Last week Randi and the Beyond Mom team were thrilled to travel to Washington DC where they met Caressa Cameron-Jackson on Great Day Washington where they were both guests. Caressa was crowned Miss America 2010 and traveled over 250,000 miles during her year of service. She appeared on numerous television programs, made corporate appearances, and spoke on behalf of the Miss America Organization’s national platform, the Children’s Miracle Network, and her personal platform, Real Talk: AIDS In America. An accomplished vocalist and talent award winner at Miss America, Caressa was honored to perform during the 2009 Presidential Inaugration festivities, the 2010 White House Christmas Tree lighting and more! Caressa now resides in Virginia with her Husband Nathaniel and their son Tres. Caressa is the Owner at Lead Designer at Caressed By Design a full service Event Planning Company. She also provides consulting services for young women on their quest for the crown! After some laughter and conversation we knew we had to interview this Beyond Mom!
What makes you a Beyond Mom?
I am and have always been very secure in who I am as a person and not just the roles I take on. When I became a wife it was important for me not to abandon my friends, hobbies and interests just to take on those of my husbands. You know, we all have those friends that as soon as they become a couple of any kind (dating or marriage) you never see them again sans spouse, they never have time to hang out. I love throwing a good girl’s night so I knew that could never be me. When we began to grow our family I was determined not to get lost in the motherhood as so many women I know have. I know that I am strong and I am capable of being any and all things. I make it a priority to excel in my career while balancing the Herculean task of raising a responsible, kind, self reliant, respectable young man, and nurturing my marital relationship. Wife and mom are roles I’ve been blessed with but they do not define who I am. Who I am at the core is what allows me to excel in those roles. As a woman it is important for me to never surrender the thinker, the doer, the advocate, the dream chaser, the fear slayer, and the adventurer that makes me who I am.
What are the parts of you that have grown and expanded since becoming a Mom?
As an event planner I thought I was great at multitasking and problem solving before but boy has motherhood stretched me! It’s awesome though because I feel like I am so much better at my job now then I ever was before. Also prior to becoming a mom I had a bit of a tough exterior, things really didn’t phase me much but having a kid has a way of hitting you square in the feels and now I find myself crying during Hallmark commercials.
Can you share a collaboration/success story with another woman; what helped the collaboration become successful?
In the wedding industry people tend to be extremely competitive when it comes to grabbing clients or promotional opportunities, as a former Miss America I am no stranger to competition but at my very core I have always been a girl’s girl. I was never the type to eye another girl’s man, I will tell you if you have lipstick on your teeth, and fix your hair when it falls out of place. Recently I had the opportunity to come together with another planner in the area named Antonia of ‘A Beautiful Day With Antonia’ to design a styled shoot for Munaluchi Magazine, the leading multicultural wedding publication that caters to women of color. When most planners are presented with an opportunity of this caliber they would try to edge the competition out, however as a woman of color I know how hard it can be for certain opportunities to come my way simply by being a double minority. It was important for me to take this opportunity and share it with another planner whose work I admire. From this collaboration we have created an amazing friendship and business relationship. There are times where neither of us have the capacity to take on a certain scope of work at the time and so we will refer the client to the other. I think it’s a beautiful thing when women work together, especially moms and realize that we are all in this for the same reasons and there is enough spotlight for everyone to shine.
What relationships help you stay connected to yourself?
First and foremost my relationship with God, seeing myself the way He sees me is so important. We all have those days when we are extremely hard on ourselves because we couldn’t get it all done, or we couldn’t pull ourselves together enough to brush our hair that day. We start our self decimating internal dialog, in those moments it’s important for me to stop and take a moment to pray and renew my mind.
My relationship with my husband also helps me stay connected to myself. He’s literally known me through every formative phase of my life as we’ve known each other since we were 16. He reminds me of my metamorphosis and is constantly stoking the coals of whatever it is i’m dreaming up next.
Do you have a ‘Beyond’ dream that you are pursuing?
I have two major ones, my Beyond Dreams right now are to grow my team and my business, I would love to eventually have offices in NYC, D.C., Atlanta, and Miami.
I also recently incorporated a Melanin Monday Meet-up group that cultivates minority women business owners while promoting partnership and denouncing competitiveness. My goal is for these meet-ups to happen nationwide and eventually culminate in a yearly conference and retreat.
What wellness activity can you not live without? What is one thing you do daily that balances you?
Quiet time with green tea and my journal! I know that doesn’t sound as awesome as like bikram yoga or something but Green tea is sooooo good for you and not only that it gives me a few minutes each day just to be alone with my thoughts and write out how I am feeling both good and bad.
How does style influence the way you stay feeling ‘Beyond’? Who is currently your favorite designer?
I always want to look good without all the fuss. I am thinking beyond what I’m wearing and on to what I’m doing. For that reason my favorite designer right now is Joseph Ribkoff, they were a sponsor during my year as Miss America and I’ve loved them ever since. They create travel ready, effortlessly chic clothing that don’t need to be ironed! Winning!
Beyond Cocktails and/or Food:
My go-to cocktail right now is Cranberry Moscow Mules. I am passionate about food and I cook almost every night but I think if I were having my last meal on earth it would have to be lamb chops, crab cakes, mashed potatoes and asparagus.
Beyond Workout:
My husband is probably going to laugh out loud if I try to say fitness is still important to me. I am however trying to get back to that place but right now having the energy at the end of the day to do a solo workout (or rip myself out of bed super early after getting up multiple times a night with the baby) is super tough. The conviction of knowing it’s important for me to be healthy in order to be my best self as wife, mother and career woman is starting to hit so I am going to need to figure it out soon. I am a part of a few mommy and me playgroups but for right now chasing behind my little is going to have to be good enough.
Beyond Shopping:
YES PLEASE! Although recently I mostly find myself at the grocery store. When I get the chance I love going shopping for clothes and shoes at bevello in Short Pump. I am also addicted to make-up even though I only really use it during the weekend. Being a working mom also makes me super busy so Amazon Prime is my jam!
