Meet Jamila Mandisa | Model, Influencer, Inspiration

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamila Mandisa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamila, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think that in order to live the life you’ve always dreamed of you must take risks. Pray about it first of course, but take the risk, you never know what is on the other side of that. The way I see it, you only have one life to live so live it. You can never fail you just learn and if things don’t work out you can always go back to what you’re used to doing.

I recently took a huge risk, I moved myself and my daughter from my hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, FL to a new city. I left my entire support system and relocated to where I only had my brother and my friend. Scared was definitely an understatement, but I prayed hard and I trusted God. I still have my days when I get overwhelmed or frustrated, but I am much happier. I was able to get my own place, a better position at my job and I am more focused on my personal goals. All in all I would say my decision was worth the risk. I still pray everyday for guidance and I am guided. I am more at peace and more confident within myself. I have proved to myself that I am enough and that I can do anything I put my mind to.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Most people don’t know that I am a certified Family Mediator. I help parties draft marital settlement agreements when they are going through a divorce or unmarried parents come up with parenting plans to follow when it comes to their children. I am also a certified life coach. Becoming a mediator came easy to me because I use it as an opportunity to connect with people, I try not to be so formal. Most of the time when people are going through a challenging time in their lives they just need someone to talk to, someone who they feel like understands and can help them. So that’s what I do, I help them to see the bright side of things. A divorce can almost feel like a death, and when it comes to children and having to share it can be difficult.

I’ve learned along my journey that no situation is the same and you have to be flexible. I really just want to be an inspiration to other women. I feel that my purpose is to help and to heal so I try to do that the best way I can. I don’t like to put myself in a box as if I just do one thing, I have many different aspects of myself. I’m also a model and an influencer and my message in that is also to inspire other women to break down the barriers created for them to be places in a box.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would definitely have to hit up a brunch spot, I’m not familiar with the Tampa area just yet, but I am a foodie so I like to explore different places to eat. We both have daughters as well so we would probably do some kid-friendly activities like go to the aquarium, the zoo or a museum.

After the days activities we would probably go back to the house and watch movies, chat and have drinks once the kids go to bed.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My tribe, my friends Sasha and Jamie, my brother and my sister-in-law, my parents. They have all been my rock throughout this new transition in my life. They have been there for the tears, the laughs, giving me a place to stay when I needed, food to eat, my goodness! I really cannot thank them enough for the support. All while they have their own things going on in their personal lives.

I also want to shout out SheaBetter Co. for keeping my skin soft and smooth throughout this whole process. At least my self-care regimen has been on point.

Instagram: @jamilamandisa

Facebook: Jamila Stewart