Toronto, Canada
Instagram: @mayataughtme
Tell me about yourself?
My name is Maya Stephens, I am a professional track & field athlete for Team Canada, and I am an entrepreneur. I have been running track since I was 15, and have been able to represent my home country, Canada, at various international track meets. Most recently, I competed at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was unable to represent Canada at the Olympics, but I plan to do so in 2021. My company, Moment Beauty, makes handmade, all natural body scrubs and whipped Shea butters. My company’s mission is to give women the confidence to seize their moment with an emphasis on self-love & acceptance. As a first-generation Jamaican growing up in Canada, I have always viewed things through a multi-dimensional lens. The West Indian values that I grew up following in my home, combined with the Canadian societal norms have both shaped me into the woman that I am today.
What was the hardest thing you’ve faced because you are a woman?
The hardest thing I’ve faced as a woman was the internalization of society’s views on what a woman should be. We are given constant reminders of the completely unrealistic standards set for women to reach and maintain, and whether we realize or not, we internalize these things. While some are able to move past these standards, I was unable to and felt the pressures to embody them. This led to me taking extreme measures to be the woman society told me I should be. This was not only damaging to my body, but to my mind and spirit as well. What was even more concerning, was the fact that the worse my condition got, the more everyone around me seemed to encourage it. These standards set for women made it incredibly hard to love myself and my unique womanhood.
What’s the greatest advice you’ve received?
The greatest advice I have ever received was that discipline is the highest form of self-love. When you are dedicated to something you love, whether it is athletics, school, or your mental health, you are setting yourself up for success. Not allowing yourself to slip on your journey to your destiny requires discipline and control over your vices. Truly loving yourself means that you acknowledge the goals that you want to achieve and keep them at the front of your brain.
What drives you in life?
What drives me in life is knowing that the little girl that I once was would be proud. I remember as a child, I would always observe the people I encountered. I would listen to the words they said, the things they did, and how they handled certain situations. I knew what I wanted to be and what I did not want to be. Now that I am older, I do my best to honor those things. I want to accomplish all of the dreams that the young me once had, and be the person that the young me knew I could be.
You can click here to visit the Moment Beauty Co. website.
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