#25: Melony Armstrong - Naturally Speaking Salon

She Achieved with Albine Bennett

Everyday, Melony Armstrong demonstrates what a leader is. Thousands of low-income families are housed, clothed and fed not because she sought out government assistance for them, rather, She is responsible for breaking down regulatory walls that prohibited anyone from practicing hair braiding without a cosmetology license in her state of MS. Now, in the state of Mississippi alone over 7,000 women are now registered hair braiders and first time business owners. Her Salon, Naturally Speaking, is the first licensed hair braiding salon in the state of MS. She has traveled across the nation and abroad telling her
story.
1. She Successfully lobbied the State of Mississippi and fought to free would be hair braiders from needing to acquire a cosmetology license to practice their craft.
2. She has an award winning documentary “Locked Out” A Mississippi Success Story produced by The Charles Koch Institute.
3. She has testified before Congress.
4. She was Featured in an article in Essence magazine October 2019.
5. She has Appeared on the John Stossel show in New York City.
6. She has a Featured publication, “The Power of One Entrepreneur”
7. Named as a Social Entrepreneur in Charles Koch most recent book, “Believe in People”.
8. One of five women across the world Shopify featured in a documentary Beauty Mark.
9. She has taught countless women and you She has taught and graduated countless young women and girls how to braid at her school Armstrong Braiding Academy.
10. Most recently, she is an Executive Producer of the award winning Freedom Hair Movie, the Melony Armstrong Story, currently being screened in Film Festivals.
Melony is married to Pastor Kevin Armstrong. Together they pastor The Kings Dome Worship Center Church, they have four sons, one deceased and three grandsons.
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