The journey of every mother through motherhood is a clear and personal lifelong adventure. Tatyana Ali shares her own unique experience and reveals the inspiration behind her company, Baby Yams, and how motherhood has transformed her, among other things.
In a recent interview with First for women, The entertainer with multiple hyphenate gives readers a glimpse into her adult world and both entrepreneur and mother. View fragments from her interview below.
FFW: You are also the maker of a company called Baby Yams. What was the motivation behind this concept?
Tatyana Ali: The motivation and inspiration come from personal experience. After I was married, I wanted to found a family. My first pregnancy started healthy, but that all changed when I arrived in the hospital and my son had a very traumatic birth. My son ended up in the Nicu for four days because of what happened in the hospital.
When I got pregnant again, I was terrified and I didn’t know what to do. I went to social media to look for a community by posting messages about my story. I found a group called Black Mamas Matter Alliance, which is aimed at the health of black mothers and mental health, … They are fighting for equal medical treatment for a long time. While I was pregnant, I also traveled over the whole place where I continued to learn about this area … It was at this time; I found a lot of comfort in sewing.
FFW: When did you launch Baby Yams?
Tatyana Ali: Last year I started the company and made 50 blankets, and each tells a story. I design them personally and get the fabrics from a woman in Ghana. After we sold out last April, I gave 100% of that profit to be used for small subsidies, so that midwives and doulas can follow their education to help others.
FFW: How did being a mother changed you?
Tatyana Ali: Oh, that’s a good question. I think it ordered my steps. When I was younger, I didn’t know what the important things were and how to give priority. When I became a mother for my two boys, my whole world changed. Everything centered around them and for them. They first come first and they ordered my steps. I am also a working mother and that read everything in my life. I was focused on everything that means that if it is not important and good for them, I don’t have time for it.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Alum stopped her interview by sharing with the exhaust valve that she has much more to reach, with the expansion of her company, Baby Yams, first for her future ambitions.
“I really want to build Baby Yams and the Yam House diaries because I have stepped with it, and it now includes everything. Making this successful is now my mission and I really want to see what I can do with it because these blankets have so much meaning and bring a lot of smiles.”
The 46-year-old shares her two sons, Edward Aszard Rasberry, 9, and Alejandro Vaughn Rasberry, 7, with husband, Dr. Vaughn Rasberry. Click here to read Ali’s interview in its entirety.
Photo: Tatyana Ali Instagram
