WTL 5: Meet LaQuisha Hall

Five provocative questions answered by an inspiring and fabulous woman – a woman with something to say.

Meet LaQuisha Hall

LaQuisha Hall goes far beyond what is expected of her. There was a time in LaQuisha’s life where she was not confident in much. She struggled through low self-esteem due to being naturally thin, witnessed domestic violence as a child, and was sexually abused by clergy as a teen. Now an international advocate for herself and others, LaQuisha actively works to empower women and youth to overcome catastrophe through Couture’d Confidence.

LaQuisha is an award-winning community service leader winning regional, state and national pageant titles including Mrs. Essence 2013.  She founded the SheRose Awards to give a platform to abuse survivors to share their own stories. LaQuisha also spends hours locally and abroad mentoring via her nonprofit program, Queendom T.E.A. (The Etiquette Academy), committed to encouraging and teaching teen girls about personal safety, feminine etiquette and positive self-esteem. She is the author of a self-esteem journal for young girls, Positively Bodyful, and the coauthor of additional books. LaQuisha also enjoys keeping her look fresh while inspiring others as the natural hair and fashion guru behind Corner Curl Girl.

People would be surprised to know that: As a full-time teacher, fashion blogger, advocate for women and girls, mentor, active church member on multiple ministries, entrepreneur, author, artist and avid reader, I go to bed daily between 9 and 10 p.m. Many would think that I never sleep, but I absolutely cannot stay awake past my bedtime! Also, I rarely watch television because I do not usually have time and the shows are not always positive. I would rather feed my brain knowledge and read a good book!

WTL 5:

What’s the conversation that changed your life?

At my first pageant, Mrs. Christian International 2008, I was asked what was the hardest challenge I had to overcome. I quickly responded that I was sexually abused by a pastor. The audience and the emcee became silent. I stood straight when I was asked the question, but when I got no reaction, I internally sunk. Later I found out that I had not only won the pageant, but I had pulled up a heavy anchor. The greatest win of the night was that I helped other “docked” ships sail again! Afterwards, people began to tell me their abuse stories.

What are you most conscious of today?

I am very conscious of being a practitioner of confidence. It is definitely a life-long journey. Because I teach strategies to women and girls it is imperative that I demonstrate this behavior in their presence. However, there are times when I do not look and feel my best and I am quick to use my own strategies to recover before hitting the spotlight. I remind myself often to keep my chin up, roll my shoulders back and smile.

What part of you have you yet to give voice to?

Improving relationships within my family is important to me but I have not really given it a voice. After overcoming abuse in my youth, there are many unresolved issues that left residual effects that I have not taken the time to deal with because I just simply “moved on”.

What’s the conversation women need to be having collectively?

Each woman is a queen who must encourage and empower other women. Queens give compliments to other women as they pass on the street. Queens overcome past catastrophes with present triumphs and educate others how to do the same. She wears her crown daily and knows how to pray if it begins to tilt. She apologizes when she is wrong and is empathetic to those who are not in the same place she is. The question women should be answering at the end of this conversation: are you wearing your crown?

What needs to be said bigger, louder, stronger?

I love creating personal affirmations and quotes. A recent quote that I created was, “Where there is confidence, there is no competition”. We are great. We must believe so much in ourselves that we are not threatened by the greatness we see in others. Instead of being jealous or troubled about the greatness in others who surround us, we should embrace it and allow those persons to be in our circle of friends and support. When we see our sister or brother doing well – that, in no way will detract from our own success.

***

Thank you, LaQuisha, for sharing your powerful voice
with WomanTalk Live