Black women are sharing their love of outdoor living spaces on Facebook: 'If you can't find what you're looking for, create it'
A Texas woman has used her love for the outdoors to create a safe virtual space for Black women to find inspiration during the pandemic.
Tara Paige, who lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, is a business coach and creator of the wildly popular Facebook group “Black Women Who Love Outdoor Living Spaces.” The group provides inspirational photos for members looking to spruce up their patios, balconies and other outdoor living areas, and according to Paige, it offers empowerment and love, as well.
Paige tells Yahoo Life that she got the idea for the group during the earlier days of the coronavirus pandemic, in April.
“I literally, kind of like everyone, just dropped some tears, like, ‘I cannot believe we are here,’” she explains. “And I went outside and looked at my patio and was like ‘you know what, I love being outside, let me go and do my patio because I really need to get my mind off of [the pandemic] and get my mind on something that I really enjoy doing.’”
But when she began looking online for inspiration, she could not find women who looked like her who enjoyed patio living.
“My thing is, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, create it,” she says.
The entrepreneur adds that the group has blossomed to having more than 140,000 members since launching on April 23, and that thousands more are waiting to be approved. She has also received messages from people thanking her for creating “such an inspiring space.”
“It’s kind of overwhelmingly exciting because I was just looking for Black women who love their outdoor living spaces. I just didn’t think [this] would happen,” Paige says, referring to the supportive community she’s created. “Having an outdoor living space is just an extension of your home, and because we are in the midst of a pandemic, we really don’t go to many places. But there’s nothing like getting some fresh air.”
In early May, Paige decided to expand the success of the Facebook group by launching her website, Patio Chic, where she features interviews with women who have been inspired by the group. And now, with the addition of a YouTube channel, Paige has emerged as a powerhouse inspiration, helping Black women take a break from all that is happening in the world, including the racial unrest across the country.
“For us to be here in this space, we make sure that none of the outside things come in,” she says. “I make sure that the women kind of refill in order to go back and deal with those things we’ve been dealing with on a daily basis.”
Paiges adds that she hopes to continue to build her flourishing lifestyle brand by releasing books and branded merchandise like furniture and wine, among other items — all secondary to the continued inspiration, of course. “We are here,” she notes on her website, “and it’s inspiring, motivating, captivating and a one-of-a-kind space to share our very own outdoor inspiration!”
For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDC’s and WHO’s resource guides.
How to maintain your physical and mental health during the pandemic
Taking care of a loved one with COVID-19? Here’s how to stay healthy
Q&A with Dr. Kavita Patel: How to keep your family safe and maintain your mental health
Read more from Yahoo Life:
Megan Thee Stallion was shot, then ridiculed: Here's why 'Black women are so unprotected'
The surprising way one couple said 'I do' after the coronavirus canceled their wedding
Want daily lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Life’s newsletter.
