Budding entrepreneur, Tanisha A. La-Touche Pierre is the proud owner of Boujee Bodies VI, an online store providing stylish swimsuits to customers in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided

Turning attention to her business, Boujee Bodies VI, she said is an online store that has continually featured a variety of high-quality, comfortable, and supportive swimsuits from sizes Small- 4XL since day one. Photo: Provided

3XL Model 'Boujee Model Tiiah' sporting a swimwear from the company. Photo: Provided

Medium Model 'Boujee Model Kit'. Photo: Provided

Local group 'The Association' Wearing Swim trunks from the company. Photo: Provided

The 20-year-old, currently residing in Huntums Ghut, attended the Althea Scattliffe Primary School where she graduated in 2012 and proceeded to the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS); however, her time there was interrupted by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 when she was in Grade 11.

In an interview with Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), Tanisha said, “In the year of 2017, I went to visit family in Atlanta and then Irma occurred, which forced me to stay there and continue my studies at Rockdale High School.”

After that ordeal, our Young Professional said a few months later she finally returned to the Virgin Islands to finish her schooling at ESHS where she then graduated in 2019.

Female empowerment 

“Whilst in high school I was also a technical student. My major was ‘Metal Work’. Although I had no clue about it, I was still driven to study and learn my way around the workshop. Being a technical student helped me in ways that I cannot explain.”

She said learning metal work created a sense of female empowerment, “I no longer have to ask the boys for help when it comes to fixing basic items.”

“I was driven and pushed daily to continue striving and to never give up. My love for technical studies and the hard work that was placed into it has helped to shape my character."

Tanisha's hobbies include cooking, “growing up with my mother who is currently a chef, most of our meals were home-cooked. Seeing her do what she did in the kitchen did give me a slight interest in cooking. Things like putting together meals and certain dishes from scratch and perfecting it is what made me interested in it.”

Moving into business 

Turning her attention to her business, Boujee Bodies VI, Tanisha said it is an online store that has continually featured a variety of high-quality, comfortable, and supportive swimsuits from sizes Small to 4XL.

The business is still progressing, Tanisha related to VINO, “We are slowly but surely looking for ways to show that we are not just your typical swimwear store, which is why we took the initiative to also bring you beach accessories; waterproof phone cases, phone fans, sunglasses, beach hats and beach towels,” she said, 

Our Young Professional also said she has five (5) new collections to launch over the year including, “The His & Hers Collection”.

“The best thing about my business is seeing the transformation from before customers purchase a bikini to after their purchase. Many of them come to me and they are unsure of what they should get because of their slight insecurities; however, after that first purchase when I see the bright smiles featured in each of their photos, the excitement in their voices after they’ve worn their item, and the look of clarity and confidence on their faces, it lets me know that I’m doing something right,” she said.

Challenges 

According to Tanisha, the most challenging thing about being in business is sometimes meeting the customers’ satisfaction which she said remains a top priority, as it is sometimes hard to ensure that the customers walk away satisfied with finding what they’re looking for.

Our Young Professional said her business was sparked because she could not find a bikini that matched her taste.

“The bikinis I saw, were either too expensive, not in my size or not to my liking. After a few days, I was still surprised due to the fact that I didn’t find anything, I was shocked that most stores didn’t even cater to sizes above a Large. Which is why Boujee Bodies VI was started.”

Dreams becoming a reality 

While the business is now thriving despite some setbacks due to COVID-19, Tanisha said she is still in disbelief that she is a business owner. 

“I would never in a million years think that I would become an entrepreneur of a well-known business such as Boujee Bodies VI. We are currently one of the few top swimsuit businesses on the island and for that I would never trade being the owner for the world.

“There were times where I worked a typical nine to five, there were times where I would work a five to ten after school finished, there were times where I worked a six to one before attending school and there were times where I volunteered to work just because I saw help was needed.”

She said the road was not an easy one towards entrepreneurship and owning her own business, but it eventually paid off.

“I don’t look down on those who are currently doing so [working]. I actually applaud you for chasing the bag. In life, you have to do what you have to do in order to go where you want to go and be who you want to be. No matter what it is, it will take hard work and dedication. The hardest part is never folding.”

When Boujee Bodies VI first started, she related that the majority of what she earned was put into the business.

“In order to find this business, I was working ten to five from paycheck to paycheck. Every time I was paid, at least 80% of my pay would go towards this business and the remainder would be saved. Now that I’m currently unemployed, Boujee Bodies is funding off of itself.”

Parting advice 

Tanisha advises young persons to not be afraid to pursue their dreams. "Being afraid gets you nowhere.” 

She said; however, success will take time and there might be tears, stress and hard days; however, "dreams don’t work unless you do. Start with what you have and do what you can.”

As final parting advice, she said, “Taking one step is better than staying in place... that one step that you were afraid to take will be the move to make you keep going!”

The business can be found on website WWW.BOUJEEBODIESVI.COM, via Facebook at BOUJEE BODIES VI and on Instagram at @VIBOUJEEBODIES.