08/11/2025
What an amazing weekend. And to think I was just excited to get out of the city for a bit to enjoy the beauty of Hudson Valley and be my good sistafriend's plus one. That was enough for me but then this happened and I am still in shock...
I am still processing what it means to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Acknowledgments are not always easy for me to receive or embrace. Had I known ahead of time I likely would have declined and suggested other notable people in the industry. While I believe I have accomplished a lot, I also feel I have so much more life to live, more to give, and more work to do.
But I understand the importance of stepping up and giving thanks to those who see you.
That said I still hesitated to post this award. I’m not always comfortable living out loud. I prefer to keep my head down, creating, building, and working quietly. Honestly, had it not been for a hard push from a friend giving me the same advice I give them I would have only posted the honorees who truly deserve all the flowers - Coss, Lu and Andre🏆💐🏆💐🏆💐. No matter how many times I hear your stories I tear up.
Congratulations to Luis Vega, Coss Marte and Andre Brown the true honorees. Your journeys, resilience, and leadership inspire us all to keep building and pushing forward. More people need to hear your stories.
Thank you, Ruben Lindo, for this honor and for creating such a beautiful event that brought the community together in a powerful way. I see the dedication and hard work you and your team put into HerbN Couture, and I truly appreciate it.
A heartfelt thank you to my friend, sister, and colleague Dr. Roz McCarthy for your kind words, unwavering support, and for always seeing me. Walking this journey alongside you has been one of my greatest blessings.
I am forever grateful for this moment and will continue to pass the baton so this energy of passion, knowledge, and building will live on.
As Ruben said 💚
