Meet Toriano Cage | Serial Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Singer, Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Toriano Cage and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Toriano, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from New Orleans But left at 19 to move to Los Angeles. That was the best decision I’ve ever made, during that time in the early 90’s in New Orleans there weren’t much to do, I found myself dating drug dealers, experienced friends get murdered who dated drug dealers. I mean it was a lot and I needed a way out.

I always had a dream to leave New Orleans after high school to better my life and my young daughter at the time.

That dream lead me to one of the two places I dreamed of going to escape the drugs, teen pregnancy and going down a dark path. Would you believe me when I say that the second place option to live was ATL and here I am today publishing my story with you all.

Destiny

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a Renaissance I tend not to put myself in a box because I was blessed with so much.

My journey started in music, I believed that it would be to blue print to my legacy. That journey let me live in places like Los Angeles, NY/NJ. It also allowed me to show my family other parts of the world. I’m the youngest of 5 and have a brother under me but I consider myself the leader. Why? Because my move allowed me to move my mother and a few of my siblings to Los Angeles and the later they moved to NJ after Katrina. So moving wasn’t so bad after all. I got to do all of this and not be a victim, that was GOD.

Today I have built a successful online women’s clothing brand, I’m a leader in my community by helping other businesses grow during this economic shift. As well as mentor and motivate other women through my Women’s Empowerment Traveling Platform.

Then I have a 501 c3 A.C.T.S. A mentorship program for teenaged girls,

The mission is to Motivate, Inspire, Educate and ultimately produce Entrepreneurs out of College. Booting their esteem so they could excel as young adults. I mean it’s an amazing experience to get to do the things that you love while putting smiles on others faces. That was fulfilling in it self.

Do get me wrong, juggling all of this has not been an easy walk for me. But I believe in my journey and my purpose and know that I’ve planted seeds in multiple cities and States that will one day blossom big. I just know this. As I write this it brings back memories of where I’ve started to where I am today and my GOD. It’s been a journey, one that I do not regret. I just wish my mother was here to see the blooming of the garden she created in me.

I’m not afraid to say that, I’ve struggled a lot to get to where I am today and I still have a long way to go. But seeing the light at the end of every tunnel continues to give me hope.

I say to anyone, never give up on what you believe in, others may not support you during your struggle because they want to see you crawl up out the mud. In other words seeing is believing, however those people watching the struggle just don’t understand how a little support could’ve carried you far, don’t be upset at them just like they shouldn’t be upset at you when their last on your list of giving. At least they are on the list right? Lol

In all I want the world to know that Tori Cage and my brand is all about helping people who may not have the will, fight, confidence and fight to do the things that I have done to break the stigmas.

I want to bring W.O.C together so we can make a greater impact on todays youth.

YNV stands for Why Envy
Most envy other for what they have not. But why hate the next person for manifesting their dreams? For not giving up?

Which is where MotivatHer came from.
It is a Women’s Empowerment Traveling Pop up with a purpose! My mission is to motivate women to keep going, to step out on faith, to believe In yourself, to help bring out their confidence by showing them how to pull looks together and to shop for their body type and more.

This was not an easy task because there’s a lot that comes with staying self motivated and encouraged but I also say the GOD chooses his strongest to go through some of his toughest battles so who am I to complain?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
You know I do not reside with n ATL but frequent a lot. One of the nicer spots I enjoyed was Blue Martini for good music food and drinks, I also love to people watch. Of course shopping in the Village or a nice stroll through Phipps Plaza. Just to name a few. Spots that I’ve visited recently and loved.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother , may her soul continue to rest, was my greatest and biggest inspiration. I am who I am today because of her. Growing up I’ve read soooo many books a few that stood out were.

Chocolate Star by : Shiela Copeland
And coldest Winter Ever : Sistah Soulja

These amongst a host of others but it was the main characters in these books that give me inspiration. Topaz was a singer who followed her dreams of stardom, Though I’ve never hit mainstream I’ve had so pretty amazing opportunities and I think being a mother first is what kept me grounded and not going too deep into the industry.

And the other was about surviving the struggle, I remember wanting to be a dancer because I was great at it and I thought it was the way out lol thank GOD my mother out the fear in me early because my fear of disappointing her or embarrassing her kept me grounded. Boy children don’t have that kind of honor anymore these days. As an adult I still honor and respect my mother who is in the grave.

And lastly I have to say Gerome Knobody Foster.

He was the first person to really truly believe in my music career. I learned true love for music during that time and era. I learned a lot seem a lot and discovered a lot, worked with a lot of celebrities so I can say that I’ve accomplished a lot but also believe that I was spared from a lot too.

Website: www.ynvbytoriano.com

Instagram: Tori_cage

Facebook: Tori Cage

Other: Website is under construction with new inventory and design, so providing the website link us depending on when the ad is published. Should be up and running the second week in Aug.

Image Credits
Otis Clayborne ClayMade Media