Chats with Chanice
chanice
CEO of Aurababe
We’re so honored to have sat down (distantly social, LOL) with Chanice and get to know a bit about her latest endeavor and lovechild, Aurababe. I’ve known her for yearsss and I’ve never felt more sure that Aurababe is exactly where Chanice needs to be. Her calling, if you will. We were also excited about our upcoming Maxine Franco x Aurababe brunch event that was going to pop off this month (‘Rona messed it all up) to celebrate Aurababe’s launch and M.F’s collaboration and new collection inspired by Aurababe! (Which will now launch once the outside is open again). So without further ado, let us get the memo on Aurababe:
MF: WHO IS AURABABE & HOW DID IT COME INTO FRUITION?
“Aurababe is That woman that has went through so many different challenges in life, and through those challenges she has become the woman that went through the mud and became a flower, you know - the Day to day challenges women go through of trauma, self-worth issues, fear by just being a typical woman, the injustices of what we go through...she is honest, she is herself, she is genuine, she know who she is and even if she doesn’t know who she is quite yet - she is working towards knowing herself more and she is dedicated to her overall well being...of course she is very stylish too. Aurababe is who i am , aurababe is a reflection of me and in that reflection i am also so many other women, we are one, we share the same struggles, we feel the same way obviously in different realms.”
Chanice started out interested in fashion. She became a visual merchandiser for the retailer giant, Zara and did her own professional styling gigs on the side for many years. “I believe life is about experiences and I just wanted to experience it even if it wasn’t for the long haul”, Chanice goes on to say. Her experience took her back o school where she became an LIM graduate of business and fashion. Her journey in internships are also quite exciting; landing her with Harper’s Bazaar Shop Bazaar platform, Stella McCartney PR team, and Editorialist. “Fashion is not quite what it seems”, she says. “Everyone cares about that image but no one really quite cares about what goes on inside-”. Spirituality actually came later for the Aurababe through a gut wrenching trauma, being a rape victim at just 17 years old. The following 5 years were filled with darkness.
”I was hiding my issues and not facing them and they were manifesting in other ways, making me depressed; it was making me sick”.
Tired of suffering, Chanice decided to go on a spiritual fast for 1 day for 9 weeks. Two words: Life Changing. “In that time , I became what people call Woke”. In the middle of her fast, she was introduced to crystals. The first one was a gift, Angelite, which helps connect to angels, ancestors and spiritual guides. She then got herself Blue Fluorite which helps to focus (at the time she was in college, so it was perfect).
“I thought to myself I don’t want to work the typical 9 to 5, I wanna take this entrepreneurship route and own my own business. But what kind of business will it be?”.
So she thought of what she is most passionate about: style and spirituality.
“How have I heard people perceive me? What kind of compliments do people give me? and I’ve always heard people tell me, “oh she has such a positive aura” and I thought that sounds cool..Aurababe. It literally just came to my mind. Then I wondered, well what kind of products would I serve to people? And at the time I was really into crystals and genuinely believe in their healing properties and want to help women gain that mental and spiritual support because it truly helped me.”
However, she does give all the glory to meditation and how it helped her gain more clarity of the name and ideas.
MF: ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR CRYSTAL/CRYSTALS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU MUST KEEP ON YOU AT ALL TIMES?
“Yeah, absolutely! I have my personal crystals which are green tourmaline. It helps you connect with your creativity, helps to attract creative ideas, creative energy and is also a protection stone which helps with protection against negative energy. I was specifically recommended that crystal. I’m into holistic health and I have a homeopathic doctor that recommends holistic healing medicines and that was a crystal that he personally recommended for me. So I keep that on me always as i was told to. And hematite! it helps with sel-esteem, self-worth issues. You know, Sometimes I can be a little hard on myself and sometimes you know that's part of me that i'm still working on.”
She states that she's always been a shy person and has never liked public speaking. Her Hematite stone helps her believe in herself more. “It Gives me that energetic boost. It also helps against EMF waves.”
MF: WHAT CAN YOU TELL THOSE WHO AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH CRYSTALS ON HOW IT CONNECTS TO OUR BODIES, ENERGIES AND OUR SURROUNDINGS?
“So Anything that comes from the earth consists of an energetic vibration. Crystals come from the earth. You actually have to go digging for crystals and within crystals the atoms and molecules act in such a way where it manipulates the energetic field on our body. We consist of an electro-magnetic field because we are also energy and the way that our electro-magnetic field works is by our vibrationS. your vibrations consist of whatever's going on in your mind, your emotions, and your spirituality. You know, that is what manipulates your vibrations. So you know when Jamaicans say, “positive vibrations” or when you hear someone say, “oh, I don't like their energy” that's their personal vibration. So because a crystal has an energetic vibration to it and we are made of electro-magnetic fields, the crystal manipulates our energetic field and that's why certain crystals help to manipulate or help support specific needs that we may have based on our 7 chakras. Each chakra has to do with an emotional response in your body which also connects to your electro-magnetic and vibrational field.”
For those who are a bit on the skeptical side, she touches on a fairly tangible point, “When you think of, you know, your home, and how wifi and bluetooth works. They work based on an electro-magnetic field that we cannot see. And you know your wifi is working because it's connected but you don't see it. So it's the same thing with us.” (Think of the Piezoelectric effect or the benefits of drinking crystal infused water can have).* Manifestation becomes everything.
“ We consist of an electro-magnetic field that we cant see but we’re still ‘working’. So that’s how crystals can manipulate your surroundings - based on that energetic field that that specific crystal has.”
MF: HOW HAS TODAY’S STATE OF THE WORLD IMPACTED YOU, SPIRITUALLY?
“Whew chile!” I don't even know where to start. Prior to this Covid-19 pandemic, I would say sometime in February I was going through a spiritual awakening where I was aware of my conditioning , my habits that were no longer positively serving me and I went through a deconstruction of those habits and patterns. I was just coming to terms with a lot of hurt and pain that I was still harboring that I didn't even know I was holding onto deep down inside. And this happened when it was a new moon in Pisces which has a lot to do with your emotions and really digging deep inside and healing. I felt like a snake who shed old skin.”
During her spiritual awakening, Chanice was in her mother’s home country of Trinidad.
“Anytime I go to Trinidad, I take that time to reflect and get to know who I truly am and when I went during my spiritual awakening, it really helped me see myself in a whole different light and i told myself ok, when i get back to New York, this is gonna be a whole new ball game! I gained so much love and actually found peace while I was there. And I kept telling myself oh my god, I gotta prepare myself for when I go back to new york because I know Im gonna be tested. Suddenly, we were in the middle of this shutdown. I was going through this challenge and needed to apply the spiritual work done in Trinidad to being here in N.Y in the middle of the outbreak.I had many relatives pass away within a few weeks. now, We’re forced to go within.”
And she’s right, figuratively and literally.
“Some days I can't believe this is happening and other days I'm glad this is happening but you know, I have mixed emotions. I feel like my spiritual awakening prepared me for this because now I have so much strength especially being a support for my family and friends. I never even knew I had that strength in me to support others. This is who aurababe is. I have to show people my gifts and what I can do and part of it is helping others by encouraging others and spreading my light and giving people my words of encouragement. A lot of pain is happening right now and I know what it feels like. i now have the wisdom and the knowledge to help people go through that as well.”
She states that what we’re going through is a “blessing in disguise”.
MF: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM AURABABE?
“Aurababe is going through a transition. I feel like right now many of us are going through a transition because the world is changing - Expect more focus on energy healing. I feel like we need to focus more on healing in society right now. I’LL BE Posting more about MY day to day life and how it can inspire and encourage others. AURABABE HAS A Few things lined up which will take aurABAbe in A new route! It’s going to be totally different, so i’m really excited.”
MF: ANY WORDS TODAY FOR THE 17 YEAR OLD CHANICE OR AURABABE?
“Oh, absolutely. The 17 year old chanice - i would tell her that everything is going to be okay and all of your challengeS and experiences that you will go through is to help you to grow as a woman. YOu are going to be filled with so much wisdom and your life is not just for you but its to help other pEOplE and help create a change amongst your community, amongst your peers. Small changes will lead to big changes and this is how the world will eventually change. have patience. You’re going to love where you’re going. It’s going to be a blessing.
Chanice goes on to mention that if she can speak to the Aurababe from when all of it first started, she’ll tell her, “Girl you need to work HARD!” (emphasis on the ‘hard’ with a triumphant laugh). “You need to believe in yourself and push yourself to get out of your comfort zone. You cannot grow or learn in your comfort zone. Put on your big girl panties and do your thing with style and grace.”
SOURCE: * http://www.my.vitajuwel.com/scientific_report.pdf