday, I see that every trial, every difficult moment, was part of a bigger plan. I truly believe I’m one of God’s strongest soldiers, and that He wouldn’t have allowed me to survive without a greater purpose for my life.

I feel so blessed — for my health, for every breath I take, and for the spirit of a champion that pushes me forward. There were moments where survival wasn’t even up to me; it was faith, strength, and grace that carried me through. And now, when I look at the trajectory of my life — from building businesses, pursuing my MBA, recreating my fashion brand, stepping into entertainment, and planning my next steps toward a PhD — I see how all of it is setting the foundation for something bigger. My hope is that my victory story becomes a roadmap for others who are in the fire, showing them that it’s possible to emerge stronger, wiser, and more purposeful.

I see my work and my experiences as interconnected. Every business I build, every step I take in professional life, and every lesson I learn is a way to cultivate tools that I can share later — whether it’s through public speaking, community work, mentorship, or even potentially a nonprofit. I stay a student of life because there’s always more to learn, and I want every lesson to be authentic, relevant, and actionable. My ultimate goal is to keep learning so that I can keep teaching, and to show others that no matter the challenges they face, victory is possible.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories has to be the annual white elephant parties at my family’s house. They happened every year on the Friday between Christmas and New Year’s, and our house was always the hub of the neighborhood. My parents created this space where friends, family, teachers, even my dad’s fraternity brothers — who I consider uncles — all came together. It was vibrant, full of life, and taught me the power of community at an early age.

I loved being part of the action — even as a kid, I was the little bartender, learning to make cocktails, dressing up in multiple outfits for different parts of the night, doing my hair and makeup — because, yes, I’ve always been a diva. The parties had so much love and energy, and they showed me how joy, celebration, and togetherness can bring people together in meaningful ways.

Another favorite memory was a high school party I threw called “Party in the Dons”. My older brother had set the standard with his own high school parties, so when it was my turn, I wanted to create something special for my friends across different schools and neighborhoods in L.A. We brought together people from all over — View Park, Santa Monica, Crenshaw — and it was amazing to see how much energy, creativity, and community we could generate as young people. Even though the night ended with a scare, it taught me early on about resilience, leadership, and making things happen despite the circumstances around you.

Looking back, these memories are more than just fun moments — they shaped my love for connection, creativity, and leadership. They taught me how to host, how to bring people together, and how to show up confidently, fully myself. That sense of presence, style, and community has carried through every part of my life and career.

Another one:

One of the defining moments of my high school experience happened on the softball field. I went to Crenshaw High School, and one of our biggest rivalries was with Dorsey High. The game was heated — we took it very seriously, even in softball — and I was the team captain, fully ready to protect my team if needed. By the end of the game, it almost ended in a rumble.

Right in that moment, my mom got my attention and reminded me: “Candace, don’t forget, you have a scholarship interview on this campus.” I had to pivot immediately. I went from full-on competitive mode to professional mode in seconds. I took off my jersey, threw on a blazer over my blue Under Armour shirt, and walked from the softball field to the scholarship interview — still sweaty, with dirt all over me from the game.

I went into that room and completely rechanneled all the energy from the game into confidence and focus. I introduced myself, answered every question with precision, and spoke with authority. The panel was impressed — they even told me on the spot that the scholarship was essentially mine, pending official notification. They took professional headshots that day, and I still have that framed photo hanging above my bed as a daily reminder: you take any situation and make it a win.

That moment defined a lot about who I am. It taught me that no matter the chaos, the distractions, or the pressure, I can channel energy into action and results. That day was a turning point — it showed me that mindset, poise, and strategy are just as important as talent, and it reinforced my belief that I can take any challenge and turn it into an opportunity to win.

Pricing:

• www.shopcree.com for all brand/fashion/design pricing
• Contact me directly for inquiries regarding my financial consultations

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopcree.com
• Instagram: @candisscree
• Twitter: @creecandiss

Image Credits
I have the heart of a lion — literally and figuratively. My last name is Heart, and I am a lion in the flesh, fully human, fully a woman. Everything I do is bold, fearless, and unapologetic. As 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds me, I operate in power, love, and a sound mind — and I carry that into every part of my life.