Are You A S.A.S.S.Y. Woman?

Hello Beautiful Muses!

Today I interviewed Brittani Halliburton, founder and creator of the S.A.S.S.Y. Women's Network, an organization focused on the empowerment and betterment of womanhood. Brittani is a recent graduate of Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law and a sports law attorney currently practicing in Houston, Texas. She notes that her career has been influenced by her past experiences from both school and on the job. She recognizes one of her greatest influences to stem from her last employer who was also an attorney and her employer's circle of friends who also practiced law. It was then that she had the thought, "I can do this; this is fun" and the rest has been history. Her mission is to now inspire, encourage, and offer support to other women, just as her mentors have done for her.

How do you define S.A.S.S.Y.?

At this time S.A.S.S.Y. can be considered at 100% women’s empowerment movement. And by women, I’m not excluding your 18 – 20-year-old range because the purpose of S.A.S.S.Y. is not only to empower women but to provide a positive image to young girls. S.A.S.S.Y. represents something for them to aspire to be as well as somewhere for them to receive mentorship.

How did you come up with the concept for S.A.S.S.Y.? What inspired you to start this movement?

The concept literally came from seeing more sexual and more this is real this is fake type of posts on social media and wanting to create a positive image for young girls to see. But at the same time there are so many women our age and older than us who don’t know any better, where they don’t have any positive images to look up to; so we’re pretty much creating an image of what a woman is or what a woman can be.

Photo Credit: S.A.S.S.Y. Women's Network

Okay, so would you say S.A.S.S.Y.’s creation stems from a body positivity type of route?

You can say that, but I’d even go as far as to say more of an emotional stability, self-love, and self-accountability route to make you a better person overall. I think we’re constantly looking at what another woman has and wondering if I should do that or how do I get that or maybe I should do this. So S.A.S.S.Y. really promotes a positive image from within, not solely based on the outer.

Got it. So a positive image both inside and out such as emotional maturity and body positivity.

Right

Very cool. What is the mission or goals of S.A.S.S.Y.?

Well the acronym S.A.S.S.Y. stands for Sisters Applauding Sisters Success with a little bit of Yasss on the end. Sisters do not only refer to Black women, we have a wide array of women that we reach out to as panelists and mentors. I really want to emphasize the support aspect of the movement because you can’t just uplift and not support. So on social media showcasing women who are professionals, small business owners, or entrepreneurs, doing these great things is important.

And what would you say makes you an S.A.S.S.Y. woman?

That’s a tough one. I think my willingness and readiness to give back to other women is what made me a S.A.S.S.Y. woman. Wanting to see other women do better, wanting it to not be so much of a competition, but being able to say [to another woman] you do this and you’re good at it and that’s okay. I don’t do hair, you do, so let me come over there. I think not being afraid of allowing flowers next to me to bloom has allowed me to grow and has allowed others to do the same.

Awesome! What women would you say have inspired you throughout your life?

My mom, of course, is number one. I love the influence and the presence that Michelle Obama has given, I would also say Tracee Ellis Ross, I really like her. I really enjoy her personality and her vibe.

I adore her too! Do you see S.A.S.S.Y. expanding to other cities? Other states?

Yes, that’s in the works. S.A.S.S.Y. will expand to other cities and states.

For every woman who joins the movement, what do you want for them to get out of it and what do you want for them to contribute to it?

I would want them to get the support they need out of it and I would only ask that they give it back. I’m really, really headstrong on fixing the perception of women. I feel like we’ve gotten so off track of simply living and being who we are and that being enough, but I feel like we can bring that back. That [mantra of] we are women, hear us roar and that another woman can’t take that away from you.

Right. You’re light isn’t dulled by using your flame to light another.

Right.

What advice do you have any young girls who want to go into any professional field, but specifically law?

I would say you’d have to be disciplined. Take the time to learn when your no’s mean no and your yes’s mean yes. Discipline is key. It takes a lot of discipline to get through law school, more discipline to pass the bar, and even more discipline to become an attorney and you’re handing people’s lives. The next thing is you’re going to learn everything you don’t like before you ever do anything you do like. And that’s okay, but in doing that you know when your no’s mean no and your yes’s mean yes because it will all tie together and ultimately play a part in what you decide to do. But it’s okay to try something and find that you don’t like it, it’s okay to try something else.

How are you a S.A.S.S.Y. woman? Let's discuss in the comments!

To learn more about S.A.S.S.Y. and their events follow their Instagram page.

Keep Inspiring!

XOXO - Mechelle