She Hustle, a reality series that premieres March 31st on IHQ Network, shines a spotlight on the diverse journeys of Black women entrepreneurs in Chicago. The show captures the struggles and triumphs of its cast while highlighting the unfiltered, real-life grind of Black women balancing multiple roles in business and their communities. The five-person cast of She Hustle includes South Side-based business owners Ronneisha Foots, Shatara Connor, and Mona Skye.
The show highlights the diverse paths women can take to succeed in business. By sharing these stories, She Hustle hopes to create a sense of community among women entrepreneurs in Chicago, encouraging women-led businesses to support one another, share knowledge, and keep pushing forward.
After losing her father, Mona Skye, a young Black woman from the West Side, found herself motivated to build a legacy for her family. Breaking away from traditional business models, she opted to go for commercial real estate instead.
“I knew my business would take off when I discovered it,” she said. “I just didn’t want to be stagnant anymore. So that turning point for me probably would have been when my father passed away. He pretty much left us with nothing. So I knew at that point like I wanted something more in life. I wanted to build a legacy.”
Skye owns a strip mall, Skye Plaza, located off 93rd and Ashland in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. The plaza houses luxury salon suites, a beauty supply store, a nail salon, aftercare, and a gift shop. Skye’s other ventures include a transportation company and a credit business focused on financial literacy and credit repair.
Skye credited her faith with playing a role in her success and remaining focused amidst the challenges that come with running a business. “My relationship with God keeps me grounded no matter what,” she said. “I think that first and foremost, and then on top of that, you have to have thick skin. You cannot expect to have any level of success without having some sort of thick skin.”
Skye also shared her intentions behind what she wants viewers to see. “I think we all have those little things that we’re fighting,” she said. “And I think for the world to be able to see that it’s not about the ratchetness. It’s about girls coming together and striving to get there.”
She encouraged young women who are aspiring entrepreneurs to “always remain true to who you are. Don’t get suckered in by the naysayers, the negativity, and the haters. Have tunnel vision, and remain focused on what you want to do. Don’t let anybody stop you, and don’t ever give up.”
Ronneisha Foots, a Bronzeville native, started her entrepreneurial journey after transitioning from nursing school to selling weave extensions in 2012. What began as a side hustle selling hair out of her car evolved into a full-fledged business. By 2015, Foots opened a salon, and in 2020 expanded her business to include twenty-four salon suites in a new location.
“Once I launched my website, and I saw people out of state ordering, I opened up my small commercial space at La Lacuna Lofts” in Pilsen, she said. As her business expanded, she quit her job and focused on running a business full-time. “I decided to go get my EIN number and start doing the legit logistics of the business by getting all of my legal documents together and trying to get the business trademark.”
Foots has faced her share of challenges, from managing taxes and navigating a recent break-in at her salon to dealing with difficult personalities. Yet she remains undeterred, driven by a desire to break the generational curse of poverty and provide a better future for her children, she said.
Foots sources motherhood and her upbringing as motivation to remain successful with her businesses. “I feel like they look at me as inspiration,” she said. “I’m their muse when it comes to working. I want them to see me as a mom, entrepreneur, and a woman.”
“Stay consistent and do what’s best for you,” she advised aspiring entrepreneurs. Her story is a testament to the power of consistency and the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who can offer guidance. “Don’t let nobody get in your ear and tell you no. I say go after your dreams. Whatever it is you want to do, do it.”
Thirty-year-old Shatara Connor is from the Low End and has built her business empire on hair. Known for her signature ponytail styles, Connor’s rise to fame came in 2017 when a video of her creating a ponytail in a bathroom went viral, attracting the attention of influencers and celebrities alike. Her viral moment led to an influx of clientele, and by 2018, she was running two salons and launching a hair product line.
In addition to her Pretty Hair Boss Salon and hair product line business ventures, Connor runs the Pretty Her Boss Mentorship Academy. “I put people in a position to build their business,” she said. “So whatever that they want to do…or if they already are doing it and at a standstill, I give them a strategy, like a marketing strategy, for them to stay consistent.”
Through the series, she hopes to redefine how people see her. “I’m trying to let the world know that whatever y’all have to say is not me,” she said. “I can make amends with people that I never thought I would. I’m a hard-working woman. All I am focused on is getting money, my craft, and my dreams.”
She Hustle aims to highlight the determination and innovation of Chicago’s women entrepreneurs. Shadae “Dae” Grant, the show’s creator, set out to create a platform that would offer visibility to the struggles and successes of women in business, especially those from underserved communities.
Born and raised in Cabrini Green, Grant began her career in marketing and business management, later branching out into accounting and eventually tax preparation. “I’ve been doing tax preparation for, like, over twelve years,” she said. “Now I have an office… and a virtual office in downtown Chicago. I’ve helped like six other businesses start their own business.”
Grant had been pursuing music for over a decade when she saw an unexpected opportunity. “Back in 2019, I signed a deal with a major label, Island Records. I won the deal through a rap contest,” she said “I competed against over 700 contestants and ended up winning.”
The competition took place during the BET Awards weekend in Los Angeles, where she originally traveled to promote her invention, the Snap & Go hat. Her determination led her to enter the rap contest at the last minute. That moment catapulted her into the industry, securing an EP deal and a feature in a BET Hip Hop Cypher.
However, her momentum was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “When it was time for me to release my project, COVID hit. And so I was sent back home….” Rather than seeing this as a failure, Grant pivoted her experience into mentoring other artists. “Now, I have a creative space where I manage artists, I manage brands, I help them with PR and I help them with funding, with grants and loans.”
Grant’s business acumen allowed her to sustain herself despite the setback. Now, with She Hustle, she’s blending her experience and creative skills to empower others. “This is what the hustle is about. It’s about entrepreneurship,” she said. “I want this to be different from your reality shows, where people don’t walk away with anything. I want them to walk away powerful, strengthened.”
Her story is about turning challenges into stepping stones and using her platform to uplift others. “In every L that I took, I was able to turn it into a W in my heart and my eyes,” Grant said. “This isn’t just about showcasing my business—it’s about showing that no matter what comes at you, you can pivot, rebuild, and come back stronger. It’s about making sure the next woman doesn’t have to go through the same struggles alone.”
Kristian Parker is a creative writer and visual storyteller whose work is rooted in intentionality and excitement for sharing keen observations about the world around her. She last wrote about Black Panther in Concert.