The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

IN AN effort to empower young women through the performing arts, Bahamian entrepreneur and musician Ebony Johnson has created the ‘GirlFace’ initiative.

The idea behind ‘GirlFace’ stems from Ebony’s desire to grow and be herself, the artist told Tribune Woman. The inspiration to start the group, she said, came from her “very own life’s testimony”.

Growing up as an only child, Ebony said she was extremely introverted and had no self-confidence.

“I always explain to my little ladies the person I was and they always find it so hard to believe. When I was on stage, it was ‘show time’, but off the stage I was insecure and saw myself as a ‘raisin leg’ – as they called me because my raisins were so big. It’s funny now because it really made sense; acne filled, lost little girl,” she said.

For the Nassau native, the performing arts gave her the voice she thought she did not have. The act of performing became her friend, her opportunity to walk with her head held high and her opportunity to speak and sing as loud as she wanted to.

“I went years in a box and with neck pains because I literally watched people’s feet to see where I was going. I was the ‘speedy Gonzales’ that never spoke. I actively yearned and looked for approval from external sources and constantly compared myself to others, which was poisoning me. A dark cloud was blocking my vision of self-belief. After this, I realised I just wanted to be heard, I just wanted an older sister, I wanted performing arts personified,” she said.

Finally, Ebony found an outlet in music.

“Music silenced the voices in my head that constantly told me that I was not enough. In that defining moment in high school; I had the epiphany. I became cognizant of the fact that because of my story, I just wanted to be that big sister to as many little girls as possible. I knew that empowerment was my ultimate purpose,” said Ebony.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies degree in 2010, Ebony started performing professionally at functions, events, resorts and recording music.

Everyone has their niche and Ebony said the thought of empowering others through the performing arts, has become hers.

She realised she needed to travel the road she so shyly shuffled along as a child, but this time on the other side, the more positive side.

“I needed to have a place for youth to develop their God-given gifts and talents and hone their craft. In a nutshell, I may have encountered defeats, but I refused to be defeated by them. I didn’t have a voice, but when I found it I assured myself that I would not be silent about my passion. The youth need avenues to exude their feelings, but in a positive way. They need constant motivation to just be themselves and do it on/in purpose. Like India Arie said, ‘When you shine a light on your fears they dissipate.’ That’s exactly what I did and it helped me evolve into the woman I am today,” she said.

Ebony said the ‘GirlFace’ movement envisions a world where young women are supportive of each other, equipped with the essential tools to be socially, professionally, spiritually and academically capable and secure to explore and embrace who they are inside.

The mission of ‘GirlFace’, Ebony said, is to emphasise positive personal growth in girls and young women, allowing them to build strong foundations of integrity and indomitable character.

The movement aims to empower through the vehicle of performing arts as the participants explore and evolve into elegant, eloquent, and exceptional young women, she said.

“I believe that the universe rises up to meet you where you are, so the future I see for GirlFace is grand,” Ebony said. “I see this movement on a consistent crescendo internationally. My focus is to impact as many of my Bahamian little sisters as possible, but this movement aims to touch the lives of thousands of youth to unwrap a plethora of opportunities through the arts that will unlock doors in whichever career field they choose to pursue – I call it ‘purpose in play’.”

Having hosted a few mini forums as part of the ‘GirlFace’ movement, Ebony said she is often invited to speak to young people. She said she looks at her seminars as projects within the actual movement.

Just recently she hosted a girls seminar under the theme of one of her life’s mottos, “Just Be You and Do It On Purpose”.

She said it was an action-packed seminar geared to empower young ladies through session topics on self-esteem, etiquette, fitness – that included a lively Zumba class – confidence, personal hygiene, social media, posture/modelling and ultimately being their authentic selves. The young ladies received information and fun-filled packages that they can use in their daily lives. 

Ebony said she is presently working on a few ventures for GirlFace for the remainder of this year and for the movement as a whole.

“I’m in the process of producing my music single that marries my passion and purpose. It encompasses empowerment ideals into musical affirmations,” she said.

“This movement will be integrated in summer programmes and impact young ladies all over the Bahamas. I pray that the ‘GirlFace’ movement influences all young ladies to embrace individuality, take honest assessments of who they really are, and crescendo to the best young lady that they’ve ever been.”