G'd Up February Issue

FEBRUARY 2018



















Barber and Fashion



My name is Ranata Cooper. From a y name is Ranata Cooper. From a
M
very young age I knew I wanted to be a ery young age I knew I wanted to be a
v
hairstylist. I attended hair school before airstylist. I attended hair school before
h
I attended elementary school. How? attended elementary school. How?
I
B B B
Because I went to cosmetology school ecause I went to cosmetology school ecause I went to cosmetology school ecause I went to cosmetology school
with my mother on days she couldn’t ith my mother on days she couldn’t
w
f
find a sitter for me. Between the ages of ind a sitter for me. Between the ages of
four and five, I remember playing with our and five, I remember playing with
f
t
the manikin heads and having plenty of he manikin heads and having plenty of
p
products to experiment with. Hair has roducts to experiment with. Hair has
always been a passion. I always did my lways been a passion. I always did my
a
c c c
cousin’s hair and wanted my mom to ousin’s hair and wanted my mom to ousin’s hair and wanted my mom to ousin’s hair and wanted my mom to
s
stop doing my hair so I can do my own top doing my hair so I can do my own
h
hair while I was still in elementary air while I was still in elementary
school. I was blessed to be surrounded chool. I was blessed to be surrounded
s
b
by people in the hair industry such as y people in the hair industry such as
m
my cousins and aunts that who are y cousins and aunts that who are
stylists and barbers and my grand-tylists and barbers and my grand-
s
mother who is a hairdresser. My cousin other who is a hairdresser. My cousin
m
a
and I even worked at the state board of nd I even worked at the state board of
cosmetology together. I graduated from osmetology together. I graduated from
c
S
Sherrill’s University in Raleigh North herrill’s University in Raleigh North
C
Carolina and I still use some of the arolina and I still use some of the
practices that I learned to this day. I ractices that I learned to this day. I
p
also obtained my instructor license for lso obtained my instructor license for lso obtained my instructor license for lso obtained my instructor license for
a a a
cosmetology at Sherrill’s University and osmetology at Sherrill’s University and
c
taught there for a couple of years.aught there for a couple of years.
t

I managed and was a regional educator at a managed and was a regional educator at a
I
major franchise salon for over 4 years. I ajor franchise salon for over 4 years. I
m
worked very hard and when the time was orked very hard and when the time was
w
right I ventured out and took over my aunt’s ight I ventured out and took over my aunt’s
r
s
salon. It was there that Divas Den Hair salon alon. It was there that Divas Den Hair salon
began and I was blessed to move on into my egan and I was blessed to move on into my
b
o
own suite. Every transition I made was very wn suite. Every transition I made was very
e e e
easy because I know those transitions were asy because I know those transitions were asy because I know those transitions were asy because I know those transitions were
led by God. My faith is very strong and I don’t ed by God. My faith is very strong and I don’t
l
t
think I would be as successful as I am today if hink I would be as successful as I am today if
I
I wasn’t in the career that He gifted me with. I wasn’t in the career that He gifted me with. I
am blessed to have a family that has m blessed to have a family that has
a
supported my every move and that our finan-upported my every move and that our finan-
s
cial situation allowed me to do the same. ial situation allowed me to do the same.
c
Social media is a big influence on my drive. It ocial media is a big influence on my drive. It
S
i
inspires me each day to see the passion other nspires me each day to see the passion other
stylists share to be the best they can be.tylists share to be the best they can be.
s











M elissa W ilkerson











James A. Ivy, Sr.