SHREVEPORT, La. – Shreveport native Monyetta Shaw-Carter recently entered into the beauty industry with her new company called Keep it Classy Nails.
Carter is more than just an entrepreneur; she’s also appeared on the reality show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and she’s also an author. She says it all started with her upbringing.
“The best upbringing ever. A close knit family. It was me and my two older brothers. We grew up in the church, and, you know, you could find us at the same church three times a week. I was super active in high school. I was the leading lady of the dance line, the president of my class, all that good stuff,” said Carter.
Like many entrepreneurs, Carter wears many hats. Her career began when she lived in Shreveport as a radio host for Shreveport’s hip-hop and R&B station. From there, she started her own company.
“So I started my company, almost 13 years ago, the Evan Grace Group and I had a boutique called Emerlyn & Ester Boutique in Buckhead, Atlanta, Ga. And then I had Maddie, my first baby. And, you know, I did a publishing company and I wrote her book, “The Adventures of Maddie.” And then along came Mason and did “The Chronicles of Nice Guy Maso.” And also my self-help books. I just always wanted to contribute and just, you know, be the example for my children. And then I launched into the beauty industry with the very luxury press-on Nails, Keep it Classy Nails,” said Carter.
Carter has appeared on other reality TV shows such as VH1’s“Atlanta Exes,” where she shared her relationship woes with ex R&B singer Ne-yo. That experience led to self-help books.
“And the whole world got to see me go through something, not so good. But the feedback that I got from that was, oh, my gosh, like, if you could do it, I can do it. And hearing the stories of so many people come back to me. I’m like, Oh my gosh, I let my children’s father back into their lives because I was watching you and seeing how you do it so effortlessly because co-parenting is not easy all the time. But some like to say I make it look easy, but it’s all about being a positive example for the kids,” said carter.
Carter says she is proud to be from Louisiana. With G-Unit Studios coming to her hometown, she feels this will bring an economic impact in many ways.
“You know, the music industry in the entertainment industry was here a while ago. That’s kind of how I got my start in acting and things like that. And it’s back and it’s going to give so many people in the community opportunities, jobs and even the huge weekend that’s here. You know, it’s like part of the proceeds are going to the G-Unit Foundation, which is giving back to the community. And that’s what I’m all about. And I’m excited the city is roaring right now,” said Carter.
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August is National Black Business Month.