The Washington, DC area is full of amazing moms: working moms, stay-at-home moms, single moms, moms of multiples, foster moms, adoptive moms, etc. We want to highlight some of those moms like Jacqui Davis! Each month we feature one special mom as the mom of the month. Know a fellow amazing local mom here? Nominate them here!
From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month here in the US. We use this time to celebrate our stories and achievements as a community. A very large number of those stories as those of moms, who play a crucial role in our communities and are responsible for passing on so many of our traditions and believes. Nothing better than to use this space to highlight one of the many exemplary Latinx Mothers in our community. I am honored to have had the pleasure of interviewing my friend Jacqui Davis for this Mom of the Month edition.
Meet Jacqui Davis: September Mom of the Month with a highlight on Hispanic Heritage Month!
Jacqui is a passionate and creative professional with a very successful career. One of six kids, Jacqui was born to immigrant parents in Santa Barbara, California. Her Latin roots influenced her love of color, art and beauty which lead her to pursue a career in hair. When Jacqui isn’t at her salon, PR Partners Downtown in DC, she can be found doing hair for editorial shoots, NYFW, and TV shows such as; Project Runway, Project Runway All Stars, Project Runway Juniors, NBC Ambush/Military Makeovers and TLC’s Love, Lust or Run. She has been featured, published and contributed in such publications as EQ Living, Ellements, Washingtonian Magazine, Washington Post, Bangstyle, and Refinery 29.
I have been fortunate to have been her client for many years now. But as it is with any Latin mom, she became a mentor and a great supporter of the many projects I have shared with her over the years. She is an inspiration to many, and a motivahtor to all women who are lucky enough to be around her. Her very successful daughters (D2D Focus, The Funny Momma, and Big Papa) attest to that and her legacy, and don’t even mention grandma who is now an internet sensation. If you have not seen the video, click here to check it out.
Here is our Q&A with Jacqui Davis as we celebrate our Latinx heritage:
What does Latinx means to you? How have you navigated your identity with your children?
Being a Latina influences every aspect of my life. I am the 2nd of six children and the first to be born in the US. Pride, culture, color, music, art and love of family and God are all tied into that. My children are biracial. I wanted them to know both their Latino culture as well as their Black culture.
Though I moved away from my home state of California and my family, it was very important that my kids be bilingual in Spanish and English. Food is another way to stay connected and instill pride in our culture.
And I have to say, telling stories about our ancestors and family, their sacrifices and successes was something my parents did with us as children I wanted to continue that tradition.
What does it mean to be a successful Latinx person in such a competitive world?
Being a successful Latina can take on so many meanings. But I guess if we are talking career wise, I feel a responsibility to represent my people in a positive light. I also enjoy exposing people who otherwise don’t have access, to my culture. I feel blessed that I’m in the position of mentoring/helping Latinx people as well as other cultures in this career. It’s all about lifting each other up!
You are a mom and a grandma, what is your favorite part of this stage?
I got pregnant when I was 16 years old, making my mother a very young grandmother. I knew that chances were my kids would return the favor. But I was prepared and had already picked the name that my grandchildren would call me. I am Mamacita.
Though being a teenage mom comes with many challenges, the reward is that now I can go have a fun adult night with my girls and I’m still young enough that I can talk about music, movies and day to day stuff with my grandkids!
In what ways do you celebrate the Latin culture at home?
Oh, music food and spending time with family for sure! Holidays are huge. We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. We cook what would traditionally be made during this holiday in Yucatán, where the Mexican side of my family is from. We open our gifts at midnight (one of the few times Latinos are early, lol!).
My favorite holiday we celebrate is Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). I remember years ago when I would invite people to this party, they looked at me like I was crazy! Now, thanks to Coco and Book of Life, more and more people understand this beautiful celebration!
There are so many amazing moms in the Washington, DC area like Jacqui doing really amazing things. Do you know an incredible mom? Nominate them as a Mom of the Month here!
