Beauty in Independency
This month’s Redefining Beauty is definitely an independent and accomplished woman. Leah Rogers shares what beauty means to her in her world of business and pleasure a.k.a travel. Leah Rogers, Soldier by day and entrepreneur by night. Leah is the owner of the brand “Soldier CEO”, proving looks for women in and out of uniform. Currently serving in the Active Guard, in her free time if she’s not dealing with business, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family or traveling. Eager to learn and expand her wealth of knowledge, she holds not one but two degrees, a certified professional in HR and an apprenticeship. She also dedicates time to assisting other aspiring entrepreneurs in starting their journey in business. Read more about how she defines beauty below.
Take a moment and let our audience know who you truly are.
My name is Leah Rogers affectionately known to some as Leah Marie. I am determined to go after everything I want in life. Some call me boujie but hey, who doesn’t like the finer things in life. If you work hard for it, you should have whatever your heart desires. I am going on 11 years in the Army as an HR NCO. I am a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University where I obtained my Bachelors in Management. I later attended Liberty University where I received my MBA with a concentration in HR. I am also a certified Human Resources Professional (aPHR).
In my free time, I love to travel, spend time with friends and family and dibble dabble in entrepreneurship. I am also a dog mom, to a handsome yorkie “Lennox”. I have aspirations of one day being the big boss, maybe yours. Lol. Just kidding. I love entrepreneurship, anything relating to business and learning new ways to generate more income. I am a lover of all things beauty and fashion, especially wigs.
As I got older, I started to embrace my flaws realizing that beauty comes from within.
What is your definition of beauty? Has the way you defined beauty changed at all over the course of your life? If so how?
Beauty is acceptance of yourself, perceived flaws and all and realizing that it’s what makes you, you. Loving yourself and others despite the differences and having self-confidence to know that with or without makeup you’re still beautiful. It took time for me to get used to this myself, as I was diagnosed with a common skin condition called “Tinea Versicolor”. As a young teenager, I had low self-esteem for this reason. I didn’t feel pretty and I definitely hated my skin so I would refrain from anything revealing the upper part of my body. There were times where I tried to cover it up with make-up. More like hiding my flaws. As I got older, I started to embrace my flaws realizing that beauty comes from within. I started to appreciate myself more and the things that made me feel beautiful, whether it be compliments from a stranger or purchasing a cute outfit.
You have achieved so much throughout life at a young age. Homeowner, Business Owner, and many military promotions. Do these accomplishments influence your definition of beauty?
Yes, I definitely would not have made it this far without being comfortable enough to put my face out there. I did not let what others thought of me, keep me from chasing my dreams. Anything I wanted in life, I put in the work and made it happen, sometimes working harder than my counterparts. A lot of people fear rejection. They may think they don’t look the part for a bigger role or responsibility and allow that to hold them back from applying for certain positions. You never know what you’re capable of until you put yourself out there. No matter what, show up for yourself. No one has your back, like you have your back.
With me wearing this uniform every day, I have to remain in compliance and the easiest way for me to do that is to throw on a wig. One week I may do a bun, next, a middle part bob, or maybe some curls
We all have moments when we feel EXTRA beautiful. Tell us about a time when you felt this way.
I always feel “extra” beautiful after a fresh slay. A fresh slay to me is just leaving the hair salon, getting my eyebrows snatched, and doing my make-up, however, this does not happen often.
We all are beautiful in our own way but that’s a time when I always feel like I’m the hottest thing smokin’.
What’s one product you use on a daily basis? And why?
Cocoa or Shea Butter, or the cocoa butter baby oil gel. They all are excellent for moisturizing the skin. I use it on my face, lips, and body ever since I can remember. I have pretty dry skin, especially with my skin condition, so I’ll often dab it onto parched areas of my skin — for example, the flaky skin around my nose or my back area. Regular lotions just don’t cut it for me.
You love to travel. Tell us what beauty products you make sure to throw in your bag before a trip and how do you package them for TSA checks?
I recently returned from a trip to Jamaica and the products I made sure to throw in my bag was first my lip gloss. I have big lips and I can’t stand them being dry. Aside from my gloss, I ensure I have my foundation, concealers and eyebrow pencil. This is all I really need for my face aside from mascara. I’m not that big on eyeshadow so it’s not a necessity for me to have it. I packed all my make-up in this cute little make-up traveling bag that I found on amazon. It fit everything perfectly including my brushes and fit snugged in my suitcase which I checked in.
You are definitely someone who loves to change up your hair. What’s your favorite style to rock and why?
A wig is my favorite style to rock because it’s so versatile. I also sell wigs which makes it more convenient to have whatever style I choose. Being in the military, there are rules and regulations for your hair, believe it or not. I can’t walk around with a fade, a bayang, an asymmetrical bob, or color because it is not authorized. With me wearing this uniform every day, I have to remain in compliance and the easiest way for me to do that is to throw on a wig. One week I may do a bun, next, a middle part bob, or maybe some curls. The options are endless and that’s why it’s my go-to.
As a tradition of the Redefining Beauty segments, what words of encouragement would you like to leave for our readers?
Be true to yourself. Do not let society define you. A relatable song is “Pretty Hurts” by Beyonce. In her video, she shows multiple examples of how the pressure for women to meet unrealistic standards is painful. Some people go through extreme measures to achieve what they think is the perfect body from surgeries, fad diets, etc. In the end it all affects you negatively. If you have to change your appearance or yourself period to fit in, to be with someone or even for a job, it’s not meant for you and it’s not worth it.
Please take some time to share any business ventures and/or social media platforms with our readers.
My current business is “Soldier CEO”, serving the women in and out of uniform. At “Soldier CEO”, you can find the latest styles of fashion, beauty (wigs), and accessories, and yes we do offer plus size.
My upcoming venture is “Leah Marie and Company”. My goal for this venture is to provide a one-stop-shop for the aspiring entrepreneur providing all the resources and connections to get your business up, running, and growing. Be on the lookout!
You can follow my business pages @soldierceoinc on both Facebook and Instagram. The website to purchase is www.thesoldierceo.com
My personal page is @i.am.leahmarie on Instagram or Leah Marie on Facebook. Don’t be shy, stop by, and let’s connect.
