This Meet the Urbaanite is part of a special edition featuring local makers at our 2024 Urbaanite Nashville Holiday Market.
Shaylla Smith is the creative behind Puffy Girls Club, a natural hair empowerment brand for black and brown girls designed to help young girls, and their caregivers embrace their natural hair and natural skin tone to improve: self-esteem, self-worth, and a positive self-image.
Shaylla Smith
Company, Business or Organization: Puffy Girls Club
Title: Founder and CEO
How many years have you been in Nashville? Nashville was a leap of faith for me. I came fresh out of college with big dreams to climb the corporate ladder. Nashville is truly a city with amazing people, culture, and community.
Tell us what you are creating in Nashville (minimum of 3 sentences). I create a safe space for girls to express the love of their naturally textured hair, by providing Puffy Hairfirmations™ in the form of vinyl stickers, college-ruled notebooks, journals, luggage tags, mugs and apparel! My brand provides empowerment to young girls and their caregivers so they may embrace their natural hair texture to exude the self-confidence needed on any given day.
What inspires you? Young girls with textured hair who are bulled for their texture. There is a statistic from Dove that 100% of black girls have experienced hair discrimination in predominantly white schools before the age of 10. These girls inspire me to ensure they are aware of the products and future reach into the community. Along with my 4 year-old daughter who has never faced hair discrimination, but has said a few times that she wants her hair straight like another little girl in her class.
Coffee, Lunch, brunch or happy hour? Brunch
Favorite Nashville musician, singer or artist? My husband, Justice Smith
What is your favorite Nashville spot you are digging right now? Tanger Outlet Mall. Hey, I am a mom of 3 and the mall has everything we need, shopping, a play area, and great eating!
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I was inspired to subscribe to your magazine after reading your article about the Puffy Girls Creator & CEO, Shaylla Smith.
Wow, thank you and yes Shaylla is great!