Amidst the pandemic in 2020, an OSU student decided, after years, to kick-start a business venture, changing Stillwater’s Black community.
Her business has not only provided quality hair services, but also served as a platform for community building and empowerment, hosting events and workshops for Black women in the area.
“My initial goal has always been to make people feel beautiful, and to really just pour back into people, because I know what it’s like to have gotten my hair done, and not liked it,” Malese Pete said.
Transitioning from her hometown of Oklahoma City to Stillwater for college, Pete experienced a shift in clientele. However, she recognized the need to build a community, understanding the importance of self-promotion and networking. As a senior majoring in human development and family sciences, focusing on early childhood development, she said she wants to become a preschool teacher while nurturing her business aspirations.
One day after Bible study, she began to think of ways her business could stand out from other hair businesses. Her business, aptly named “Your Hair My Passion,” held a more literal meaning.
“I was thinking, and I realized that every time I posted someone’s hair, I will put my passion with a pink heart,” Pete said. “And I was like, ‘OK, so my passion, and it’s your hair.’ But it’s something that I love to do.”
As the former President of the Minority Women’s Association, Pete has fostered community and empowerment among Black women in Stillwater. She has organized events such as “Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship” and “Celebrating Black Excellence,” which have provided a platform for Black women to share their stories and experiences. She is also a member of multiple organizations, including being a trailblazer for Black Christians United.
“At a small business tabling event held last year, I realized the Black community really supports small businesses,” Pete said. “She (an attendee) was an incoming freshman at the time. And I just remember after the event was over, she came up to me and was like, ‘I’m gonna do that one day,’ and she was just very inspired by me telling my story on what that looks like as a full-time college student and doing the business.”
Jordan Credle, a member of the Minority Women’s Association, met Pete through another organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Coming from Ardmore, Your Hair My Passion was her first attempt to find a local stylist.
“I loved how welcoming and willing Malese was,” Credle said. “I remember how I felt about myself when she showed me my hair once she finished. She’s not just a stylist, she’s a friend. She’s my go-to when it comes to getting my hair done here and my first recommendation when students ask where they can go.”
African American Business Association philanthropy chair Malorie Adams said she saw Pete as an inspiration. Seeing how far a friend’s business has gone has inspired Adams to plan throughout her academic journey. Pete’s business has not only provided a service, but also served as a source of inspiration and motivation for young entrepreneurs like Adams.
“With time, I can see myself with an Instagram, too, and turning to Malese to collaborate,” Adams said. “She was one of the first Black-owned and female-owned businesses I heard about in Stillwater when I moved here for my first year.”
Madison Wise, a freshman, said many Black students struggle to find reliable hair care in Stillwater.
“The Black community at OSU is very small, and before I knew about their organizations, I figured everyone was driving an hour to two hours for a new hairstyle,” Wise said. “Discovering ‘Your Hair My Passion’ gave me a sense of relief and belonging.”
For newcomers like Madison, Pete’s business is a lifeline. It’s not just about hairstyling services; it’s about finding a community and a sense of belonging. Pete’s business has bridged the gap, providing a familiar and reliable resource for those who felt isolated searching for a stylist.
Ebonee Miller, an OSU graduate and former colleague of Pete’s in the Minority Women’s Association, said Pete’s ability to juggle her academic pursuits with her entrepreneurial endeavors is impressive. After her first appointment, she became a frequent customer.
“I think it’s really cool for Malese to be a part of so many groups while being able to do what she loves while being a student, too,” Miller said.
Pete said she draws inspiration from Black leaders as she continues to build community.
“Just thinking about Madam CJ Walker and the legacy that she laid out for us as beauty stylists, for me, it’s always bigger than hair,” Pete said. “It’s what I love to do. I love the conversation. I love meeting with people and learning more about people. I’ve done people’s hair from out of the country. So, it’s just a moment for ‘Your Hair My Passion;’ it means exactly what it says, like it’s your hair, but through that, I get to show you how much I love what I do.”
