Zakiya’s destined to shine

She is now on a path of demonstrating to others that they were “destined to shine” through her soon-tobe released book and a new programme, set to start in January 2017 at showing others that “they are beautiful” and “destined to shine.” For Mills-Francois, 35, she was always aware of her “God-given right to shine.” Her parents died under tragic circumstances, it was not an accident, even though she often told people this. The circumstances surrounding their deaths often led others to stigmatise her. She recalled while at primary school in San Juan a friend said to her, “My mother said not to play with you,” because of the circumstances surrounding the death of Zakiya’s mother. She first lost her mother at the age of four and then her father at the age of 16. Mills-Francois said to Newsday, during the interview at her Eastern Main Road, St Augustine office, that she spiralled into a very dark place then. “When my dad die, at 16 I practically checked out. I did not see the purpose for living. I was in a very dark place.” She also failed the then Common Entrance examination [now call the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA)] but, “I was a hard worker.” She re-sat the exam and entered San Juan Comprehensive, often regarded as a “bad school.” It was while there she met Ms Buchoon, a teacher who guided her and encouraged to pursue Advanced Level exams as well as to enter university. Peter Wilson another teacher at San Juan Comprehensive also provided support for her during that period.

For Mills-Francois, God sent his angels.

During that period as well she clung closely to the word of God and found solace that has become a constant guide in her life.

She said since then she has learnt to cast her burdens onto God.

“I go on my knees and trust that there is a God.

With God, everything in life is going to fall into place.” ZM Image Consultants Ltd began upon that rooted faith. She said, “From since I was in university my vision was not to do image consulting in the manner in which I do it now. It changed into that when I was at the University of the West Indies doing my degree in management. I was also at YTEPP and I did dressmaking and design/garment construction.

Learning to sew because the plan back then was to open a business that would give others competition with respect to corporate wear.” When she entered the corporate world, in the field of corporate communications, she stayed in it for ten years, “and that aspect of the business just went dormant.

You know when you’ve finished school and you get into corporate life, you’re so excited.” In 2007, because of the field she was in, people would seek her advice in terms of what to wear and she began getting back into it.

“I was more or less sewing clothes for myself back then. I then went on to study image and in studying image I did not realise it had so much involved in it. It was not just about dressing someone and making them look good in clothing but it had everything to do with, your behaviour, etiquette, communication etc.” “That was when my interest peaked,” she said.

In April of 2012 she then took the concrete decision and launched ZM Image Consultants Ltd and went off to London to study advance image consulting and professional development coaching. She married her experience in the corporate world with her knowledge in image consultancy to create a successful business.

Over the nine-year period she has done over 20 hair shows focusing on providing advice and know-how for natural hair care.

Mills-Francois has also “passed on” the goodness she has experienced in her life. She began a programme called Suits for Students giving young students, fresh out of university, suits with which they can enter the corporate world. She recalled her own experiences in the corporate world where HR managers would often criticise a young employee for not being well-dressed.

Mills-Francois said she would often ask if they ever considered that the young people did not have money to buy new clothing. She noted from her own experience that she had to borrow or wear used clothes when she first started in the corporate world. “I never had anything new then,” she said.

Based on that memory, she now provides suits for the children of clients and to someone who has a special need free of charge. It is often something that she does not want publicised because, “I believe if I am doing something from my heart no one needs to know.” This month, Mill-Francois is set to launch her book, Uncovering You, telling her story while providing a guide for people living through difficult circumstances, letting them know that not only can they overcome but they can overcome and achieve greatness.

She is also set to open the Destined to Shine Academy, “working with persons [sic] from young to mature, showing them that they are destined to shine. I will work with you to show what your gifts are and how you can bless others with your gift.” Mills-Francois’ company, is also set to undergo a transformation in the upcoming year to ZM group of companies sharing more of her changed light with TT and the world.