Melody Shari, a mother and serial entrepreneur, has proven that she can handle the complexities of life and love, even with Reality TV and a few friends in the mix. Her grace and confidence shine through in everything she does. FEMI Magazine recently had the privilege of sitting down with her to learn her secrets to success and how she maintains her style and poise. Through her interview, readers can discover how she picks herself up by the stiletto straps and moves forward with confidence and grace.
FEMI: Saying we’ve seen Melody flourish would be an understatement because Melody has always been “That Girl”. How does that feel to carry that title?
MELODY SHARI: I’m flattered any time people notice the hard work and consistency that I have put into building and growing my brand. It is never as easy as it looks, so I am appreciative whenever I receive some type of recognition. I have built a brand before, outside of a national television show and social media, and I was just as content with my achievements then. There was no applause and no attention. I can do just as well working silently as I do now working publicly. Still, I’m grateful for the praise, support, and continued encouragement.
FEMI: The world has seen so much from the kids, the marriage, the divorce. You’ve shown people how to move on and forward respectfully. Tell us what we didn’t see. How was this for Melody mentally? How did you stay focused and continue to thrive through it all?
MELODY SHARI: Well, you all didn’t see the time I spent alone in prayer; the times I had private conversations with friends, family, or other loved ones; or the time that I spent in tears. Somedays were obviously better than others and that includes the mental and emotional aspects. But I have always, even in the really dark times, relied on my relationship with God. However, I also knew that I needed some earthly counsel and that’s where therapy came into play. It can be difficult to open up and share with someone relatively unknown to you, but I understood that for therapy to be effective, I’d have to be honest. So, I was and I’m much better for it. I’ve maintained focus by reminding myself that I was created to thrive in good times and despite hard times. Each day I put one foot in front of the other, sometimes in the most minimal way. Any step forward was still movement.
FEMI: The music, the collaborations, the kids, the show, the conferences. How does Mel keep it all together? Have you ever been told “you’re doing too much”, if so how do you navigate through that?
MELODY SHARI: I have never been told I’m doing too much. The people in my life are around me for a reason. They know me and understand my goals and are supportive of them. Only I can determine when I’m doing too much and I make that decision based on how I feel, what I want now, and what I’m trying to obtain in the future.
Now, keeping it all together is something different. It takes me prioritizing what needs to be done and when. That has been the key for me. I tackle things on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes I can get ahead of all my obligations and other times, I take it as it comes. I have the opportunity to do some amazing things so I handle it all with as much grace as I possibly can, take breaks when needed, and repeat as necessary.
FEMI: It’s no doubt that you’ve BEEN slaying your looks, but you’ve joined forces with Celebrity Stylist J. Boylin. Tell us how this collaboration came about.
MELODY SHARI: J. Boylin and I have a bit of history. I was introduced to him by a mutual friend before the show ever existed. He styled me for a photo session, and we hit it off. Of course, we kept in touch over the years and said we’d work together again. The clothing line was the perfect collaboration.
FEMI: When it comes to doing the show Love and Marriage: Huntsville, do you have any regrets about doing the show and would you do it all over again?
MELODY SHARI: I don’t have any regrets. I believe that this show is part of my destiny. Although it has shown a particularly difficult part of my life, it has been the gateway to so many more opportunities that were meant just for me. For instance, the show has been a pathway to movies, beauty, modeling, fashion, and speaking. And there’s still more to come! I’ve been able to learn and grow and get to know myself better. There’s nothing I could ever regret about that.
FEMI: Along with the show can we expect more music and if so when?
MELODY SHARI: Yes, there will absolutely be more music. Music is an important part of my life. It’s therapeutic, it makes me happy, and I love sharing my music with others. So, more music is coming and it’s coming soon!
FEMI: We’ve seen you do what most would refer to as “taking the high road”, a lot on television and via social media. What advice would you give someone who’s maybe gone through or currently going through some of the things you’ve experienced?
MELODY SHARI: I would tell that person to think about whether “going low” serves them in any way. When we indulge people by stooping to their levels, they start to believe they are on the same level as us. In actuality, we’ve just lowered our standards by engaging with them. I have been determined, especially more recently, to keep my standards high. You’ll have to come up here if you want my attention. If you can’t do that, then you don’t register on my radar. Taking the high road doesn’t bother me because I fully believe that everything that needs to be revealed will be seen in its own time. In the meantime, I’ll be enjoying the high life.
FEMI: Before we let you go, tell our readers what were a couple of things you learned about yourself throughout this recent journey you’ve been on as it pertains to love and marriage.
MELODY SHARI: I’ve learned that I’m stronger than even I realized. I learned to trust my instincts and intuition more. And I’ve gained a stronger sense of what I’m looking for and/or need in relationships both romantic and platonic. Some people may feel like I’ve lost so much. While it’s true that I lost some important aspects of my past life, what I’ve gained has exponentially equipped me for my current and future lives. I’m confident and comfortable with my preparedness for moving forward. I’m thankful for that!
Well, we feel refreshed, how about you? Are you ready to take charge? Start over? Boss up? We hope this read did just that. Stay rooted and grounded and remember that there’s always hope you just need to push forward with the effort. Make sure to follow Melody Shari on all platforms and keep up with all things Melody.
Photography Credit: Marcus “Mo” Owens
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