For as long as I can remember, hair has been more than just hair to me. It has always been a form of creativity and self-expression. As a young girl, I loved watching people transform their look and their confidence through hairstyling. That curiosity turned into something deeper when my older cousin Ashley began teaching me the art of hair. She was in cosmetology school at the time, and whenever she practiced, she would show me techniques, how to part hair neatly, how to braid with precision, and how to take pride in every style you create. Ashley quickly became more than just a cousin to me. She became my mentor, my inspiration. She saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. Whenever I would practice new styles, she encouraged me, corrected me, and celebrated my progress. Because of her, I began to imagine a future in the beauty industry. I didn’t just want to style hair, I dreamed of building something greater. I dreamed of one day becoming a mogul in the beauty industry and creating a brand that people would trust and recognize. That dream came to a painful halt on May 12, 2023, when Ashley passed away suddenly. Losing her felt like losing the person who had helped shape my vision for the future. For a while, it felt like the dream we had talked about together disappeared with her. The passion that once brought me joy now reminded me of the person I had lost. I questioned whether I should continue pursuing the dream at all. Without Ashley there to guide me and cheer me on, it felt incomplete. The holidays were especially difficult. Christmas was approaching, and the absence of Ashley felt heavier than ever. Christmas Eve in 2023, something happened that changed everything. That night I dreamed about Ashley. She didn’t say anything. She simply looked at me, nodded, and smiled. When I woke up, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, and one name kept repeating in my heart, “NoelleMarie Styles”. Noelle is my middle name, and Marie was Ashley’s middle name. For me, hairstyling is about much more than appearance. It is about confidence, identity, and helping people feel seen. I want to use my business not only to style hair, but to create a space where people feel valued. In the future, I hope to mentor young girls who share the same passion I once had, showing them that their creativity can grow into something meaningful. In that moment, I realized the dream didn’t end with her, it simply became my responsibility to carry it forward. That quiet nod and smile reminded me that her belief in me did not disappear when she did. Today, I am proud to already be a licensed braider in the state of Tennessee, operating under the name NoelleMarie Styles. What started as a dream has now become the foundation of my future. In the fall, I plan to attend the University of Memphis to major in Business and Finance so that I can gain the knowledge needed to successfully grow and manage my brand. My goal is to expand NoelleMarie Styles into more than just a hairstyling service. I want it to become a thriving beauty brand that creates opportunities for others and inspires young people who have dreams of their own. Most importantly, every milestone I reach will honor the cousin who first believed in me. Ashley helped me discover my passion, and through NoelleMarie Styles, she will continue to live on in every dream I help bring to life.

For as long as I can remember, hair has been more than just hair to me. It has always been a form of creativity and self-expression. As a young girl, I loved watching people transform their look and their confidence through hairstyling. That curiosity turned into something deeper when my older cousin Ashley began teaching me the art of hair. She was in cosmetology school at the time, and whenever she practiced, she would show me techniques, how to part hair neatly, how to braid with precision, and how to take pride in every style you create. Ashley quickly became more than just a cousin to me. She became my mentor, my inspiration. She saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. Whenever I would practice new styles, she encouraged me, corrected me, and celebrated my progress. Because of her, I began to imagine a future in the beauty industry. I didn’t just want to style hair, I dreamed of building something greater. I dreamed of one day becoming a mogul in the beauty industry and creating a brand that people would trust and recognize. That dream came to a painful halt on May 12, 2023, when Ashley passed away suddenly. Losing her felt like losing the person who had helped shape my vision for the future. For a while, it felt like the dream we had talked about together disappeared with her. The passion that once brought me joy now reminded me of the person I had lost. I questioned whether I should continue pursuing the dream at all. Without Ashley there to guide me and cheer me on, it felt incomplete. The holidays were especially difficult. Christmas was approaching, and the absence of Ashley felt heavier than ever. Christmas Eve in 2023, something happened that changed everything. That night I dreamed about Ashley. She didn’t say anything. She simply looked at me, nodded, and smiled. When I woke up, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, and one name kept repeating in my heart, “NoelleMarie Styles”. Noelle is my middle name, and Marie was Ashley’s middle name. For me, hairstyling is about much more than appearance. It is about confidence, identity, and helping people feel seen. I want to use my business not only to style hair, but to create a space where people feel valued. In the future, I hope to mentor young girls who share the same passion I once had, showing them that their creativity can grow into something meaningful. In that moment, I realized the dream didn’t end with her, it simply became my responsibility to carry it forward. That quiet nod and smile reminded me that her belief in me did not disappear when she did. Today, I am proud to already be a licensed braider in the state of Tennessee, operating under the name NoelleMarie Styles. What started as a dream has now become the foundation of my future. In the fall, I plan to attend the University of Memphis to major in Business and Finance so that I can gain the knowledge needed to successfully grow and manage my brand. My goal is to expand NoelleMarie Styles into more than just a hairstyling service. I want it to become a thriving beauty brand that creates opportunities for others and inspires young people who have dreams of their own. Most importantly, every milestone I reach will honor the cousin who first believed in me. Ashley helped me discover my passion, and through NoelleMarie Styles, she will continue to live on in every dream I help bring to life.

For as long as I can remember, hair has been more than just hair to me. It has always been a form of creativity and self-expression. As a young girl, I loved watching people transform their look and their confidence through hairstyling. That curiosity turned into something deeper when my older cousin Ashley began teaching me the art of hair. She was in cosmetology school at the time, and whenever she practiced, she would show me techniques, how to part hair neatly, how to braid with precision, and how to take pride in every style you create. Ashley quickly became more than just a cousin to me. She became my mentor, my inspiration. She saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. Whenever I would practice new styles, she encouraged me, corrected me, and celebrated my progress. Because of her, I began to imagine a future in the beauty industry. I didn’t just want to style hair, I dreamed of building something greater. I dreamed of one day becoming a mogul in the beauty industry and creating a brand that people would trust and recognize. That dream came to a painful halt on May 12, 2023, when Ashley passed away suddenly. Losing her felt like losing the person who had helped shape my vision for the future. For a while, it felt like the dream we had talked about together disappeared with her. The passion that once brought me joy now reminded me of the person I had lost. I questioned whether I should continue pursuing the dream at all. Without Ashley there to guide me and cheer me on, it felt incomplete. The holidays were especially difficult. Christmas was approaching, and the absence of Ashley felt heavier than ever. Christmas Eve in 2023, something happened that changed everything. That night I dreamed about Ashley. She didn’t say anything. She simply looked at me, nodded, and smiled. When I woke up, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, and one name kept repeating in my heart, “NoelleMarie Styles”. Noelle is my middle name, and Marie was Ashley’s middle name. For me, hairstyling is about much more than appearance. It is about confidence, identity, and helping people feel seen. I want to use my business not only to style hair, but to create a space where people feel valued. In the future, I hope to mentor young girls who share the same passion I once had, showing them that their creativity can grow into something meaningful. In that moment, I realized the dream didn’t end with her, it simply became my responsibility to carry it forward. That quiet nod and smile reminded me that her belief in me did not disappear when she did. Today, I am proud to already be a licensed braider in the state of Tennessee, operating under the name NoelleMarie Styles. What started as a dream has now become the foundation of my future. In the fall, I plan to attend the University of Memphis to major in Business and Finance so that I can gain the knowledge needed to successfully grow and manage my brand. My goal is to expand NoelleMarie Styles into more than just a hairstyling service. I want it to become a thriving beauty brand that creates opportunities for others and inspires young people who have dreams of their own. Most importantly, every milestone I reach will honor the cousin who first believed in me. Ashley helped me discover my passion, and through NoelleMarie Styles, she will continue to live on in every dream I help bring to life.