Meet Monique Ford | Jewelry Designer

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

Hi Monique, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is a part of life. Without taking risks, we can miss out on significant opportunities to achieve our goals and live our dreams. On the other hand, if we do not take risks, we can end up living with “what if…?” and “I should have…” and “I could have…” thoughts in the back of our minds. When you take risks, you increase the possibility that you’ll live out your dreams. And if you don’t take risks, you may never reach your full potential.

Nothing is guaranteed in life, so you have to be willing to make decisions and stick by them. Be brave and don’t be afraid of the “what if” because life only happens once, and you don’t want to end up with a life full of regrets. Even if it means facing your fears, you’ve got to do what’s right for you.

Taking risks is a big part of my journey. It is vital to my growth, and it’s something I do every day. My business wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t take risks. When I started, I had no clue if my business would be successful or not. One thing was for sure—I had no idea if my actions would make an impact. Facing the uncertainties of the unknown made me feel scared at times and doubtful about whether anything could change. But I have faith that things will work out for me, I try to do my best every day and I’m making strides that wouldn’t be possible if I allowed fear and doubt to hold me back.

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.
Queen Essentials is a handmade statement jewelry brand that empowers women to own their greatness stylishly. Our mission is to provide confidence-boosting power pieces that allow you to feel and look great no matter what you’re wearing.

My journey began in 2021-I was let go from my corporate job due to budget cuts. As a mom, It was a scary thought not to have a steady income, but with the extra time on my hands, I also discovered a love of jewelry making. After receiving an overwhelming response from friends and family about my new hobby, I decided to start selling handmade jewelry. I met countless women of all ages who told me how beautiful, confident and empowered they felt wearing their Queen Essentials. This was confirmation that Queen Essentials is here for a much bigger purpose. This gave me the confidence to believe in myself enough to keep pushing forward with this brand. Queen Essentials was the first statement piece they ever purchased for some women. For others, it reminded them of how powerful and unique they are. I am grateful that I can spread joy and remind women that they are queens. During stressful times, it is essential to feel confident and powerful. Queen Essentials brings women joy and reminds them to embrace their inner queen!

I’m where I am today because of my persistence and faith. It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but I learned early on in my journey to pivot when necessary, remain open to possibilities, and get help when I needed it. Here are some key things to remember: Mistakes will happen; use them as opportunities to improve. And keep your eye on the prize. There will be moments when it feels hard, and you want to give up. Take time to reflect on your WHY and remind yourself of all that you’ve accomplished. Then dust yourself off, get back up, and try again!

I want people to know that Queen Essentials is more than a jewelry brand. We are on a mission to empower others and impact the world through mental health and wellness initiatives. We all get to do our part to make the world a better place, and we are doing that through the power of jewelry.

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’d visit some spots throughout Dade & Broward county throughout the week.

In Dade we would visit- Wynnwood/Wynnwood Walls, Aventura Mall, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Southbeach, Calle Ocho, Perez Art Museum, Bayside, then take a ride on the Trolleys downtown and enjoy the scenery. We’d stop for food at Swan, Mamey, and Call Me Lolita.

In Broward, we’d visit places like Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Sawgrass Mills, Morakami Japanese Gardens, walk the Las Olas strip, Flamingo Gardens, take a Gondola tour, visit Bonnet House Museum and visit the Square in West Palm Beach. And stop for food at Takato, OB House, and Lime.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shout-out to the phenomenal powerhouse women who believed in me, saw my potential, and created an environment that helped me and my gifts grow and flourish! Vice Mayor Melissa P. Dunn of Lauderhill, Fl, Donata Joseph of Donata Skin Food, Michelle Y. Talbert of Her Power Space, and Dr. Sherrell Hobbs. Thank you for being an example of authentic leadership and grace. You have impacted my life in unimaginable ways! Thank you a million times over.

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