Rolesta Brooks, the founder of MILFS Training LLC. (stands for Moms into lifting fitness and support training), a retired army vet who has always had a passion for fitness. Shortly after retiring and having her fourth child Rolesta Brooks became extremely active on social media platforms with workout videos and her fitness journey. Before long the inquiries from mothers seeking fitness advice became overwhelming. This is what inspired Rolesta’s thoughts to create a space for mothers to come together to get fit and build confidence.
‘’My goal is to encourage others to achieve their personal fitness goals and feel good about their internal and external beauty! M.I.L.F.S Training LLC is a safe space to inspire and uplift women to remember to not lose one’s self in their duties and/or children. Setting aside time for self-care is pertinent because you can’t pour out from an empty cup. Setting an excellent example for our children requires setting and obtaining our own goals as well. Strengthening minds + Building bodies=Creating confidence!’’ Rolesta Brooks
We have the honor of interviewing mother, entrepreneur, military vet, college educated, author, trainer, and owner of MILFS Training LLC located in Columbus, GA Rolesta Brooks. She discuss balancing life as a mother and entrepreneur and uplifting women.
What inspired you to start MILFS TRAINING, LLC?
MILFS Training stands for Moms into lifting fitness and support training, LLC. I am a retired army vet that has always had a passion for fitness. Shortly after retiring and having my fourth child I became extremely active on social media platforms with work out videos and my fitness journey. Before long the inquiries from mothers seeking fitness advice became overwhelming. This is what inspired the thought to create a space for mothers to come together to get fit and build confidence.
Tell us more about MILFS TRAINING, LLC, who are your clients, what are they looking for?
My initial target audience was mothers but now it is for women, all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and age.
How did you start with MILFS TRAINING, LLC?
MILFS initially started as a fitness group in August 2020 but in January 2021 I moved into my own gym and expanded my brand. MILFS Training, LLC now offers weightlifting, Zumba, kickboxing, dance, yoga, X-treme Step, as well as a beauty bar. Our beauty bar has an esthetician and make up artist. My idea was to create a space that enhances the beauty of a woman inside and out. I understand some women are not into weightlifting so I wanted to provide options to allow more women to join the MILF family.
Through hard times, what have kept you going? What can you share about this what can our readers learn?
My clients are truly my biggest cheerleaders. They are so genuine and powerful in keeping me encouraged. I truly feel as though they are heaven sent. I have a few that reach out with encouraging messages, daily prayers, words of affirmation, bible verses, just endless selfless support. They have no idea how much it keeps me going and motivated to be my best self for them. My short message to your readers would be to constantly put love out in the atmosphere because it will always return to you in some form.
What have you learned most from entrepreneurship?
Always cover yourself with a paper trail. As a former Captain in the Army I was always taught to CYA. I initiated my business with this mindset and it has been the best practice to ensure business flows effectively.
What has been your favorite moment in your career so far?
The moment I gave out my first two awards to two couples that assisted in the foundation of MILFS Training. They wanted nothing from helping me, their only goal was to see me win. The moment I showed recognition their reactions were priceless and heartfelt. That moment solidified for me that God was in the midst of my business venture and that the team surrounding me was sent from Him.
Share two pieces of advice for female entrepreneurs.
As a female entrepreneur never have to much pride to ask for assistance and be humble enough to accept ideas from others.
What has been your key (or keys) to success?
I believe my authenticity has carried me a long way. People can see through a mask so i don’t wear one. I am completely transparent with my clients and ultimately want to see them reach their goals. My heart is huge everyone that enters MILFS my prayer is they leave better then they came, even if they don’t join as a member I hope their experience here at MILFS was amazing.
Tell us about your proudest achievement?
I recently shared during an interview that I have reached a number of various achievements at the age of 29. From obtaining a Masters, becoming an Army officer, Airborne qualified, a published Author, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, wife and mother of 4 to name a few but, all felt like attainable steps in life that I was supposed to achieve. It was not until I opened my own gym that I was proud of myself and felt as though I achieved a grand goal.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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