The saying, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” holds true for Uvana, a Dallas woman with a big heart, a big family, and big plans. While working as a student loan advisor, the mother of four also showcases her skills as a hairstylist with her side business called Prosperous Styles. 

“It’s my hobby, I love doing hair,” Uvana said before explaining that her goal is to expand her business, establish an LLC, and reach a point where she can do hair as a full-time entrepreneur. 

“I don’t want to work in someone else’s shop, I’d rather get a suite for myself and not have to work below anyone,” she said. Uvana also shared that her mom taught her how to do hair at age 12 and she’s enjoyed being able to transform looks for her clients with everything from sew-ins to braids to wigs.

Born in Louisiana, Uvana spent the first 16 years of her life in what she refers to as “a small, secluded country place” before moving to Dallas and getting a flavor for a different pace in a bigger city.

“When I first came here, I never had anything like the food they have here. The BBQ. The city overall. Looking at the ball when you’re going downtown—being outside… Everything is bigger in Texas and that is a very, very true statement,” she said.

Uvana, who has been with her partner for 14 years, is a proud mother of four children between the ages of one and 17. 

“My daughter is becoming a senior in high school. My son is entering high school, and my other son is entering middle school, so there are three chapters I’m trying to open right now,” Uvana said. 

One of the chapters includes inspiring her oldest daughter to start her own hair business. Uvana’s 17-year-old specializes in lace wigs after teaching herself the latest techniques through tutorials on YouTube and TikTok. 

On top of raising four kids, working a full-time job, being an entrepreneur and trying to expand her own business, Uvana still finds time to support her community in a big way. She serves as the Treasurer of the Bonton Neighborhood Association, an organization that does various outreach in her South Dallas community. 

“I’ve been in this community for 10 years so I know everyone,” Uvana shared. 

It was through her engagement with the community that she initially learned about UpTogether from a Dallas-based community organization called Bonton Farms. She received an investment in UpTogether’s #GiveTogetherNow campaign back in 2020.

“It was rewarding to me,” Uvana said. “Somebody giving me something I didn’t have to return, or in return give them something.” 

Uvana later was selected for the Dallas TEPP Fund, a direct cash pilot where UpTogether partnered with the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and several other local supporters to deliver investments with the goal of preventing evictions. 

“When they told me they were gonna give it to me and I wasn’t going to have to return it?! It wasn’t a loan or anything. I was shocked. I was definitely shocked. It’s always something you have to give back,” Uvana said.

At the time, she was in between jobs and used the money to pay necessary bills. 

“It’s hard to get any funding out here now,” she said. “I was relieved that I didn’t have to worry about that particular bill, it gave me a sense of relief.”