The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THERE is no stopping Bahamian entrepreneur Raquel Pinder as she continues to be a voice for women year after year through her organisation Beauty Beyond Feelings.

Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, Raquel and her team recently held a successful event under the theme "He Made All Things Beautiful In Its Time."

For Raquel it's an overwhelming feeling knowing an organisation she founded has impacted and influenced the lives of Bahamian women in a positive way.

As the owner of a hairstyling company, Styles By Kelly P, Raquel uses her experience to uplift women, to help them feel beautiful and confident.

"There is a need to consistently empower and inspire through whatever avenue you feel necessary, because people are fighting emotions we know nothing about. It's important that we constantly remind ourselves of our purpose, our reason for existing, and using that to selfishly give to ourselves," said Raquel.

While it was a bit of a challenge planning and executing the most recent event with no corporate sponsors, Raquel said she is happy she made the decision to move forward with the party, which turned out to be a huge success.

One of the highlights of the day, said Raquel, was the opening skit depicting a group of friends having dinner when they all notice that one of them us hiding a secret abusive relationship.

Another highlight was guest speaker Harrison Thompson, a therapist who gave a motivational talk on healthy relationships.

"With the theme this year we wanted to bring awareness to grief and adversity. We wanted persons to know that this may often occur in our lives, but God has a plan to make it all beautiful in the end...also to remind persons that everything God made was for a particular function in its beginning stage to the end. After losing my 14-year-old sister due to diabetes, I wanted to inspire others to live a fulfilling life," said Raquel.

Looking back on her decade-long efforts and her most recent event, she said: "It all happened too fast, everything is just sinking in. When you're filled with ideas on how to make people smile, you hardly ever stop to look back on how much impact you may have already made. Some of the men who were in attendance...raved about how informative and fun it was to participate in the 10th anniversary celebration. Persons were impressed by the way we totally transformed J-Line Studios with our décor."

She encourages readers check out the Beauty Beyond Feelings website for their clothing and product line.

"Like our Instagram and Facebook pages to keep abreast on what we'll be doing next. We are very excited to be a part of the Little Pink Party's 10th celebration where we will have a booth," said Raquel. For more information, e-mail beautybeyondfeelings@gmail.com.