Wednesday Wonder Woman: Tiayana Logan

Tiayana Logan is a self-proclaimed “promologist”.  In 2009, she founded Moneet’s Closet, which is nationally recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Moneet’s Closet was originally established to help low-income students attend their proms by providing free prom dresses, shoes, accessories, hair, makeup, and much, much more. It has since expanded to also help students with scholarships and school supplies. The organization primarily assists students who are sick, homeless, or live in shelters and do not have family to assist them. To date, Moneet’s closet has helped hundreds of students attend their prom at little or no cost.

Tiayana runs the organization while also working as an educator and basketball coach in Brooklyn, New York. Learn what fuels this “promologist” below.

Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Tiayana, Tiayana?

Tiayana: What makes Tiayana, Tiayana is my ambition, my belief in God, my humor, my courage to stand up and fight for what I believe in, my contagious confident personality and energy. My silence, my resilience, and my ability to help young girls and women build confidence through self-love. I believe that confident young girls make empowered women, and empowered women make for stronger communities.

Fancy: So tell us about Moneet’s Closet and what inspired the organization?

Tiayana: The mission statement of Moneét’s Closet is to enable every young lady a prom dress and accessories that might not otherwise be able to afford those luxuries. Every young lady should feel like a “princess” on this special night.  Our aim is also to empower young girls in our community, because again, confident young girls make empowered women and empowered women make for a stronger community.  Each year we hope to be larger and better as we attempt to reach all high schools across our five cities.  Moneét’s Closet started off as a prom project for young ladies, but since 2017 we have expanded our reach to young men. We service the community, and those who need to be reminded that they are beautiful and loved. Self-love is important to us, which is why we also service women in shelters with cosmetic and clothing makeovers.

The inspiration behind Moneét’s Closet came from my personal experience with a close friend, whose family couldn’t afford her dream prom, and she was heartbroken and discouraged by this news. In knowing that I was fortunate enough to have my dream prom, I couldn’t stomach the idea of leaving her behind. With the help of my mom, she went to the prom just as she imagined. That experience of being able to listen, share, love, and help her gain confidence, and living in that moment, seeing her happy and grateful for the opportunity to create a memory she would cherish forever, tickled my heart. I wondered how many other girls are in the world aren’t going to prom because they can’t afford it or because they aren’t confident enough to wear a dress, or deal with the pressure of social media. So, I created Moneét’s Closet in 2009, to help high school students head to prom free of charge.

Fancy: What type of services do you all offer?

Tiayana: We provide prom services such as:

• Purchasing Prom Tickets for our Essay Winners
• Providing Free Ride to Prom to our Essay Winners
• Providing young ladies/men, with free shoes, accessories, racks of clothing/prom attire, and necessities that are needed for prom.
• Young ladies/Women obtain manicures and pedicures
• Full Glam Makeovers/Sessions
• Educational Workshops

Fancy: How often do you all work with homeless women, like do you do an annual event with them as well?

Tiayana: We work with homeless women annually; we mostly work with these beautiful women around Mother’s Day. We work with women in shelters, who need to look good to feel good. We once heard from a woman that “Being a homeless woman, nobody loves me. I don’t care to look good; I’m never going to get better.” In knowing that our glam squad has the powers to allow women to look good and feel good, no matter their circumstance, we also provide makeovers to women who need a pick me up. While to some Moneét’s Closet could be doing something way more significant, we feel that we are providing something far more important than the actual makeover, and that is personal attention and great conversation.  Our real dedication is bringing out “hidden beauty” and “improving the lives of disadvantaged women through kindness, compassion, and photography! It makes the time spent with the women that more memorable. 

Fancy: Can you recall your own prom experience?

Tiayana: My prom experience was everything I could have imagined it to be. I was the ultimate tomboy, and I loved my basketball shorts, and sneakers. So, for me prom was a huge transformation and stepping stone into becoming a young lady. I honestly felt I was Sanaa Lathan from Love and Basketball. My mother ensured I had everything I needed. My prom night was memorable, and winning prom queen was unbelievably a humbling, magical experience for me. I wish to provide every girl with a dream prom that supersedes magical.

Fancy: This year you all will have multiple events in different cities. Please share more about that.  

Tiayana: This year we will have multiple events taking place in New Jersey; Brooklyn, New York; Wilmington, North Carolina; Atlanta; and New Orleans. In each city, we have a Moneét’s Closet essay contest where we select two essay winners, and send them to prom for “free”. We pay for their prom ticket, ride to prom, makeup, hair, nails, accessories, and they are also provided a handmade prom dress free of charge that they design themselves. Each city also has the opportunity of shopping at Moneét’s Closet Prom Pop Up Shop, enjoying free activities, giveaways, performances, music, and prom services. Our last event takes place May 19, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York at the Brooklyn Brownstone Elementary School from 10am-2pm, and we love to see some of you there.

Fancy: Now you also work as an educator and basketball coach, so obviously, you are passionate about working with youth, but why is that?

Tiayana: I am very passionate about working with children/youth/young adults, because this is my calling. I believe that God put me just where I needed to be. I wake up every morning passionate about each day and what new adventures and things I can learn from my students, my players, and each young lady/young man that walks into Moneét’s Closet. All my life I have come across educators who either doubted me or encouraged me to reach my potential. Being a student athlete, I was always up against the odds. However I had a strong support system and my mother and father always reminded me that all things are possible with faith, passion, and hard work. Experiencing all cultures of education, I wanted to be the Fairy Godmother that sprinkles a huge ingredient of empowerment in as many girls and boys to help them find their voice to become the success they are destined to be!

Giving back is one of the most important things anyone can do in life. My drive is to empower my students, because those students make for stronger communities. I don’t do this for gloat. Giving back is where you give, and then nothing happens. No benefits for me, no recognition, nothing tangible gets sent my way. My biggest and sole reward is the realization that I’ve made a significant change in someone’s life (many lives). And if not “significant”, then it is a positive change nevertheless, that they couldn’t afford. My passion for the youth allows me to lean on Moneét’s Closet to make a difference one dress, one suit, one workshop, one class, one lesson, one game and millions of interactions at a time throughout all communities.

Fancy: How can others help your cause?

Tiayana: The community can get involved by donating gently worn dresses, shoes, accessories, suits, tuxedoes, ties, bowties, and men’s shoes. Monetary donations are also accepted; the community is the lifeline of Moneét’s Closet.

Fancy: Out of curiosity, because social media has amped up prom even more than it was before; do you all feel more pressure about the items and services donated for the girls?

Tiayana: As we just joined social media in 2017, we don’t feel any pressure by the publicity behind prom. We feel delighted, because this allows us to remind young ladies the tradition and meaning behind prom, that being confident in your own skin is what makes a Prom Queen and what being beautiful is all about. For Moneét’s Closet Prom isn’t just about the cosmetics; it’s more than a dress, “It’s the Experience and Memories Created”. We haven’t had a participant who entered our doors, and couldn’t find their dream dress, and once we add our special ingredients they wear the dress, the dress doesn’t wear them. Our sponsors help us stay up to date on popular products.

Fancy: Do you have any other upcoming projects and events you care to share?

Tiayana: What’s next for Moneét’s Closet is hosting Post Prom Workshops this coming June, which will cater to helping high school students prepare for what’s next after graduation. Having a vision and a plan is a key part of the college experience, and we want to lead students towards manifesting their goals.

Follow and connect with Tiayana below. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoneetsCloset/

Instagram: @MoneetsCloset

Website: www.moneetscloset.org