Dakima Hicks, @thebeautyadvocate, Jayah Rose Salon, Washougal, WA

“Beauty is belonging” says Dakima. She first experienced the power of beauty to create community as a high school student styling friends’ hair in her kitchen. While her dream was deferred, it was discovered again after the divorced single mom of five drove more than 2,000 miles toward a new future as a hairstylist. “I remembered that feeling of belonging,” she says. Describing success Dakima says, “Success is learning from your mistakes, growing from experience and paying it forward to help the next person climb the ladder.” Watch her video here.