So,what is www.facebook.com/5browngirls/Five Brown Girls? It is a space created by five friends and sisters to be a place where women can grow from each other. It all started as an idea. Here we were: five women in our 30s, who were each successful in her own way. We are mothers, wives, leaders, business women, educators, motivators, and we even have a therapist. We were inspired by the way we have been able to be uplifted and motivated by one another. We thought, what if there was a space that we could spread this kind of love and motivation from one sister to another? After many talks, Five Brown Girls was born. 

Lashante Cox (Chef Po) is a delta born native of Shaw, MS but was raised in Jackson, MS. She attended Murrah High School and also studied at Jackson State University (Jackson, MS). She discovered an interest in food while spending time in the kitchen with her mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. Through those experiences, she developed her love of creating elevated dishes that remind her of those experiences cooking with them. Chef Po is also the mother of one son  and his love for food and his creativity fuels her passion for food. Although she doesn’t have any formal culinary training, food has always been her gift and passion. This inspired her to open her business Chef Po Urban Kitchen in 2016, Personal Chef and Full catering and many other services offered as well.

​Ashley Griffin is from Greenwood, MS. She is a senior biology major at Delta State University and will graduate in May 2019. She served as Miss Black MS USA 2018 and won the community service award at Miss Black USA. In the fall of 2019, Ashley will begin the neuroscience PhD program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Being able to help other girls hone in on their confidence to become better professionals, better role model’s and stronger young ladies is always a for filling feat for Ashley. 

Hattie Boone-Southern, is a makeup artist and owner of aPrettyPinkface,LLC based out of Holmes County. She was formally employed by Mac Cosmetics Inc. and is now currently work part time with Sephora, Inc. as a Color Consultant and certified artist. Growing up, she has always enjoyed the ideal of putting on makeup and helping friends get ready for special events. 

She currently has a Bachelors and Masters Degree from Jackson State University. She is also a Supervisor for MAC Center known as Mississippi Access To Care. She has a staff and 17 counties in the state of MS that she is currently responsible for when it comes to resources. She must admit that becoming an artist was not  her first career goal.

Toni Morrison stated, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it”. Wilburn Smith is a native of Tchula, MS but currently resides in Jackson, MS. Wilburn is a product of Holmes County where he is currently beating the statistics placed on Blacks, specifically Black males from the area. He is a graduate of S.V. Marshall High School. After completing high-school, Wilburn furthered his educational endeavors at Mississippi State University graduating with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English. Soon after, Wilburn moved back to Holmes County to pursue one of the greatest achievements in his life- “teaching”. While dedicating his time and service to teaching, he attended and graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Master’s of Business degree in Human Resources and a Master’s of Education degree in Higher Education Administration.