by Lee Pierre
Taking a leap of faith is defined as an act of believing in or attempting something that is basically understood as unachievable. In simpler terms, set an intention and surrender to the outcome. Doing so is a true sign of strength and Melinda “Diva” Davis has proven that taking such a leap can actually work in your favor. After being involved with selling jewelry for the first year, she decided to take it to the next level. She left the security of a twelve-year job and guaranteed income, and pushed open the heavy doorway of life to become a full-time agent for Paparazzi Accessories.
“I have no regrets at all, I had to step out on faith because I was eventually going to lose that job and I had notified the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and NAACP because I was being mistreated, neglected, and made to feel very uncomfortable,” Melinda explained.
Melinda prides her determination on the need to prove the naysayers wrong. Growing up in a dysfunctional family involving drugs and molestation led to foster homes, and Melinda felt betrayed. She openly shares her life story because “you never know who it might help” and many women have approached her stating they experience similar things when they were young.
“My question was: How could the people who were supposed to protect you be the ones who harm you?” Melinda said.
No family member stepped up to help during this time abandoning Melinda and her two siblings. From the age of 12, she traveled without her siblings between three different foster homes and a group home in Wytheville, VA. At 16, her father’s mother convinced her to come to live with her father and her stepmother, promising her she could come to stay with her if it didn’t work out. Unfortunately, her paternal grandmother died shortly after Melinda moved in leaving her to fend for herself again. Her father vehemently stated that if she got pregnant, she would have to leave his house. She became pregnant.
“My stepmother belittled me saying ‘You gonna be like your mom, a drug addict and you gonna neglect your kids,’” Melinda recalls.
Fortunately, she realized all the negative things people say are meant to (and would) destroy a weak person so rather than being destroyed she “just reversed it and everything that they said that I couldn’t do I made sure that I did do and used it (negativity) to motivate me.”
From 17-18, she moved 10 times and finally at the age of 18 got her first apartment. At the age of 25, she moved to Pensacola, FL, where she attended Pensacola State College majoring in Building Construction Management. Despite having the degree and knowledge, the construction companies were not willing to hire a female in a management position. She returned to Roanoke and worked for a glass company for two years before being laid off due to the economy. She was then hired at a medical supply company; however, the work environment was not conducive to her success. It was during this time, after notifying EEOC and NAACP, she started her jewelry business and then resigned from her 12-year job to further pursue her own business.
“It was kind of hard to walk away from but at the same time it was a blessing in disguise,” Melinda said.
During the pandemic, Melinda started her business, “Diva’s Complete Boutique” and was allowed to sell her items from a home that her maternal grandmother owned. She mentioned being amazed at the generosity of family members who are more willing to help out now but weren’t willing to help when she and her siblings could have used the help. She doesn’t hold grudges, just accepts her blessings as they come.
“When I ended up with paparazzi, it was perfect for me because I love fashion, and I have a sense for it. I can look and tell what goes and flows together. I’m good at putting sets together and it’s amazing to see women smile because we (women) go through so much, yet we walk around with a smile on our faces no matter what we’re going through. Just to serve these beautiful Divas the jewelry and they see how amazing they look; their confidence is boosted, and they feel good about themselves.” Melinda said. “We are superwomen and I enjoy seeing them smile.”
Melinda has been successful since starting her business something she says is important in that as a single parent she wants to set an example for her sons, Davonte’ and Ra-Keem who are great supporters of her. She feels she has to be the one to break the generational curse by beating the odds as well as uplifting others.
In 2021 Paparazzi Accessories recognized her as being a Platinum seller, an achievement earned by purchasing or selling 25,000 pieces of jewelry, and in 2022 she received the Diamond award for surpassing 35,000 pieces of jewelry purchased or sold. Melinda traveled to Las Vegas on both occasions to receive her award along with prizes and gifts. This year she is hoping to make the Black Diamond level.
“Diva’s Complete Boutique” is located at 927 Palm Street in Northwest Roanoke. Melinda holds live shows at 7:00 pm every Wednesday and Saturday on her Facebook page. Currently, she has five local women, ‘Fashionista Divas’ under her guidance. The mother company, Paparazzi Accessories (also known as Paparazzi Jewelry) started with sisters Misty and Chani, in 2010 in Hurricane, Utah, and evolved into an MLM (multi-level-marketing) business known for unique jewelry and accessories that are very affordable.
“Never let negative words spoken about your life dictate or determine who you are. I couldn’t control what happened to me as a child, but I can control what happens to me as an adult. I’m determined to keep on keeping on!”
With a mindset like that, Melinda is sure to make it to Black Diamond!
