Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Nyirenda.
Hi Chelsea, 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 backstory with our readers?
I started my business because I was going through depression and anxiety on and off again for years, and I finally realized that I couldn’t be alone in this. I knew that what I was feeling wasn’t out of the ordinary or different, yes it was unique to my situation – but being mentally distressed is a common thing it’s just rarely talked about.
In 2018, I graduated from college, shout out Holy Names University in Oakland, and I went through a very dark time. I came home from a place where I had unlimited resources and networking ability to a place where I grew up but had no professional background to stand on. No resources, no affiliates to network within my field, it was a clean slate and I had to start all over.
I was working so hard and tirelessly towards my goal of becoming a veterinarian, then after a year of failed promises I switched to Dermatology and somehow in the pursuit of my dreams, I fell into my passion. I created a safe space for myself online (a blog) and after it got enough attention, I realized I should create a safe space like this for everyone going through life and struggling to stay sane and positive. So I created +BetterDays RVO, A safe space online to distress and find relief and refuge from your dark spaces and thoughts. I created a community that didn’t exist for me or others.
I curated a list of events throughout the time we were in quarantine online, I partnered with my friends who work in esteemed fields that directly relate to our mental health and spirit to help create a strong community in +BetterDays and more importantly give people a space to talk and feel relentlessly.
It’ll be our second year anniversary in February and we want to bring +BetterDays to the real-life space, take it outdoors and off the internet. Our goal is to bring people together in efforts to change their perspectives on what life looks like, what happiness feels like, what community looks like, and what they can achieve with a positive and productive community behind them. So we are currently fundraising to make that happen, selling merch and launching a donation page for any and everyone to donate to our cause.
Our mission is to change the conversation around mental health – so far, I’ve seen it happen and I can actually feel it happening. I guess you can say we’re doing just that.
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?
The road to starting and maintaining a business has not been easy nor smooth. I am so private about my ambitions, and thats not always healthy, but I felt like I had to be in order to stay consistent.
I believe in myself so much there is nothing that can stop me. But your communities opinions matter, and I’m so glad that my community supports me the way they do – but not everyone has that.
I believe our biggest struggle for building on our brand and business is strengthening our reach – starting online was okay and it was even great at some moments, however it’s hard to reach people emotionally that way, it’s hard to really connect fully without being able to hug someone. This is why we’re fundraising so that we can strengthen that reach and rebrand ourselves to be as inclusive as we can be.
Secondly is always funding, I work alone on everything, I create the branding, design the merch, direct the photoshoots, execute the roll out, do the packaging and shipping, manage the Instagram. Help would be amazing, a team is the goal for the next year – there’s nothing you cant do when you have ten hands rather than just two, we know that – so thats what we’re working towards
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist, I create from my heart with the perspectives of others in mind. I think it’s important to incorporate your audience in your work if you are hoping to impact them – my art is completely and totally unique to me and my experiences but I can’t say I don’t incorporate the strong characteristics and voices that come through from my peers to help my art feel relatable. I am a designer, A writer, A mental Health enthusiast and Ally, a model, I am a student and a Black Women Entrepreneur.
I chose art/ creative because I believe it defines my pursuit in life. I chase my most happiest moments at full force. I believe being an artist is an ongoing pursuit towards creativity, expansion, impact, self-purpose and realizations, all happening simultaneously. And it’s all worth it because I LOVE MY SHIT! and I love others.
I have always been the child of many talents, from singing to dancing, drawing, sports, to intellect – it’s A LOT to balance. But I think when you accept yourself as a creative, as an artist, it gives all of that pressure that feels like chaos PURPOSE. and you use it as fuel and direction.
I went to school for biology and business and I think being a great artist also takes knowing how to profit from what you love, I am so grateful for my educational background and all the impactful professors or mentors I had on my journey to purpose – without them, I think I would still believe my creativity was still just mess and noise.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
GET OUT THERE, AND BE YOU ALWAYS! People are attracted to authenticity, they can feel your energy when you’re around them.
Ground yourself in your purpose and what you stand for – then go shopping in that market.
Find the people and the mechanics you need to succeed and also be an impact.
Having a mentor should be a symbiotic relationship, you have to pour into them as they pour into you – find someone who you can also bless, and that doesn’t always have to be monetary benefit – some people lack love and loyalty in their life, positivity, thrill and spontaneity – be that!
I’m still looking for my personal mentors, even though I have many that don’t even know they are mentoring me because I’m just watching them and learning and receiving from them constantly. But I’m still working on that discovery, it’s okay if it takes some time to align with someone.
Pricing:
- My garments starts anywhere from $15 and range to $65, and the price is going up lol.
Contact Info:
- Email: chelseanyirenda@gmail.com
- Website: betterdaysrvo.com
- Instagram: @mwiza.thabang / @betterdays.rvo
Image Credits:
All photography by Davi Deazevedo @davi_deazevedo
