This Week We Feature Young Professional Stella Maze
A young girl from a small island on her way to achieving amazing things in the ‘big apple’ is the inspiring story of our young professional this week, Stella Maze.
Born Athnia Wendy Jack, Stella is an Intern Designer at ‘Giraffe WALK Shoes’ and Founder at Stella Hues ‘Shoes’ in New York, USA and has helped to design shoes worn by celebrities such as Beyonce, actress Drew Sidora, Camille Mc Donald, Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba to name a few.
Stella’s success story continues as she is set to launch her luxury shoe line Stella Hues ‘Blue Bottoms’ Series Shoe Line for 2014 at the New York Fashion Weekend and L.A. Fashion Weekend among other notable events.
The young entrepreneur said her designer shoes are known as ‘Blue Bottoms’ because of its signature colour fusions of blue on the inner/outer soles. “The blue resembles the mystique blue of the beautiful Caribbean waters, specifically the Virgin Islands.” This is more than a clue that Stella’s heart is always close to home.
Our young professional is also into Event Planning and Promotions with some seven years’ experience and has assisted, coordinated and promoted some exciting events such as fund raisers, fashion shows, product launch parties, elite celebrity events, A-class sporting events, major Caribbean concerts, and pageants. Some of the big names and events that she has been involved in event planning for include Oprah Winfrey, Tommy Hilfiger, Lisa Raye, NBA and NFL draft 2008 - 11, 2013, Grey Goose product launch, BET Hip Hop awards gifting suite 2010- 2013 and more.
Behind all the glitter, however, there is the real story of a young woman who, like many others before her, was faced with many challenges that could have easily taken the course of her life in a totally different direction but she found the willpower to never give up but to press hard to not just be someone but someone extraordinary.
Stella attended the Althea Scatliffe Primary School and moved on to the Elmore Stoutt High School but did not complete high school there as she became pregnant before she was able to complete her secondary schooling. She was 15 years of age and noted it was a very difficult time for her and even though she wanted to complete her secondary schooling at ESHS, the pressures of society forced her to leave the school.
Determined to get a sound secondary education, Stella subsequently enrolled at the Charlotte Amalie High School in St Thomas, USVI but due to financial constraints was unable to continue. She then came back to the BVI to attend Sandy Lane Centre where she was also involved in lecturing and mentoring to persons, some of whom were much older than her. There she did the HLSCC GED programme and graduated as Salutatorian for the Class of 98. After completing her GED, Stella joined the US Armed Forces and later pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
It is no doubt that what Stella is doing now is purely out of passion and talent as she has had options of becoming a lawyer just as she dreamt of as a child as well as being involved in television productions. She noted that she even worked with Harney Westwood and Regiels in the Virgin Islands but just didn’t find the passion for the job and opted out of it. She has also studied acting at NY Film and hopes to someday have her own show that would serve to further promote her work as a footwear designer and event planner.
Getting into her current line of work was no walk in the park, however, for Stella and said she was met with many disappointments as she sought to present her designs and ideas to investors. But she kept ‘knocking on their doors’ until she finally started to receive some attention and for the last four years, Stella has humbly interned and worked with several ‘shoe veterans’, with a minimum of 40 years’ experience in the industry; the likes of Italian/American Footwear Guru David Aaron and Italian Designer Maurizio Lacopini, designing and creating high end products for major brands or special client projects (Project includes designing footwear for US First Lady Michelle Obama).
Stella said what has given her the edge as a footwear designer is her ability to design, sketch and her deep love for shoes! She noted that she got her designing talent from her mother Ms Jack who is a skillful seamstress from East End. Her mother remains a big inspiration for her. “Apart from that, I just loved shoes and I just can’t seem to get enough of them,” Stella remarked.
Despite many celebrities already buying into her footwear designs, Stella said one of her greatest satisfaction would be to see her designer footwear being popular among all women, especially in the Caribbean.
Not surprising, Stella is a God-fearing individual and said it was her creator who gave her the strength to overcome her difficult situations and remains her guide and inspiration.
She advises youth to follow their passion, be persistent like she did and to work hard at achieving their goals. “As youth we tend to follow what we think our parents want but in the end you're never happy....Don't just work for money, do something you absolutely love and you are passionate about, that way it's not a job but your career and your lifestyle.”
Our young professional also importantly tells youth to put God at the centre of their lives. "Anything is possible with him, I am a living testimony.”
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41 Responses to “This Week We Feature Young Professional Stella Maze”
Love,
Your VG Sis
Imagine if you stayed here, your accomplishments would be just a dream.