Hunter Premo and Melissa Schleicher

Primo has an incredible blog that is killing it. She's a style icon, an incredible influencer, and her mother, Melissa is absolutely a badass. She started Parlor three, which is like the celebrity hair salon and makeup salon, everything that you could need beauty. Melissa has it a Parlor three,

and so together these two are conquering the world. And I'm so excited if you all to hear this interview because it inspired me to know and and they're the cutest best friend mother daughter do ever, so you're all get excited for Hunter Melissa. Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, I'm here with Melissa and Hunter. I don't know how to see your last name Sliker, slicker, badass and Hunter Primo Primo, which is the cutest mother daughter duo in all of Nashville.

Hands down, you'll look like twins. If anyone thought you are sisters. I mean, there's no way you look like a mother. I hope you did, because you all are. I didn't pull twins. She looks like her dad. Sound yeah, my dad. They're like, oh, you look more like him. Do so you got hair? But you have told me before Hunter that personalities are totally opposite. Totally, absolutely, Hannah. Melissa's drinking out of a red cello cup, but it's not with it's ice coffee. I've given her like signs

those tumblers and getting I lose them. So if you got a Parlor three, there's like twenty in Melow cubbing and they're like, could you bring those back home and you could use that. You're like, no, I can't be for my tumbler. Okay, so explain to me. First off, Melissa, you own this incredible salon, Parlor three where all the slebs go, and you go there. Yes, I gotta get there with all the best hair. I'm like, truly, when I first moved to town, I ask everyone, where is

the best salon? Where'd all the best people go? And Parlor three was hands down. Everyone said, So, your reputation is incredible, your clientele is incredible, and we want to talk all about that, but I want to talk about this mother daughter situation. So explain. And then Hunter now is like, you're twenty four, just got married in December. December and got married last September, so we've been married

six months. Her tell me what happened fifteen minutes down the road by the way, tell me how it's been with this, because y'all are the best difference. Tell me the person, what the personalities are, how you guys buy playing your She's opposite of We're totally opposite. So I'm a planner, Like I'm very calculated and I don't really make big decisions without thinking them through. And she there dogs that are tiny and so cute. I feel like the mom from being Girls were like the ones with

our dogs. Um, So I plan everything out and don't really make big decisions without thinking them through. And she and I plan my days to you know, keep a very tech schedule, and I know what I'm doing when I wake up. She's I bought her probably how many planners, and I forget about them and then they're out of date and I can't use them. And she does things like she just decides one day she's gonna buy a building, and yeah by building an open a salone. Didn't by

the building, but just just decided to do it. And three for businesses, it was a matter of like a few days. The barbershop opened within six weeks. So you just get the idea and then you just make it happen action and she to it stresses her out and gone out. They like both get really stressed with me, but they just like rot it out with me. But I know how I am, but I wanted each other out. Reeled her back in and sometimes she's like, you know what,

Like with my blog, she was like, just go for it. Well, yes, for sure, because when she was starting to blog, she was getting married. Hunter went straight from college. I went to what I thought was my dream job, an amazing job. It wasn't in pr in pr Yeah. I loved my job, love my coworkers, and UM thought that it was what I wanted to do. And then one day I kind of woke up and just didn't see myself like in

that direction. And that's a weird feeling when you reach that because especially for young people who I think this is really helpful to talk about when you're trying to plan out what you want to do. You go to college, you had these and then you get in it. Sometimes you're like, oh, shoot, yeah, so what do you do? Did you panic? Like how do you figure out where to go next? And how do you know when you're

not in the right career. My situation was really hard because I loved what I was doing and I felt like I was good at and I could see myself doing it for a while. But then like probably six months before that, if that, I had started my blog and my opportunities with my blog kind of started to outweigh. Um yeah, and I just kind of knew in my heart like that's I didn't see a future with it, Like I enjoyed what I was doing day to day,

but I saw my future. I didn't. And the music business was hard and I told her to that, you know, it was hard. You loved it, but and I grew up with her being in it, so it was kind of cool. Exc ended up working with some people that we'd beat events together and like this is weird. Are like working and this was weird? So you were doing pr for music artists that was like a music company

or something. I loved it. She worked for a PR company. Yeah, but I guess, like because PR can cover a lot of areas, right, but I guess music would be the one music industry. So did you always know you lotch fashion? When you started your blog? What did you want to blog about? And how did opportunity how did you get opportunities to come so fast? Because I feel like in this influencer series, a lot of people want to know how do you get business, how do you get partnerships?

How do you start working and actually making money? And you did that quickly? Yeah, I mean I started to my blog about we were trying to figure it out earlier, like a year and a half, a year and a half ago, a half ago, And um, I started because I had a website from college because I was a journal was a major, so they required you to build a website, and um, I wanted a way to share like our proposed my camera's proposal story with my family

and friends. So and you guys are cute, ca y'all dated since Yeah, I mean we were on and off a little bit in college, but I broke up, which they needed to ye. I'm like, I'm like, no, that was the best thing you ever did for both of you. Guys. We grew apart and then we grew together, so it was perfect. I got married at nineteen, so I was like, you know what, you just need to do what you do? You know absolutely then you know for sure? Yeah absolutely, And I knew yeah, still, she gotta gotta try and

be Flavors before I ever wanted him to regret. You know, don't know anyone else. That's so after our trip to Italy, I had all these awesome photos because came he as a photographer, and I just figured had anything to do with it, you know. And the proposal was incredible. Yeah, And so I was telling the story over and over again and everyone was like, the story like really special,

Like he buried under a tree. So when I give us the summary, got abroad in Florence, and when I was there, he was like, you know, bury something for me there, and when you graduate, i'll go back. I'll go back and I'll take you there and we can go back and find it. And so I buried him really well. First of all, she forgot where she buried. She had to call me and go like, go find this picture, and so Donna had a look on the computer, remember,

and so she finally found what. I didn't know that he was proposing there obviously, so it just made it to Florence is a very special place or what else he did, though, it just was icing on the cake, like this is how Cameron is. The first time we ever went to Florence, um was with my grandparents, and then when I was in college, my grandpa passed away, and so when he went to propote, he proposed there.

He brought his ashes, so like we buried the Yeah, it was pretty awesome they were there, but it was but it was like, and that's how Cameron is. He thinks of those sweet thanks because he knew they were reported to her and it was like, oh my gosh, that's that's how he was. So it's pretty awesome is to see your daughter and someone who right absolutely, I mean he breaks her hair and stuff. I'm like, he really is, and even like Cameron, hey, I needed to

do this and be like sure, I'll make that. I'll figure it out if I don't know how to all do it. But he loved their best friends and I love that you can ask for a better person. That's all you could hope for. That's all we hope for. I know, because being what is it like being? Okay, let let's see back to so many questions. I think you had built this blog you So he came back.

I wanted to place for all those photos and I sat down to our parents kitchen table, didn't tell anyone I was doing it, and I think it was like the following Monday, I just put on Instagram. I was like, watch work here. So you pulled them off? You pulled them the list and she did, hey, yeah, there's a little element when it comes to big action. Hums, you did you pull I've never heard my friend's texting and

like I would have been working on this. I was like a day, Like, I mean, it always been back in my head that I love that we talked about it when you're in college and one of the best friend from college and I had talked about anyone together and then we were going home to different states, are like that would be too complicated, so and she hadn't blogged out to um yeah, but so yeah, that's how my started. And then everyone was like, well, when's your

next post? And I was like, well, I guess I'll start doing I'm so lucky that I have Cameron to take on my photos and everything. So so how did you start making it profitable? And how did you and what is your schedule? Like what as a new blogger which you just dove in and started doing it? What do you? What are must do is for people who are trying to get into this, you want to make it a business. You want to have to be their career, Like what did you do that made you're so successful

so quickly? I think the biggest thing is to not try to be like everyone else and take a great pressure when you first start out, like oh this they're working with this company and this and that. I think that's not always helpful to go off what other people are doing. Um, but I mean, obviously a big part of my success has been the fact that Camera's a photographer and I have him at I suppose all any time. So it's really been a enjoyed effort and I'm really

thankful for that. You always have great pictures. How do you get brand deals and partnerships? That's what I've always been wanting to like, how do you partner up? Yeah, so I don't understand anything to explain it to me all the time. I'm like, oh, that's a cool I'm like, you should be using it, but I don't. But I know it's like it's such a gold mine really, but unless you know it's a gold mine, and everyone knows it differently too. Yeah, so I have to edit me

sometimes a proof reader caption stop. I'm like, okay, whatever. There's really two ways to get sponsorships through UM, like social media and your blog, and it's reaching out to brands. UM for three ways reaching out to brands that you love. So, like, I go through my day and I'm like, what coffee machine rights? What am I wiping my floors with? Like

we just talked about like little things like that. Because I have dogs that people ever d you, I would like put an Instagram shot out like what he remember works? And y'all like, actually, I got the things you need. So I just go through my day and I have a list of probably thirty brands right now that I want to reach out to that I use on my phone.

She would keep it in her mind. I keep for me UM and just you know, say this is why I love your brand, This is why I think my audience would love your brand and like, let's and I come with come to them with a project. Yet, so do you propose like this would be what I would offer you, this would be my rate? Do you offer

that at the beginning? Um? It depends on situation. So like if someone's coming to you with the partect project idea, it just kind of depends on like the depth of what they need and how much content I need to create and if they want to use the photos that like they want me to not only post a photo, but they want ours to use for their social content they also and it gives like that I would just say, could what do you need? And then I would provide

a rate. But I do have, like, you know, a rate sheet that has like my general rates for an Instagram post and Instagram giveaway, which I think is huge, Like that has been a big How do you know what your rate should be? UM, my friend Julie saw him and she has she isn't she's like and she's right now. Yeah, she's absolutely incredible. UM. I highly had to recommend her pitch of perfect courses and her influencer podcast for anyone that's just starting out in this crazy world.

But she recommends like a penny per follower, and then you can kind of up increase or decrease that based on your engagement. So like I have I don't even know how many followers, like you usually know how many do I have? Text be like do you have forties? And I can't remembers, So you just do a penny per follower and then like I have pretty good engagement, so I would increase it a little bit. And that's just like everyone has different opinions on that, but that's

like the general that I stepped. Really it's awesome. Okay, she's I mean really a long time and then they met through everything and it's been great just because she's she's so smart at us and there it is such a business. So I think that's the thing that's so interesting right now is how do you how do you turn you're following into a business, and like, like what

do you put out there? So you're saying be true to you, So figure out what your brand is, spearitut what closed you or if you're at, what product she is, and then what you offer this different I mean, like one thing that I never thought about really including any of my blog and social media stuff is like my

momanized relationship. Like people love the like us together there and that's just so like normal to need it, I don't think, because it's your life totally speaking of Okay, so you guys are this mother daughter do it, which is truly are so fantastic in your own right, but together it's almost electric. Me, Lissa, how did you get started in this celebrity hair world? How did you get your celebrity client tamptoue? How did you jump into it? Um? So,

I quit high school. And that's the thing that in fact, I mean a lot of people don't know that about me, I did quit high school. That there's I love when there's you don't have to follow a certain path, like everyone thinks you have to do A to B, to C and D, but really I don't suggest it. I never even got your You didn't need it. I didn't. And it was like I always knew when I was a little girl, I was the only child. As I have a sister now, but I was the only child.

I had. Every bar we ever made, I would cut their hair. I would be so excited to take eyeliner and make draw like liquid eyeliner on their eyes. You know. My my mom was like the neighborhood kids. Yeah. I would cut like boys and neighbor's hair. Like when I was ten years old. I just loved it. Hair was you're saying, it was it? It was it. And my mom was terrible with hair makeup. So obviously this is just who you are. It's just me. And I liked colors.

Don always says I love to color, So I guess the coloring, you know what I mean, like putting colors together and all that. So fast forward to quit. I went to beauty school and my dad said, well, if you're gonna go, you're gonna pay for it. And I was like, all right, best thing he. I was sixteen seventeen when I went to beauty school. Um went to beauty school, and then I was working in a salon and Hickory Hollow back in the day, Hickory Hallow was like,

I'm from Nashville, I'm from here. I went to Overton High School and I was in Hickory Hollow. Hickory Hollow was cool back in the no no, no, it was outside the mall. But this guy, Roy Whitehead had a salan he bought for his daughter and she didn't work there. So I worked at the tanning bed place and I started in makeup, and then I moved to another salon, Tina and Company, and I started doing expressions and photography like glamor shops. Were you hosing? No, no, I was

doing all the hair makeup. You would do all the hair and makeup. I remember there was absolutely so I would do it. They would send them to me instead it back and then it was like glamour shots in the mall. This was like to bring them to you. And I learned to do hair makeup really fast and probably really great. Well. I was just like fast, and then my grandmother said something like, oh, you should do that for photographers and I was like m and I

went and did a what what what was next? Hunter? Oh? I met some photographers, Michael Gomez, Joe Hardwig, Mark Martin, all them, and um, I did Barbazon modeling. Do you remember Barbazon? Like Barbazon It was a modeling agency back in the day. So I did hair and makeup on Sundays, two Saturdays and Sundays, and I would do three looks on like twenty girls in the day. So I got really really fast it's probably not many people were doing this. No, no,

not that many. There was a lot of makeup artists back in the day, you know, there was like Mary Beth, Debra, and there just wasn't a whole lot of people. And I thinks to Nashville that was probably it wasn't even blooming like a disnap absolutly not only had a market. So you were one of the first I was. It was there was probably probably seven or eight of its, like total, Melanie Shelley. So then I went. I met Melanie Shelley, which owned Trim and Amazing, and I started

that with her, like a long time ago. That's where when it opened, we were all there together. But she had a lot of clients and she was busy with the Dixie Chicks at the time, so all these people, she was like, I can't. So then that's why I started working with Alan Jackson Land Walmack, and it just kept happening, and I never really took a book out. I remember one time there in my grandmother's house, getting all my family to come over and during their makeup

and put them on the wallpaper wall. You know, we take a book as like a book like a portfolio. You never really advertised never never old school Instagram absolutely, yeah, what a book? Yeah, so I had one, but I never used it or anything. But it was like you didn't need to because you're wors spreading word amount and it was fun. And so I remember my grandmother, she

was very into what I did. And I was like, they called me and asked me to this photo shoot and I'm going to be there two hours and they're gonna pay me three hundred and fifty dollars. Well, back then a lot of money. That's a lot of money. I mean, that's a lot of money now. But it's like two hours, and my grandmother goes, Melissa, there's something to that. Well then all these photographers worked in the

same building. Well they all started hiring me because they netted to hear you say that, because it's almost like what happened with your blogging. I call you be like, hey, this company was maybe this, Like I know, it's it's kind of the same thing. They're kind of falling on my footsteps a little bit. It's a little bit like it's a little bit I mean, you're you're being on

entrepreneur and it's like truly, so That's what happened. And then I didn't I work, didn't work in the salon because I was free, like, and then I started picking up so many clients where I traveled all the time. When she was little, Don was Mr Mom like he took care of her and I went yeah. And then um, fast forward to now what seven years ago? Open Parlor three, clearly on a win, Like you said, totally. I wanted a make up store. That's all I wanted. So you've

been traveling with celebrity clientele for makeup. I mean you've just done everyone all. Can you say? Um out? I mean there's been so many different celebrities over the years, but um, Alan was my first client. So and he's still my client. He's like, you don't want to do me. I'm old. Now I'm like, I'll still take care of you. All. That was not longer. He was in g Q. I was like, yeah, but Alan Lorette lyne Um, how about Honey, Patty Loveless, Carrie Underwood, Well, yeah that's pretty Uh. I've

worked to carry for thirteen years since she came up Idle. Yeah, she's awesome. I worked with Rascal Flats for thirteen years and I'm kind of how can I forget Brad Paisley, I've done like Gwyneth Palcher. It was Olivia John. Oh my gosh, Olivia John, like she was Grace is my favorite lady. I watched reesely at least she goes everywhere to I know, I know the whole movie. But they called me, like, what was it two years ago and said, Heylimia John needs to made her hair and I'm like,

I can't do it. I said, because if I do it and it disappoints me, it's gonna scar me. You know, they say never meet your heroes, because I'm not going to be like, we're recording. Oh the camera shot right now, we're recorded. I thought you were doing a podcast. Well, actually, let's show you guys. Is that you Oh my gosh, here, let's do a little closer. This is on her. Oh that's embarrassing. That's around. That's around when she started doing

her hair and makeup. That's that's amazing. Yes, you were, you were just a little bit. Carrie was more of her generation, right, yes, not ours. And when Carrie came to town, Melissa got the call to go do her and Hunter was emouraging Melissa to go do right because I didn't know any who else off of American idols. I wasn't gonna do it. Hunter was encouraging Melissa. She's like, oh, this is the world that I want, American idol. You've gotta do her mom. You know, it's so pretty crazy

how that whole thing. So look look at you guys helping each other out with it. You know what Parlor three is though, too, you're just saying what Parlor three is? Last three? Stop big, because y'all are the three best friends that ever were. You guys are like the parlor three of us another father daughter? Do Is that really truly? All just like the best of friends that ever were? Growing up? Yeah? I mean, I mean there was like teenage year they didn't talk for like her parents who

were friends, but it changed. I was pretty good, No, she was a good. She was good a couple of nights seeking out. That would always be when I was gone out of town because he would go to bed and she'd sleep people in and out. And that platform right over there they would hide under here and duo but okay down there and they were like, yeah, there'd be boys all down under the platform off oh my gosh, but it's always when I was gone because she couldn't

get away with it. Little. I'm gonna tell this story because it's really funny. Now. There was one time when we had sent boys in and I heard my dad like coming down the hall and I through the covers of my boyfriend at the time, and he actually I was sleeping and he goes, good night Hunter, good night. Caitlin like tap us on the back and thought it was my friend and he never knew. I was mostly

a good you really were you were. She was a good Middle school was more of her like middle school, that's when you were sleeking out, going to the skate drink. Then you met Cameron camera. Thank you. Honestly, it's great you and I do get hooked up with one great

guy and you stick with him and period. I used to that kind of thing people who had boyfriends in high school and junior high was kind of dumb because I'm like, you're not eating today, But really, if you can skip those years and to be with a good pra before camera, we'd be like this, please, no parlor three? What is the parlor part? Because you just always just love um parlor. I just always love like vintage stuff.

Remember when we're I had it named a different name and she told me, so that's where Hunter comes in, and she'll go, no, it's so embarrassing. I don't even want to say it was behind the scenes, behind the scenes beauty. I was like, oh, it was bad, but I had a name something quick, and I'm thinking, okay, what could it be the perfect example of when she's just they had the LC, we had it all and she's like no, and I was like, it'll be worth

it my day. So we had to pay another Pickeen hundred dollars to get something else and I was like, okay, but it was worth it to worth it parably. Three is such a classy to it. Well, she like loved all the vintage inspired beauty parlors. That's what I like a beauty parlor from Yeah, and Sharon, actually Sharon, we're all at the pool that her sister, sister in law.

It was awesome, So Parlison was meant to be. Okay, So you decide you're going to do this just on a wind basically because you've been doing all the celebrity clientele, you're traveling around and it was just a makeup store. Remember, and you're just doing are you doing hair or just makeup? At this point, I just do hair makeup. On the road, you don't hear makeup. And I was like, oh, would be cool to have a makeup store in Britwood. Brima

doesn't have anything. And then when I went to Land, I was like, we have all this space downstairs and it was scary. This is where you know. It was like when I took everybody by, I took Hunter, Dawn carry friends. They were all like, we're not coming here. It was so bad. And the floor in the top you could see down from down from where you sit downstairs. You gonna do some major innovation. This seems like an

undertaking major. I would go on the road and come back and stay there to like five o'clock in the morning. I'd be coming in with my material designer. Don will be asleep and we'd be pulling things off my bedroom wall. I don't I just sleep, but I just coffee and pizza rolls and the milk chicks. I like this. I like your I mean, don't worry about its every day, live your life, and it just makes sense just to stick with it. Right there, you got me like she

does take me back a few bits. I mean I almost was gonna open another salon not long ago, and her and Dollar like, it's not it's not right. I got a lot and there's a lot coming. I got a lot going on, and then I got other things in the works, and it's like I just need to start. You don't want over. I can't work it when and I have We have Hunter Page and Barbershop, so you have two other salons, barbershops, boys, Hunter Pages. Hunter Pages the primary, but that's it's a bridle. But it's also

a full service salon. So like Haley and all them that used to assist Marissa, they all have are there now and they have a full clientail. It's pretty all during the week weekend. It's like more of like a bridal. Sweet, it's awesome. And then I have a partner. I do have a partner at Hunter Tree. Name is Beth and her and she's a barber at my barbershop. So it's kind of like Cameron manages barber three. I want to

be connected. This is what the dream is like when you're growing up, Like I feel like it's a mom or daughter. You just would pray that you can have this kind of relationship and interaction, the way that you guys are your own people but are so connected that has to be a blasts like embarrass or sometimes well sometimes, um what I was gonna say, how you guys are all besties. You're saying and it's really fun because now we're gonna start working on like we've been saying for

a while. But it's hard to get both of us and you down at the same time. But like some YouTube videos and like really start to like combine and then their beauty room when I get finished, Yeah, it makes pretty much. It's so tell me what you guys, y'all can go off each other. Someone who's wanting to get into this world, like even like your world of like beauty, fashion and makeup all that, like spreading the words,

starting something doing it. What are your tips to someone who wants to become an influencer, whether it's like starting blog, start a YouTube page, growing a business, like what are the what's the advice you would get I would give my tips of if somebody's want to do hair makeup. I tell this to everybody, Now get your license because there is a lot of which is fine there's a lot of people that do hair makeup, but they're cracking down.

It's like, get your license. I do hair and makeup, And it's really great because that you can do both with your life and then you can do I last extense, you can do everything, so you're always there. Like if I ever stopped doing here, make you could do hair in this one, you know, And it's kind of that. I've always had that and I really like that and just don't give up and do things for free. And I did a lot of stuff for free back in

the day, and I mean I worked hard. So you like, when you're getting started, you suggest offering your services to people that you want to get involved in this kind of commune or have these people notice you do test shoots with people say come see out what my works like, and then it's it's natural, such a great community. And then they're like, oh, well, I don't need to tell my friend about her or whatever because it's what and

that's how it did for me. And it's easier these days almost because yeah, social media and truly and like now you can exchange for posts be like, oh do your free stuff. I will say, though in my career though I will say, like a lot of I don't work with anybody else except carry anymore and Alan that's very rare. But I suggest getting license because freelance is very sporadic, absolutely sporadic. And if it's you've got that

to fall back on. I mean, freelance could be like, oh, you got one job and then you have twenty next month. It's just falls, you know what I mean, You just never know. It's not consistent. So you say, get your license? How do you how do you encourage people to stand out? Because Hunter, you're saying with like your block, it's very attempting to want to see what other people are doing, who they're collaborating with, or what's working for someone else

in a blog. But you're saying stay true to yourself. How do you say true to yourself in this in this field, do you need to go out and go around Nashville and meet people? Especially this say Timolay is the best way. I just go out. And so remember back in the day, Instagram and all that way wasn't around when I was here, Like like it wasn't Beeper.

I mean, it was a cell phone page to me, um, But gon't just meet people and that's nashural so like community and they're so awesome, Like go meet a photographer and go say hey, let's do a touch you together. That's where you're going to meet people and do stuff. And that's just blogging modeling, and a lot of people want to do celebrities. I got in at the right time. Yes,

back in the day, they took you everywhere. Now they have a tour, they have one in every city because it is expensive to travel people, But you know, just go for it totally like playing practice, like practice on your friends, practice on everything, and then right, don't be

scared to about your blog. Actually watched your answer stories once when you were and you were talking about someone who wants to get into blog and you're like, I just suggested anyone who wants to do this just start, which i'd started mind three years before I did, because I mean, you're gonna be mistakes, so just start making up. Yeah, And it's kind of similar to what you're saying with blogging, like you're going to get out of it what you

put into it. Like I probably didn't take my blog like very very seriously as a full time job until about after the wedding, So like six months ago, I think you're seeing big results seen in the past six months have been absolutely amazing because I went cam lasting me because like the second I wake up in the morning, I'm on my laptop because I've hard work. I mean they work all the time. You work for yourself. I

mean you have to be the one motivated. You're gonna yourself work sometimes work from the second I wake up.

You know, it might go shoot during the day and then I'm right to it, Like, because people don't realize that for every one collaboration, there's probably thirty emails back and forth in negotiating the finding the right brands, and people just really don't It looks like a lot of pretty pictures and a lot of fun, which is a lot of fun, and I'm so thankful that you know, I'm able to pursue this career, but it's a lot

of work behind the scene. So what have you changed in the last six months that has really made your blog explode? Like how have you mentally changed? And then what have you actually action steps changed? So when I first started, it was more just like me waiting for companies to reach and reach out to me, and then for every company that did. Every ten companies that did, maybe two were a good fit. So I just wasn't

hitting as many collaborations. And you know, I was still working when you asked the other way to um make money, it's like affiliate links. So I'm still working on shops down and reward style. So I'm making commission on bas that I'm promoting. But I wasn't getting a ton of brand deals. And then these past six months, like I said, I just go through my daily routine and routine or if I see an awesome new local company in Nashville

that I want to team up with. So I'm just like actively pursuing these brands and they're just waiting for everyone come to me. What I like about her though, I do like it be true to yourself, but don't just do a company just because they're gonna pay you. I'm proud of her for that because she's turned down a lot of money. And I'm like, you know what, good for you because you don't do that stuff and

like stay with it. And that's gonna be a flashing and ant if you say yes to every money deal but it's not matching, your followers are gonna because it's not real, it's not. I mean, I don't have that many followers to spare to a lot of people, but my audience is just very loyal and trust They trust me because I've stayed true to myself. Like I've never

done one collaboration that didn't match who you are. And I like that about you because You're not gonna go where like something that's not that's not your style because and I love that. I think I like that so true, and I feel like there might have been a moment in time where everyone kind of got lost with the social media world and like how to do it? But now it's starting to seat talking more about you know, their issues, and people are using that just like you

talking about your what happened with you? And I love that. Can can we touch on that just a little because another that you've been very I'm proud of her for not and this you shared about your eating struggles. How did you decide to do that and share that because

that is something so many people need to hear. So I shared it last year and it was one of the things you asked me and Cameron and Dad in a weird place kind of how you set with my blog just like everyone, I was supposed to be the same things, and I was just like, what do I like? This does a feel fulfilling? That's kind of how I felt. And that was another thing that made me kind of six months ago, I was like, you know, I'm not feeling fulfilled. I'm going to take this thing seriously and

put my whole heart into it. Um So about a year ago, I just was like kind of feeling that way, and I just decided, you know, if this helps. I didn't expect the reaction that I got at all, And I got a messages for moms and dads and like both men and women who are currently struggling, and how did you heal yourself? What was the moment when you're like, I don't, this isn't I don't want to be like this anymore. I want to get healthy. I think it was. It wasn't even I wouldn't even admit that I had

a problem until like after I was healthy. So I was just like, I wasn't at all. She pushed everyway away at that time, totally. Probably the threads of high school, the most private school and now the girls are mean. But I decided to post about it because I felt this way, and I can't be the only person who felt this way and if I am then and it's terrifying. I struggled also like you, and I didn't post about it until after. I feel like I got healthy too,

and it's much easier to talking about it. And and I never really feel like I was like everybody has these issues, that everyone does this stuff, you know, like you kaind of, but really it is so embarrassing and nerve wracking and scary. Not it's not embarrassing. I was

embarrass out until I posted. And then she mustn't you almost feel I think she was so much relief, like after and you talk about it now, and it's great for these girls like you to talk about you to talk about it, trying to be sensitive to like the people that are still struggling with them and like let them know that it's okay. And like you said, there's so many layers of it. It's easy to obviously when

you're not going through anymore. So I I mean, I'm totally comfortable talking about it now, but I recognize that not everyone at that point. That's such a good point because you're you're healed and through it and really like you were saying to you can justify it because you're like, oh, I don't even have this isn't a problem. It's so easy to just like justify it or not think it's something from the other side of it. Yes, but I mean the reaction last year and then I just kind

of reach shared. A lot of your new followers didn't know about it either. Was it hard, Yeah, I mean it was. Yeah, it really wasn't too I thought it would be harder than it was. Like, once that shared, I was, it felt good. And just to get the message. I got messages from Dad's and Don got messages from his friend, like his daughter just like that is so amazing that, like, you know, my daughter's struggling recognizing those signs. Thank you for bringing awareness to my family, you know,

just things like that. And it was really hard. This one was I was in Pho. The reason I re shared it this year was I was in Phoenix, UM, shopping and this lady camps me. She's like, I know you from somewhere. I know, oh, I'm not from here, UM, and we just kind of parted ways, and then she came back up to me. When she left, she was like it finally hit me, and I think it was

her sister. Her sister shared my post with her while her daughter was struggling, and she said to her daughter and she said, you help my daughter more than you know, really health times. And that's and that's in Phoenix, and that's amazing. Yeah, in Phoenix, Aarizon. I've ever been there in my life. So that the power of social media and in a good way. And I do feel like what we were touching on earlier, it is changing. There is still so much comparison and so much horrible downside

to the social media world. But then there's also another side that you would have never been able to affect someone in Phoenix, Arizona if it wasn't for Instagram. And so that is why I feel like people are looking to influencers who are willing to be honest, you know,

and who I like to follow. So I sometimes just like, revaluate, evaluate, and I'm like, Okay, who like yours and Sarah's your stories about going to look like I love that and that inspires me to be more you know, vocal about different things and just read a little bit more love.

I was talking up. We're talking about friend Sara Davison talking to her like, sometimes you feel like you're showing off or your bragging posting, but I was thinking, like when we were like posting about like doing charity work and stuff, I was thinking like, no, actually we should

post about doing these things. Posting about clothes and fashion, which is like it's it's just a positive influence on the world because that's my style is great, but we should also be making people want to do these other things. I feel the same way about Best Buddies, Like best Buddiest organization I've been involved with since long time high school, and I started the Best Buddies chapter at All miss

and it's like a huge part of my life. But I never want people like when I do stories with me and brit and I'm like, I hope people don't think that you're just doing that to that's she's been around people, so Honter, I'm gonna give a little quick about Hunter. People. I don't know this, but when she was little, my mom works with people's disabilities my whole life.

So when Hunter we would go to conferences Hunter was in elementary school, she would go sit with people disabilities, not her friends, just because that's just her and so it got to where she changed that elementary because most kids didn't want to be around them. So if they did something, they all wanted to sit with the kids. Because Hunter was doing it in elementary, member started she started to be cool. So if they did something really well, they get to go sit with the kids with disabilities.

If you read books like and I was like, okay, that's amazing. Always been. She's just and she's an old soul. She's just like a good and I think that that is so great to use your platform and to show that that's a part of you. And you know, peters want to hate him because exactly because they're using it are good. You want to encourage people like people love you like this is also a part of me. So

do this these kind of things too. And every single time I post Brittany, I'm reminded because someone's like, oh my gosh, how do I get involved? Like this is so sweet and it always has the best buddy they have, you know, guys, but I totally agree that social media can be a positive thing and this influence the world. So break down how you guys do then your world? Like what is it? What is an influencer? How I think it's pretty incredible. I'm not good at like people

are like, oh, what was that to use? I'm like, oh, that was just something. I should be better about it because I didn't make up but I really don't even know it. And I'm like oh, and I'm like i'll post something. I'm like everybody want I'll get all these mess and I'm like oh, and like you all say, you just started painting one day and now you have like that's not mine. So this was my inspiration though, this is the painting that made me want to paint.

But like Hunter and saying listen, just wakes up and do something. One name was is like oh yeah, okay, and now you're selling all these pieces of art for a lot of money. Who are you? Well, I go to Ze gallery or whatever. They're like a lot of money. I'm like, oh, I'll make it more affordable for him. I mean, campuses are kind of expensive too. And I'm like, but when I did that, it was for bat drops

for the salon. That's all I was doing through social media and I was like, mom, we need better bat drop pictures and she oh, let me see, and then my mom and then I posted on Instagram and I'm like, oh, well, you made me one of those. I'll buy it, and then then me a mom go to Michael's sale. It was seventy percent off camas. I think I bought like sixty camuses. And my husband they know me at Michael's when it's just seventy percent off day, I'm like Melissa,

They're like, come, my truck's out back. The love a good sale. I think it's really awesome though, being able to do this through Instagram and stuff like yes, what are we gonna do with the Instagram shuts down on it. That's why I tried to really focus, like put most of my in the past six months. That's what I've learned to do was just like put because I can pass full control over my blog and I'll always have it. It's just like focus my page views and like directing

people to my blog. Um, so you like to put all your content through your blog except for like your like to know it posts or whatever, You'll do that on Instagram and then everything else. How often do you blog? I usually am for one week, but some last week, and like I would ideally like to do more than that, but it's hard to do a blog and there's a lot I like her stuff because she loves history a hunter.

She like what I don't want to do with Like when I post an I got tired of posting outfits and be like I paid this with this and it, you know, just kind of basic things. And so I was like, you know what, when Gamer and I are outshooting, which usually before we're going to dinner, before we're going talking about the history of what you're going not just the history, but like yesterday I posted an outfit where we shot in Germantown, so I just talked a little

bit about our favorite restaurants in Germantown. Um, like the history of Germantown is a neighborhood kinds so like to where it bores people because I know if it just gives histories much as I do. But I just try to use like my journals and background a little more and just like intertwine that. I love that. So that's what makes yours more you also, so you're adding this element of expressing more of yourself than just your style

of travels. I try to just kind of like get a little like when we go to Charleston already been doing a ton of research on like the X story of Charleston, and I try to pictures in areas that you like the history and I recognize it not everyone loves it, but I just try to give like a little more information. It doesn't always have to be history, but just a little something instead of just the outfite outfit. I love that, Okay, Hunter, tell me three three words

to describe your mom. Oh god, you've got one. The other day you told me that I didn't even know about. She didn't know what extra meant. I love that, But I don't mean an extra in a bad way, Like she just loves like bling and she loves glitter, like extra extra. Actually, it's just sort of your personality because you're not even trying to be extra. I'm not trying to be You're so extra, Like I'm like, you just like something trying her And I'm like, I'm I'm like,

is that bad? No? But it's so you're so right because you're so like just naturally you just have all of this stuff that's so fabulous around you because that's just who you are. I'm just real. I mean, like I mean, I am. I don't care like people like why did you tell you that person you've got that trip. I'm like, I don't care. That's I've done that my whole life. I'm like, if I find a deal, I love to talk about it. And yes, I mean it's not the deal she buys. Yesterday she found on a

beach back at for twenty one for nine dollars. I won't get one freeze, No, no, I did tan because it was one free free by next word. She's very giving, like I do get yeah. Yeah. She just loves to give, like even like her knowledge, like to her stylist and giving.

That's probably why you're flourishing so much, because I love to see other people flourished that like I love women and this and doing like when my stylo when I like, I'll see their paycheck and I'll just go up to one and one go, oh my gosh, I'm so proud of because it's like, you know, we were at our Christmas party not long ago and it made me go. A few people husbands came up to me of my staff and they're like, do you realize you pay all

these people's bills. I was like, I've never thought of it. I mean, it just it made me very happy and I love to see I don't like people knocking somebody else down. I love to lift people up. And it's like, you know, if if I don't like people that put people down either, it's like if you do that, I don't want to be around. You know, And it starts from the top down. I really do believe that who like who what, whoever is in charge, it all trickles down.

So if you are promoting an atmosphere of support of everyone working hard and joining together, then that's that just step. I get messages. I got random messages when we had a staff meeting. I don't go to my staff meetings because I don't want to hear anything like I'm about

you got it? Um? But I have a manager that handles all my businesses and she like I can go and not have to worry about you, Sara that she's incredible, but people that hired people, I mean, she looks at my salon is like all my stuff look at is like it's there's two and we're not. I'm not the owner. We're partners. My styles were partners, like we're in this together. I'm not here to do you have a great salon that always surprised how much she's actually at the businesses

because she's so busy. If I'm not on the road, I'm at the salon. I mean, you know, I've just seen there. Like I'm like, and I go. I love to go around and talk to all the clients and stuff. I'm like, if I come, say hi to me if I'm there. I love that your hands with it. Okay, so we got extra we got giving last one. Wow. She's very quiet and I'm very loud. If you ever know, like I'm bunky, Like that's all encompassing, maybe spunky. I don't know what I think about. Okay, she's very loving.

That's kind of thing giving, just like good, what's what's that like? Spontaneous that's the worst. That's what I was looking for. I love that in all areas of life. That's um birthday party that we just planned. Planned that birthday was almost like he's like a big like I'm not fifty by the way, he was sift, So this is like a big one. Before She's like, you were having a party shot plane and I'm like this weekend, I'm like, she did it. I did park, I got it.

Want to I start of operate like that, like I never planned anything out, like and when I launched everything I've ever launched, I've just pretty much done it from one day to the next because I don't know how to plan for things, like I don't even know I never know what I'm doing something like if I can get any lead, I'm like, I gotta go just the way different people. You're on top of road steps five. But she likes to be just three words to describe Hunter, Um,

your did you say loyal for me? No? Hunter is very loyal to a fault sometimes, but you were very loyal to your friends and very I don't know, you know what I mean. You're very loyal to people, to your people. Once you're in your your very you're very loving. She's very quiet, but I feel like once you but once you get comfortable though, I feel like, oh yeah. She totally like yeah, I would say more reserved, like I'm you're not just gonna put it all out the

right away. Yeah, like a pit could choose who I let into my life. I guess you would. That's true, which is interesting in the whole influence of the world, because I want to be you know, personal on my Instagram stories and things like that, But I also want to be myself and being all loud and spunky and you know how it's not me and her people meet me in person to be like, oh, you're exactly how you portray yourself. I would stay encouraging. It is another

word for her because she encourages me. We encourage each other, Like I mean, but you encourage other people tell you with their dreams and stuff like Cookie or anybody or I just think there's room, especially in the whole influence the world, there's room for everyone if you're yourself, Like totally, there's not room everyone if you're going to be just like everyone else. But if you are unique and you

speak yourself story so true, I love that. And I just I love that you guys are all about spreading positive vibes and encouraging everyone to do what their hearts

want them to do. That shows that you guys are so confident with your own lives, you know, because I feel like people who can really root others on it's because they fill fulfilled in their absolutely And I'm like people who are tearing others down as because they's like they don't have enough or they've like gonna get ahead of them, you know, And so to see you guys just radiating this much love to the world and the communities that you're involved with is really inspiring. Thank you,

and I mean that's why you are flourishing. You are who I love. But I love to watch your inst stories and stuff. You're You're so awesome. Happened to im like an idiot, like talking about I love listening to you. My old sister Davisler than the last night, but she's not even really into that, like cold bloggirl, And then she was like, and we told her we're doing this podcast with you, and she's like, I love her Instagram Tyler my sister. Yeah, she loves you guys. But you're

you're very encouraging too. You're very like positive like Sarah. We're like you and her mommy a lot of each other. We really relate. And I love that because you've talked about that too. Every time there you are uplifting to other people. It's not about that what it's very It's just it's great you went to a dinner was there no longer? And you're like, I love joy so like

uplifted and that's good to feel. Well. I think it's because I have not been in the entertainment music business for almost thirteen years, and I have seen it from every different angle. I have seen what happens when you're negative and you try to hoard all this success in yourself and you don't share it. You know, you just see it all play out, and you also know how it feels like. It does not feel good to have negativity around. I feel like I have a disease feeling negativity.

And I'm like, if everyone can just switch to the positive and try the positive for like, you know, you gotta commit to it, you gotta retrain your right, you gotta retraine. What's such a better life? Yeah, because you've seen the life. You see the world through a happy lens instead of a negative lens, which it's obvitually I

don't want to be happy. Yeah, And that's I think Natural has such a cool, like inclusive community and not just like our friends and people we know, Like I just went to it another day and it was like a whole another group of you know, influencers, creatives i't met, and everyone was so just like welcoming to what I'm doing and how we could work together and how how can you collaborate because they feel good about themselves too.

I think it's when you go to where you need to go up and talk to people, like not when you're an advance and stuff, don't meet everyone, Like don't just sit back and just kind of like don't meet everything. They may have a story, it's gonna be really cool. You could do something together and assume that people want to talk to you. I think that's like so many people assume everyone is thinking about them and hate them

for no reason. Absolutely, so everyone loves you because asking sometimes like how do I because I mean we do have like a you know, a friend group of people that we kind of hang out with, Like how do I get involved? Like or how do I get invited to things? And like just meet people like you're also welcoming. Yes, Yeah,

and that's what I love. It feels so easy, like I never feel and there's all sorts of stuff happening, and you know you're not gonna do everything or know about everything or being invited to everything, not because of anything. There's just so much going on. I didn't even meet you a few months ago, and it was just so easy. Yeah, that's the thing, Like once you meet though, everyone's like, oh my god, I love you, Like, let's exactly what you said. Figuret how we can work together, help each

other and it's just no pressure. If you're being authentic, being yourself and having positivity. I think those are the key things. Totally totally agree. I guys thought her something funny about you. She may not know, so Hunter counts them? What does that mean? So sometimes the fun facts about Hunter? So Hunter sometimes if she's talking to you, it may not look like she's paying attention to you, but she's counting the letters. The letters like what are you rain man?

She really okay? So like when she was little she was very like intelligent, so she's still inte but she was in all the like gifted programs and all that. But Hunter might be on the slight version of kind. I mean they literally told me it was on this section of Baltism. But you know, um, so me some give her words words um rock Sam, so you just know, like you just give her word and I mean she doesn't even she's not even counting. Okay, make up six, um Rosie gives you something um uh oh gosh, no,

I know, word platinum. It's weird when she drinks, it's even better. How do you know? How many did you see it? In your head? Is so I'm not going with numbers. It's like she's starved with masks, words and letter But that also means you have to get a spelling because you have to have a smell. That's that she doesn't have to spell it. So when you see like you already drink about it or are you just

doing I don't know. She can't explain, Like if we're just talking right now, are you counting everyone I'm saying right now back my head, I don't It isn't distract me. But how exhausting your brain is working all the time. Like that's just like it's sometimes but people sometimes they think Hunter is not paying attention. But she's having word that I've seen a lot, or like your name, like I know it's thirteen off off my head because I've seen it, like here Hobbe thirteen. But like so I

don't think, I don't know how that's really weird. Yeah, it's weird, weird, little like quirk. I don't know. So you're thinking about all this other stuff and then meanwhile you just got this back this mac wheel spinning just counting it. It doesn't really distract me. It's just like I don't realize that sub conscious and then with it day or something or is it just a Thing's the reason I figured out I could do it when I was a cheer. It's a good party drinking and it's

just fun. I was like, how many letters? Because we were trying to have a center off the side, how many letters and go cougars? I was like no, I was like, how did you know that? I was like, I don't know, And I just realized I do it all the time that I would never guess that in one million years. And it's interesting. What's the fun fact about you? I don't know what is it? What's what's a fun fact about me? Don't always kind up? I don't know what you think A lot of you can

wrap a lot of old school wrap. No, I kind of have the music I have. No, I'm toned, like I cannot think, which makes you rapping even better? Like I'm I gotta be really like a little juice in there. Yeah we're good. Yeah, but it's like it's not like good rap. This is like old school dirty rap. I want to be when I grow up, like you like, how this is the coolest mom in the world. Can you believe she's your mom? Well? The cool I mean, but people can't remember tape this is my daughter tape

we still have. You know, we're like best buddies, so like mom's mom. You know, I think we thought about the most growing up. We share everything, like close makeup, just those this morning. I'll know you all are the dream team. I just have keep saying that this is a dream um. But we used to fight about that a lot, especially when I was in college, because to take herself and then her friends would have I'm like,

where did my stuff go? And we were the same slash shoes, same side jeans week, where were the same clothes? And it's like when she went back to clock, it would call her aren't like how did you take every single piece of my shoes with you? Or guilty of it as well? I went and read in her clothes at the other day, but I'm like, um, what all do you have of mine? And then I'm like, oh, I forgot about that. Oh I forgot about that. Oh my gosh. Gotten through that a little bit better though.

They don't live here though, and she gets a lot of great stuff. Now, I don't get no clothes. Where your influes are. Okay, we gotta wrap up. Leave your light. I like to leave all my interviews and leave your lights. So leave some inspiration. Just how you want to inspire people with your life, how you've been inspired, what you want to share, like inspiration. Okay, there you go. Oh yeah, I'm really bad about thinking of stuff off to the

top of my head. I think just or how you've been inspired, work hard, stay true to yourself, and don't geet where you came from. That's a good one. Don't forget where you came from. Explain that down a little. Darcy always used to say that. But it's like my grandmother would always be like my grandmother was very influential to me, and she would have all these sayings like don't count chickens for the hatch because like when I did clients, and she would always like, don't turn another

client down because that one might be bigger. And I never did, like if somebody bigger, I was like, no, I'm sorry, I have this person. I'm not going to do that. And yes, it's be true to yourself, but also like be true to other, to be true to your word, and that's I love that, you know, and it's just like old school stuff. I love my grandmother. Just be kind to everyone. Yeah, what did Darcy say when she she had a good Darcy's my grandmother just

passed away like three years ago. But she was like she was the matriarch of the family, like strong women. So Darcy was like Darcy was, says my grandmother. That's her great grandmother. And uh, we're all twenty years apart, except she broke the cycle. She didn't get pregnant, so we all were. My grandmother had my mom at twenty, Mom had me at twenty and then I had Hunter.

But then she broke it out, like, thank goodness, I don't want to be a grandmother, which it seems great now I do, and it's like, all my my mom was young, and it's like I don't want to be, oh grandma. I tried that. She said, no, I'm only like litteral sparkles, sparkles extra extra extra. I love that. I love that. But she's always being kind to everyone and just you know, just give somebody, come worry for the day, or like like I always will when I'm

at my staff or whatever. I was like that was really good what you did yesterday just encouraging and take the time to stay a encouraging mother, Teresa says, never suppressed a generous thought. So you guys are living. That's that. I'm okay. Then like cancer out? How sweet or Hunter and Melissa hashtag goals. I love them so much, the cutest mother daughter do of all times. And y'all get excited because there are so many more episodes of the

Influencers series coming your way. We are just getting started with this bad boy, so get excited. We got another episode coming at you next week. Piece out by