Watching her parents go through financial hardships moved Dashia Moxey to start earning on her own. At just 14 years old, she launched a skincare line using her lunch money, then began offering locs hairstyling and selling candied fruit.
She saved all that she made from these businesses while in school with the objective of opening a clothing store. With encouragement from a dean, Moxey never gave up, and today, at 19 years old, she has her own clothing boutique alongside other side businesses while studying law at the University of The Bahamas.
She opened Astra Boutique in February, just months after graduating from Temple Christian High School in June 2024. It was tough during the first few months, the Bahamian teen admitted.
“When I first opened, I was getting a lot of recognition online, but it wasn’t the same as in the store,” she told The Tribune. “Everyone was saying ‘oh y’all should support her, y’all should come through.’ But no one was coming through, it was really slow.”
She began asking herself if she had made the right decision. The challenge, however, deepened her faith. “That’s when I realised I can’t joke around with my faith,” she said.
Today, her boutique sells clothing, jewellery, handbags, hair products, skincare and accessories. The young entrepreneur is also into event services, offering a “Sip and Paint” rental business that provides supplies for customers, she told The Tribune.
Moxey believes that having her own business at this age is a “blessing”, adding that taking her mother on a trip thanks to her boutique business makes her very proud.
As a law student, the 19-year-old also hopes to enter politics in the future to help young entrepreneurs and advocate for more youth involvement in national development.
Her advice to other young people is that with hardwork and commitment, nothing is impossible. “But also you shouldn’t be afraid, because God wouldn’t put you in a position that you can’t handle,” she said.
