Mother, hair stylist, make-up artist, fashionista, mentor and entrepreneur are the varied roles served by Alaina Holloway - Carpenter. A Cleveland, OH native, possessing more than 28 years training and experience in the beauty industry, Alaina knows a thing or two about the importance of how one’s personal view of him or herself can impact self-esteem, either, positively or negatively creating dee
p and far-reaching effects. The proud mother of two exceptionally gifted, courteous and flourishing young adult daughters - Lauren Ashley and Allyson Nicole - Alaina has answered the call and passion to instill in other youth the same character building elements that have helped to shape and establish a firm foundation for her own daughters’ success. Through her mentoring program “be beautiful” - launched in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in Cleveland, OH in 2001 and also operating in Atlanta, Georgia’s Gwinnett and Barrow counties school districts - Alaina has had the distinct privilege of mentoring and assisting in the rearing of countless other children. This opportunity, one she does not take lightly, opened Alaina’s eyes to the one common thread present in many to whom she has served - the battle with low self-esteem. Coupling the elements of the “be beautiful” mentoring program with her other non-profit organization “I AM Enterprise”, Alaina has produced an event designed to optimistically impact the lives of today’s youth by breaking down the walls of inferiority complexes and building up poised and polished individuals who boast a renewed and balanced self-confidence and positive self-image. By way of “I AM Enterprise” “I AM Fashion” - a six week esteem building model boot camp, culminating with a “New York meets Cleveland” style fashion show - is born. Understanding the concept that most youth are inclined to compare themselves to their peers, often considering themselves substandard, and are drawn by what they see, Alaina’s ” I AM Fashion” vision bridges the ideologies of mentoring and the building blocks that foster a healthy self image with the art of fashion, sometimes being referred to as “mentoring with a twist”. It is through this event that Alaina uses the platforms of mentoring and fashion to combat the negativity heard and experienced by many youth in an effort to lead them along a path toward courage, to become diverse leaders who recognize the importance of being people of integrity and who serve in one’s community.
