Akinloye brought her program to her hometown of Tryon Thursday, July 18 at the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce.

“I always knew that I wanted to come back home and give back because this is where it all started for me. I just out of my heart wanted to give back to the women who might be in need and down and out,” Akinloye said.

She said she hopes to enrich lives through the gift of beauty and empowerment.

“We do womens’ hair and their makeup,” Akinloye said, “but it’s more about education. We want to show them what looks good on them but is appropriate for each situation. In the workplace if you don’t look to fit the job, they aren’t going to hire you. We give women the tools to rebuild their lives.”

Akinloye said she feels the beauty and confidence aspects of her program are needed locally. She looks to host regular events for women at least every three months and eventually present programs weekly through community partnerships. She said she’d like to see that expand to support groups for women where they can talk with other women who might be experiencing the same life issues.

Akinloye said she would host her next event in October at Isothermal Community College in Spindale.

To learn more about Akinloye or her non-profit organization, visit empoweringthroughbeauty.org or email empoweringthroughbeauty@gmail.com.