Meet Ms. Denielle Miller, a native of The Bahamas with deep-rooted cultural values, principles, and practices that she has exemplified through hosting and coordinating live events, as well as producing TV shows that have provided insight on the entertainment industry, health, relationships and empowerment for the past 8 years.
Throughout Denielle’s experience, she was afforded numerous opportunities to host live events: such as The Bahamas Consulate General, Atlanta, Georgia, Independence Reception and was also booked to host the Global Citizen Fellowship Summit two years in a row (2019-2020). However, due to the current health pandemic, last year’s Summit, which was scheduled to be held at Harvard University in Boston Massachusetts, was postponed.
Also, as a television host, Denielle Miller was granted the opportunity to host three television shows such as: “WHATCHA YA COOKIN” , RATED R and her favorite, “EASE UP”, which helped to inspire many youths in her country.
In October 2019, Denielle explored her creativeness and launched her own talk show on her YouTube channel, “Denielle” called “SIS (Spill It Sister)”, which has proven to be a success, attaining an average of one thousand four hundred (1,400) views per episode and garnered over ten thousand (10,000) views collectively in less than one year.
In October 2020, Denielle Miller was nominated and awarded as one of the top three (3) finalists for her country’s National Youth Awards, in the categories of Youth in Entrepreneurship and Youth in Arts and Culture.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?
From a very young age, I felt a strong desire to be in the entertainment industry – I just thought it would be through music. Singing on stage and dancing in stadiums filled with people was the vision I had, however, that came to a screeching halt as I got older and realized I could not hold a tune to save my life. It was later on, in church, that I discovered I had the gift of gab, and that’s when I pivoted into embracing the gift God gave me. Having grown to understand the importance of purpose, I believe entertaining is what I was created to do.
How did you know you wanted to host shows?
Originally, I didn’t. I was only focused on hosting live events when, back in 2015, one of my mentors at the time, threw a challenge to me to host a show that he had created. Mr. Mark Cartwright, a legend in the entertainment industry in The Bahamas, has a knack for identifying talent and further amplifying it in ways you’d never think of. I was fortunate to meet him as a young teenager and sit under his tutelage from then to now. For his mentorship and challenge to step outside of my comfort zone, I am forever grateful. I had never hosted a recorded tv program before, but I nervously accepted his challenge. I had to write a script, email it to the producer, and prep for the show. This was several levels up from what I was doing at the time, but I fell in love and that single opportunity awakened the talk show host you see today.
What led you to the shows you’ve worked for? What opportunities has the pandemic’s confinement created?
For me, it’s always the purpose behind the show; I believe everything you do should have purpose. In this industry, any time I record or host an event/show, I am given a platform to use my voice as a form of art that will engage millions, therefore, I want to always use it as a tool to spread positivity, bring awareness, deliver a sign of hope, and create a space where persons are free to think out loud without judgement.
Being confined by the pandemic’s limitations created a unique opportunity for me to develop more content, but even more than that, to develop personally as a creator in the industry. In The Bahamas, our safety protocols were strict! We were on lockdown for about 2-3 months, sometimes with full weekend lockdowns, and to date, we’ve had a curfew for more than a year! This gave me loads of time to think, to pray, to retreat, and to grow. It also helped me realize that time is precious, and that I have work to do. This epiphany played a major role in releasing pent-up doubt and fear, which led me to take a leap and record a show in Atlanta.
As an entrepreneur and innovator, when do you prefer to work solo versus on a team? What personal qualities have enabled you to lead and collaborate well?
This, I am still figuring out. Because of financial limitations, budding entrepreneurs are usually found working alone, however, with growth, I’ve realized that I stretch myself too thin at times, and I do, in fact, need help. Being accustomed to doing things myself sometimes makes it hard to ask, or even identify when I need help, but I have absolutely grown into the idea of building a team.
I consider myself a very passionate person – always pushing to exude excellence with my brand and everything else I do in life. I think this is what enables me to lead a team of people as well as collaborate with others, and it’s also what I look for when looking to build a team or partner with others.
Tell us about your talk show: What is it about and who is it for?
My talk show is entitled S.I.S (Spill It, Sister). It addresses taboo issues women face but may be intimidated to speak about. The show is a safe space for us to think freely and speak authentically. Over the past year, S.I.S has not only garnered the attention of women around the world, but men as well, which tells me that my efforts are not in vain, and that we are, indeed, making an impact.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
Simply put, my greatest accomplishment is being unapologetically fearless. It took a while for me to get here but I can confidently stand firm in my belief in my brand. I’m not afraid to take risks, knock on doors, or pitch my ideas to a group of top executives; I charge what I’m worth and I’m fully grounded in my belief that I am a successful brand and business, despite how many followers or how much money I currently have. I unapologetically and fearlessly believe in what I represent, and I get up every day and chase the dreams I have for myself.
When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?
I slow down but I never quit. Setbacks are stumbling blocks, not roadblocks, and on this path, it would be a fairytale for anyone to think they won’t have setbacks – it comes with the territory. That’s what I repeat in my mind when I encounter setbacks. Sometimes, I’m able to stand strong and pick up the pace quickly; other times, I may need to retreat to a calming space (both physically and mentally) and reflect on my why. This allows me some time to just breathe and clear my mind; once I can do that, I accept the things I cannot change and jump right back into work mode.
I also have people in my circle who I talk to about various issues – one person in particular is like my diary – but they all deposit positivity in me and help me come up with solutions.
Share two pieces of advice for female entrepreneurs.
Don’t quit, and keep going. At this point in the game, that’s the best advice I can give. You will start off with a weight of emotions, questions, doubt, lonely nights, tears, and low account balances, but know that your business idea was not an accident. Great things take time, extraordinary sacrifices, and growing pains. There is no guaranteed timeline for success, however, once you put in the work, over time, you will develop and bloom, and success will come naturally as you continue to grow. Everyone’s growth stages are different, so don’t compare your success to anyone else’s – just keep going, or, in the words of Dory, “just keep swimming”. In time, your hard work will pay off, and your wildest dreams will become your reality.
What has been your key (or keys) to success?
God. To be completely transparent, there are times I feel anxious about my next steps, and I sometimes find myself wondering what I’m doing, but God comes through for me every time. I constantly pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, for strength and for His guidance, and He’s been faithful to fulfill my requests time and time again. He’s my key to success.
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
I personally prefer not to think of my unsuccessful moments as failures because I always get right back up; you only fail when you quit. I like to think of them as lessons, and I’ve had tons of those. Some were hard lessons that I needed to learn in order to be better, but they weren’t failures. Every loss is a lesson, and every win is a blessing. As a matter of fact, your losses are blessings, too, because they motivate you to fight for your wins.
Find more on https://linktr.ee/DenielleDaMogul
![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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