Meet Cierra FLY Bobo | Fashion Designer. Author. Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cierra FLY Bobo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cierra FLY, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
I am a new mom. My daughter recently turned 2 years old. She is a rainbow baby; I miscarried before her. Doctors weren’t sure if I could have a successful pregnancy because they diagnosed me with lupus on the same day they told me I was pregnant the first time. Therefore, I feel the best thing I’ve done so far as a parent is to fight to believe that motherhood was possible for me. I fought to have her, I believed God for her. She was born from a place of faith, resistance, and courage. I pray she understands that one day and exemplifies those attributes. She was destined to be here and do impactful things.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m a serial entrepreneur with three companies: June Marie Brand (@junemariebrand), my clothing brand; FLY Life Inc. (@flylifeorg), my girls’ nonprofit; and Cierra Bobo LLC (@flyinsideout), where all my creative content, books, and intellectual property fall under. I quit my job in 2011 to start my girls’ mentorship program, launch my music career, and pursue being a motivational speaker/author. Has the journey been easy? No! I’ve learned a lot of wisdom along the way and shed some tears, but I didn’t quit. Financially, things were really hard. When challenges arose, I leaned into my faith in God and mentors.

I believe in having mentors for every area of life—mentors successful in a space you desire to be. I don’t know where I would be without the wisdom of these dope leaders. As a millennial, sometimes we forget the power of sitting at someone’s feet and absorbing and learning. That’s what helped me. I also wasn’t afraid to pivot. If I needed to step back in one area or change my approach, I did. For example, I don’t do music anymore. Having amazing mentors motivated me to become an exceptional mentor for the girls in my program, FLY Life Inc. We’ve been blessed to mentor hundreds of girls in intimate settings and influence thousands of girls at our annual teen girls’ conference, FLY Life Conference. This impactful work has been ongoing for 14 years.

Additionally, the journey has been about more than just entrepreneurship. It’s been a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young girls through mentorship. The valuable lessons I’ve learned from my mentors have not only shaped my business ventures but have also fueled my passion for guiding and uplifting the next generation of young women in FLY Life Inc. It’s a continuous cycle of learning, growing, and passing on the wisdom gained along this remarkable journey.

My clothing brand, June Marie, is my youngest company and holds a special place in my heart. It fulfills my childhood dream. Launched in the height of the pandemic, it allowed me to design suits or blazers for influencers such as Dr. Bernice A King, CEO of The King Center; Pinky Cole, Founder of Slutty Vegan; and R&B singer Musiq Soulchild, to name a few. I went to college for fashion, thanks to winning a fashion competition in high school; however, the opportunity to launch June Marie didn’t happen until 2020.

My goal with June Marie is to design for influencers making a positive impact worldwide. We create custom suits, high-quality shoes, and dope ready-to-wear products. We’ve trademarked the slogan, “Impact Over Fame”. That’s truly what it’s about. My ultimate goal is to establish a high-end black clothing brand with flagship stores in all major fashion cities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, let me say I love Atlanta! I would start off by grabbing breakfast at Atlanta Breakfast Club Chicken and Waffles. Then, we’ll hit the BeltLine, riding bikes. Afterward, we’ll go to Beat the Bomb. Following that, we’ll have lunch at Slutty Vegan. After lunch, we’ll visit The King Center. Subsequently, we’ll head to Cumberland Mall and grab some American Deli wings before closing the evening at a Braves game.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shout-out to my daughter, Ari Ella Bobo. She is the apple of my eye, my answered prayer. I want her to see that I was a dreamer and a doer. I had a vision and executed it with whatever resources I had at the time. I want her to know that impact is more important than fame. So, I dedicate this to her, and everything I do next as well.

Website: www.junemariebrand.com & www.flyinsideout.com

Instagram: @junemariebrand and @flyinsideout

Youtube: www.youtube.com/flyinsideout

Image Credits
All fashion photos are by: Mayweather Images FLY Life picture: @Mike Lewis Production