LOS ANGELES — Speaking before many of her friends and followers, Kheris Rogers, 16, hosted a summit on a Saturday morning at Loyola Marymount University. The goal was to empower other young women like her to start their own businesses.
"I’m an example of what can happen if enough positive energy can connect with negative energy," Rogers said, speaking from an auditorium podium.
"If you have a passion for something, you have to go for it. If you’re struggling with something, you have to be the one to hold yourself up and realize how strong that you are because God put you on earth for a reason," she said.
Rogers rose to fame when she launched her clothing line, Flexin in My Complexion in 2017, after being bullied for her dark skin color.
She would become the youngest designer to ever show at New York Fashion Week and recently, she released a children’s book to help fight the racism and colorism she experienced.
"Always love yourself and be yourself. Don’t change for nobody. Don’t sit up and put on a fake smile for other people," she said.
"We struggle with mental health issues and no one really pays attention to it because we’re kids and adults feel like we have nothing to stress over, but that’s definitely not true," she added.
Many of those who attended the free summit were friends of the social media influencer, such as Mya Johnson. She and her mom flew in from Houston.
"I always knew I wanted to be a YouTuber. I always knew I wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry. As a kid, I would always just pick up my tablet and I would be on my camera roll and acting like I’m making YouTube videos and to say that I’m actually making YouTube videos and people love seeing me do what I do, that just honestly makes me happy," Johnson said.
There were sessions about improving mental health, embracing entrepreneurship, the entertainment industry, and financial literacy. Johnson says she was interested in learning more about how to better market herself.
"I’m so used to always being in front of the camera and doing one thing," she said.
"It was a big adjustment for me as a parent because, you know, for one, I really don’t care for the kids to be on their phones like that, but I had to open my eyes and realize that this is a new thing, and it’s a real thing," said Candice Rangel, Mya's mom.
It can also be a lucrative one. She says her daughter is pulling in more than six figures while going to school full time.
“It’s really hard to tell a 16-, 17-year-old like ‘This is not a great path to go’ when they’re making more money than you as a full-time working citizen,” Rangel said.
As for Rogers, she’s found her niche as an anti-bullying advocate, helping as many young people as possible feel comfortable in their own skin.
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