In this exclusive feature, we shine a spotlight on the remarkable story of Shelly Vincent, a true champion who has overcome tremendous obstacles throughout her life. From a childhood marred by abuse, poverty, and loss to becoming a renowned boxer and influential mentor, Shelly’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of sport.
Raised in a turbulent environment marked by trauma, Shelly found solace and purpose in the world of boxing. It served as a therapeutic outlet, allowing her to channel her emotions and find stability amidst adversity. Undeterred by the male-dominated landscape of the sport and the skepticism she faced, Shelly persevered and achieved remarkable success, winning the 2011 National Golden Gloves 119-pound title and earning accolades for her extraordinary fighting spirit.
Beyond her boxing career, Shelly’s commitment to giving back to her community is evident through her coaching and mentoring endeavors. By guiding adults and children from diverse backgrounds, she has provided them with an alternative path, offering hope, confidence, and strength. Now, as she opens her own gym and prepares to host an all-female amateur boxing tournament, Shelly continues to be a beacon of inspiration, empowering the next generation to rise above adversity and find their own resilience.
Join us as we delve into Shelly Vincent’s inspiring journey, celebrating her indomitable spirit and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact.
Can you tell us about your experience as a survivor of abuse and how it has shaped your life?
When I was a child, my mother and I were abused. My mother was worse than me, beaten severely almost every night. At times we even had guns pointed and waved in our faces. I was hung from the walls by my neck until unconscious or almost and hit starting back to about the age of 7. The abuse made me a very insecure child confused about love and affection. I grew up thinking if I wasn’t yelled at or hit it wasn’t love, because that was is all I saw growing up. I was so confused and I was also scared of every man I encountered except my grandfather. I begged my mother to allow me to box. She told me: “they don’t have that for girls” But after seeing me so sad and depressed, she offered to move me to NY so I could find a place that would accept women.
We found Whaling City Boxing in Waterford CT and that’s where my boxing began. Fast forward to a few years later, my mom’s new boyfriend enters the picture. At first, he seemed to be the sweetest, nicest guy I ever met. The whole time he was telling me what I NEEDED to hear, doing things that a father is supposed to do and making me feel safe an loved. But it turned out he was setting me up: grooming me and eventually, he sexually assaulted me.
After a long spiral downhill of depression, suicide attempts, drugs & alcohol and prison bids… The only thing that kept me alive was boxing.
On my mother’s death bed, she begged me “Baby promise me you’ll never stop boxing…this is your way out. This is how you save yourself” And it did I can honestly say that without all that dark shit I would of never found boxing and that was the therapy I always needed
Who has been your biggest source of inspiration throughout your life?
Definitely my mother. I watched her go through all that abuse and still smile, stay strong and mother us. She always made sure we were good. She always gave her best to us; no matter how bad it was (and it got bad) she was always smiling and laughing. She was so beautiful inside and out. Later, she was diagnosed with Leukemia. Looking back now as an adult, I realize how bad and hard and how much pain she was in. But through it all she was always smiling and trying to make us feel at ease. I definitely get my strength and grit from my mother. My moms a warrior, a fighter and a survivor and she gave me that spirit.
Can you talk about a particularly memorable fight or moment in your boxing career?
My first fight at Coney Island Amphitheater. It was the first woman’s nationally televised fight since Christy Martin, Laila Ali time and the first time on NBC on PBC in history. We had more views than Errol Spence that night. Leading up to this was a lot of pressure on us to promote the fight and sell tickets. They said getting the numbers we promised them, would make or break WOMEN’s boxing. My whole career i fought (vocally) for equality and women’s rights for equal pay and time featured on television. Before then in my career, I was looked over.
They said i wouldn’t make it. Said sex sells and all the other stupid shit.. . So to be one of the voices that was in the ring that night felt incredible. The beef was real. We sold the arena super heavy then did it again for a rematch at MSG on HBO. And what I’m proud of is that I did it by being my authentically extra, cartoonish, openly gay self. I wanted to show the other women like me that may have struggled with suicidal thoughts and depression, …the misfits, …I showed that you can just be yourself .. Recently, I found out that I will be the FIRST women fighter ever inducted into the CT Boxing Hall of Fame. I was one of the first women to fight on national TV in this era, first in the women’s spread in Ring Magazine …I DID A LOT A FIRST IN THIS ERA. tI might not be Katie Taylor, or Amanda Serrano but my mother is definitely up there smiling big at the woman I became ….I really wish she was here to see though. We didn’t think I’d make it to 21
What message do you want to send to young girls who aspire to become professional boxers?
Always be your truest self. Speak your mind and give it your all… You belong here .. BE YOURSELF This is the era for women in boxing. Everything is changing there is a place for you in this sport… if you work hard for it it is attainable and it can change your life financially and mentally whatever you need it for… DREAM BIG, REACH BIG, YOUR TIME WILL COME! SO WORK YOUR HARDEST
How do you plan to expand your gym and tournament in the future?
Opening a second gym in my hometown New London CT. Running programs for inner city youth, Parkinson’s programs and Women self-defense seminars …
My goal is to grow the tournament each year making it bigger an better. My hope is to one day have the tournament backed by USA Boxing which would mean it would allow for ranking in the boxing world. This is my first show. I was a heavy tick seller as a pro and now that I’m retired, I’m hoping my fans and family will come out and support my fighters and all the young, strong, female fighters at the show. I throw for the upcoming future pros and world champions …
Can you talk about any partnerships or collaborations you have formed to support your gym and tournament?
Right now, my old trainer is I are working together, merging our two gyms. I train all the fighters and he handles the classes.. I learned everything from him, so it’s great to work together again. I organized the tournament with Whaling City Athletic Center and help from a few friends. My vision was to get strong professional women in the game to support it and sponsor it. Ebanie Bridges was the first to get behind it, with no hesitation in supporting the youth and empowering women. She’s a huge star and world champion living in the UK right now. Jamie “the hurricane” Clampitt, Hall of Famer and Former World Champion is also involved.
Newcomers on the scene, Melanie Costa who recently turned pro and Stevie Coleman will also be in attendance. The WBC was kind enough to gift us with medals for some of the athletes competing ….Exclusive Auto , Girl boxing , Northern Crane an Rigging , Dominica Giordano , Beacon Wines , Ellie’s Jewlers, N.R.Designs, , And Forty Theives are some of the other sponsors. Huge thank you to everyone! Just straight good vibes positive energy and another outlet for women boxers to showcase their talents ..
Music, food and fights WHOS DOESNT LOVE THAT… Something for everyone!
How has your experience as a coach and mentor impacted your life?
It makes me the person I NEEDED so desperately back when I was that kid crying in the closet. The person I wished I had to talk to, to confide in…
I have the blueprint out… I dug myself a grave out of the depression of doubt and naysayers … Victories in and out of the ring…
And to watch these kids and fighters evolve and grow and knowing that I was a part of that process gives me joy and fulfills the part of me I lost when I had to retire… So it’s full circle and keeps me alive.. my life’s purpose was def to work with kids in an out a the ring … A lot of these kids relate to me not all but a lot in a way or some way because I’ve been through it ALL… I need them just as much as they need me
![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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