Exploring Life & Business with Taylor Jackson of True Kolor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Jackson.

Hi Taylor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
There are so many places I can start. So, let’s take it from the top! I was born in Washington, DC and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland. I’ve always had a creative spirit with an entrepreneurial mindset. I graduated elementary, middle, and high school via the Prince George’s County Public School System. After graduation, I attended Virginia State University where I received my Bachelors of Arts in English and Education. In the midst of taking a few continuing education courses and diligently looking for jobs to start my career, I decided to pursue one of my favorite hobbies.

I enrolled in Cosmetology school. It was there that I realized I didn’t need to have a 9-5 desk job to be successful. I could do what makes me happy while gaining security and financial freedom. As soon as I came to this realization, my journey became extremely rocky to say the least. While in the second semester of cosmetology school, I was diagnosed with Lupus. Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. This diagnosis made it impossible to meet the physical demands of cosmetology school and I had to withdraw.

For a short while after cosmetology school, I was employed as an Enrollment Officer processing Visas for the UK Government. After being laid off from that position, I taught preschool in the DC Public Charter sector where I was also laid off after a short time due to the school’s closing. The universe was clearly speaking to me! I decided to no longer wait for someone to give me an opportunity.

After desperately brainstorming ideas, my husband and I made a plan to turn my love for the arts and children into a business. We took a leap of faith and opened the Creative Arts Center for Toddlers (C.A.T. Program) where we offer classes in creative movement, art, music, and storytelling. Our program grew into more than we could ever imagine. Things were going so well that I had time to pursue other interests. So I did! I launched an herbal supplement company called ‘Botanical Box’. My products sold out online and were retailed in multiple stores. But, yet again, the road got rocky. I had a very intense Lupus flare which caused us to have to cut the hours of operation at the center and slow down the productivity for Botanical Box.

So, here I am again, desperately brainstorming ideas that would be less physically demanding but equally (if not more) profitable. Both my husband and I are multifaceted when it comes to creativity and business ideas. We were having a hard time deciding which business idea would get all of our attention. We finally decided that we didn’t have to choose!

We founded the ‘True Kolor Universe’; an empire of businesses that hold our utmost interests both together and separately. These businesses include; True Kolor Records, True Kolor Beauty, TK Photography, and True Kolor Apparel.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road has definitely not been smooth. When pursuing an entrepreneurial career, there will always be ups and downs.

Aside from my diagnosis, one of my biggest struggles was self-identity; pinpointing exactly what I wanted to do and how I wanted to present myself to the world. I had so many ideas, so many talents and so much knowledge I wanted to share. It got overwhelming at times especially, in the beginning.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
True Kolor, LLC was founded by myself and my husband, Kionte Jackson. True Kolor is a conglomerate of businesses based in industries we personally specialize in. Including: Music/Entertainment, Photography, Beauty, and Fashion. We operate on the thought that prosperity stems from unity. Hence our slogan “Run with the Pack”.

• True Kolor Records is a private record label that currently represents recording artists in the DMV area. We specialize in artist development (A&R), music publishing, and copyright enforcement.
• TK Photography Studio is located in Upper Marlboro, MD. Myself and my husband are both photographers who specialize in portrait photography. We are most known for professional, maternity, and family portraits.
• True Kolor Beauty Studio is also located in Upper Marlboro, MD. Our services include makeup, individual lash extensions, eyebrow lamination, eyebrow tint, eyebrow waxing.
• True Kolor Apparel is a CEO Streetwear brand created for the Entrepreneur on the go.

More information about us can be found on our website!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Yes of course!

I would like to give credit to a few special people who are always in my corner: Kionte Jackson (Husband), Lauren Douglass (Sister), Sandra & Christopher Blackman (Parents).

Contact Info:

• Email: info@truekolor.org
• Website: truekolor.org
• Instagram: @truekolorbeauty | @truekolorstudios | @truekolorapparel