Meet Maria Taylor | Student & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Maria, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
A quote that has always been very special to me is one that Jhene Aiko wrote in her poetry book ‘2Fish’. She stated “New highs followed by new lows all for the balance I suppose.” This quote means a lot to me because over time I have learned that with success comes struggle and vice versa. It is very easy to be discouraged by the setbacks but you have to learn that change is inevitable. Sometimes things don’t go the way you expect them to, but that’s just part of the bigger plan God has in store for you.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
To begin with, I started my business at the age of 16 with the vision of empowering women. I wanted to make young girls and women alike to feel comfortable within their own skin. With that in mind, I started a boutique with variety of clothing pieces and accessories that can fit everyone regardless of body size, ethnicity, etc. Moreover, I am where I am at today because of my persistence and ability to overcome hardship. There have been setbacks but I’ve never allowed them to daunt me from moving forward. Gaining support from the public was definitely a challenge but after consistently promoting myself I managed to grow. My parents and close friends also supported me and motivated me whenever I was on the verge of giving up. I learned that there will always be hate and bad days but no matter what, giving up is not an option. I am super excited to continue to grow and expand and possibly open up an actual shop. Overall, I want the world to know, specifically minority women, that although we may have to work a little harder to reach our goals it is not impossible to do so. I had to overcome many challenges and I still have a lot of growing to do but I have accomplished great things in the process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am always looking for fun spots to go to with my friends and recently I stumbled upon a restaurant in Ocean Drive called Santorini by Georgios. They have amazing Greek-style food and the beach is in walking distance. For a less pricier experience yet still fun, I’d say taking a stroll in Wynwood is always nice. You can take pictures with the walls and visit fun museums like the Selfie Museum or the Museum of Graffiti. In the downtown area they also have the Frost Museum, the Perez Art Museum and the Bayside area where you can enjoy live music and eat at the various restaurants.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt I wouldn’t be where I’m at without the help of my parents. Apart from being an entrepreneur, I am a first generation student and daughter of two hardworking immigrants. They have sacrificed so much to provide me the life they think I deserve. I am more than happy to say that my parents have always been supportive of my goals and aspirations. They continue to motivate me and advise me to follow my dreams. Not only do I have them as a strong support system but they are inspiring. All that I do is not just for me but for them and I hope to make them proud.

Instagram: @tayysluxeco