By: Jackie Davis
Sharnette Ludger is a senior at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies here at Georgia State. She is majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership. Ludger was also recently selected as a Frances Wood Wilson Foundation Scholar.
Your passion project is now your business. Tell us about it.
LashPlay was created in 2014, however this is my first time taking it seriously. LashPlay provides mink lashes for women to enhance or revitalize their look at an affordable cost. The fuel behind LashPlay was affordable glam. For a woman to be truly empowered she must look and feel her best. I’m not saying we are not beautiful without makeup or lashes. However, it never hurts to have a boost of confidence.
You recently received the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation Scholarship that is designed to support Entrepreneurship & Innovation Scholars. Share more about that experience.
My heart jumped when I received the email, being selected has been a motivating experience. This was my first time applying for a scholarship, and I felt very empowered. Receiving the scholarship has validated my idea and inspired me to take my business seriously. There was a time when I felt shy or embarrassed because LashPlay didn’t “blow up” fast. However, now I’m focusing on revamping LashPlay. The funds assisted me with paying for tuition, new inventory, and a promo shoot.
What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Entrepreneurship represents, strength, freedom, power, innovation, and creativity to me.
Entrepreneurship is an emotional process, one day your excited and motivated and the next you’re depressed. However, the beauty in it is knowing that you have something that is yours. Your business in away should represent you as a person. It should represent your beliefs, values, and interests.
What role has Georgia State played in your entrepreneurial journey?
Georgia State has played a major role in sculpting both myself and my business. I would’ve never thought to market LashPlay to nonprofits or women who are suffering from hair loss. Being a part of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies has changed my mindset – I discovered how LashPlay could help empower women and change lives. LashPlay is more than just lashes and I want to share with the world the impact we are going to make.
What are your long-term goals?
My ultimate end goal in life is to open my own nonprofit targeted to young women suffering from adversity to help educated them on life, education, sex, and trauma. The mission is to help young women find their self and voice so they can learn not sell to themselves short. I want to lower the rate of young women entering the sex industry for work. A majority of these girls lack guidance, education, hope, and supervision. I genuinely feel with proper care and mentorship we can make a change.
For the month of October LashPlay will be donating lashes to a few nonprofits for women who recently committed Chemotherapy and are looking to refresh or revitalize their look. Moving forward LashPlay will be looking to partner with nonprofits that target women who are suffering from diseases that causes hair loss such as Alopecia, Cancer, and Lupus.
Reach out to Sharnette via her LinkedIn if interested in learning more about her business or partnerships.