Thirty-five people are a little richer for telling their stories about the challenges, goals, and opportunities that have shaped their character.
Design Essentials recently wrapped up a 35-day TikTok and Instagram challenge that awarded $1K per day to people who gave winning responses to questions about life lessons, struggles, ambitions, and their hair journey.
The Black-owned haircare brand held the giveaway as part of its 35th anniversary in business.
“What better way to celebrate 35 years than by hearing directly from the people who’ve been with us on this journey?” says the brand’s President, Cornell McBride Jr. “Their stories have moved me, and reminded us all why we do what we do.”
While the money was certainly a motivator, it was the act of being seen — and heard — that left a lasting mark. Participants used their entries to share how haircare isn’t just a routine, but a ritual of healing, expression, and pride.
Here are a few of the winning responses to Design Essentials' questions.
Question: How has your hair journey given you confidence?
@cierradjackson: I am the first woman to compete with Afro at Miss America. At the time, I dealt with a lot of opposition … Many people come onto these stages hoping people will like them. It is a different type of confidence to come onto these stages saying ‘I love myself whether you like me or not.’ Confidence in myself and lessons I learned at Spelman College guided me through my journey. Since then, I have walked on the Miss America & Miss USA stages, worked in Congress and the White House and most recently on Fashion Runway Shows in Miami Swim Week, all with my naturally curly hair.
@imcassandrad: I'm a breast cancer survivor and 14 years ago this month I had nothing but peach fuzz on my head as I had started chemo treatment. I remember my oncologist telling me it would come out at first wash. But I combed it out little by little. my crown and glory. … About a month after finishing all my treatments my hair began to sprout. It was like watching flowers sprout up from a planted seed. It was curly at first and got thicker and thicker. I decided to remain natural. My hair is now healthier than it’s ever been and I even named her Sunflower Simone 🌻
Question: If you win $1,000, what personal investment would you make and why?
@blossominglydia_25:I would bring my children’s book to life. After finally finishing the manuscript, I would use the funds to hire an illustrator. This has been a lifelong dream of mine, one planted when my dad brought home Tuck Everlasting. That moment made me fall in love with stories and the way they shape young minds.
@avonjanebeautyco: I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for 13 years. After taking a 2-year break, I’m rebuilding with purpose — not just behind the chair, but beyond it. This $1,000 would help me invest in education for medical hair loss and become certified in medical wig making. I want to serve women facing chemo, alopecia, and postpartum hair loss with real solutions and real compassion.
Question: What is the one challenge you have overcome recently that makes you proud?
@shegetsbeaute: To speak up for myself and set boundaries. As a little girl, I struggled to use my voice. I stayed quiet even when something hurt me. I tolerated things I had no business accepting just to keep the peace … But over time, I discovered the power in my voice. I realized that my words matter and that they shape how I feel about myself and how others treat me. Once I began expressing how I truly felt, I noticed a shift. My life started aligning with what was meant for me.
@beautyby.sairamarie: When I shifted careers 3 years ago and became a cosmetologist full time, I was doing it on faith. … I knew I loved doing hair and making my clients happy, but I didn’t know what my purpose really was. What I discovered through prayer and meditation and time was that my purpose for doing hair was to allow those that sat in my chair to feel heard, to know that their voice mattered because the person catering to them was listening attentively.
Question: If you could give $1,000 to anyone, who would you give it to and why?
@ezricab: I would give the $1,000 to myself. I’ve applied to and been accepted to medical school, nursing school, and now graduate school, but I’ve never had the financial means to pursue any of them. This year is the closest I’ve ever come to making it happen. I am just $3,000 away from finally being able to enroll.
@goodvibes_daj: I would give the $1,000 to this wonderful woman who deserves everything in life, my coworker. She has been a single mother for most of her children’s life … She works two jobs, one during the day and one at night with me. I’ve never seen anybody this motivated.
Question: If your hair could talk, what would it say about your journey?
@peacefully_inspired: “You didn’t give up on me when people teased you for my existence. You didn’t give up on me when people told you I wasn’t the standard. You loved me through it … you unapologetically accepted me.”
@zurieshun: My hair DOES talk. It speaks to the world on my behalf everyday. It communicates my history and culture. It explains my personality and my creativity … My hair doesn’t just talk — it whispers, it sings, screams, and exclaims!
And finally, of the most inspired winning entries came from Florida master loctician and PureO Natural Products educator @lishalayedit, who responded to the question with this poem:
Lisha girlllllll
Let me share with you my pride,
A crown of curls, where my spirit resides.
It would whisper of roots, deep and strong,
Of heritage and beauty, where I always belong.
It would tell of mornings, with twists and turns,
The ups and downs, with such beautiful curls
Of the love and the patience, the lessons it earns.
Each coil a story, each kink a song,
A journey of freedom, where I can’t go wrong.
It would speak of the sun, how it kisses my strands,
Of the rain that refreshes, the earth where it stands.
From afros that reach up to the sky,
To delicate braids that dreams up high.
It would speak about the locs, that one solid curl,
Filled with strength, as our ancestors earned
The story of freedom, the song of strength
The styles are limitless, the battle we win.
It would celebrate texture, the magic it holds,
In a world that may question, it would stand tall and proud,
With pride in its voice, reminding us all.
So if my hair could talk, it would say with glee,
Embrace every kink, let your true self be free.
For in every twist lies a history grand,
A beautiful journey, uniquely unplanned.