Some people succumb to pressure while others thrive in it. Entrepreneur, wife, mother, mentor, stylist and CEO Martha E. Berry of I'MarE Boutique has proven herself to be a diamond as obstacles and her belief in God have helped to shape her life and career.

A Franklin, Louisiana native, Berry is a woman of faith, family, and fashion. Martha started her now thriving and high-profile business from the trunk of her car after being laid off from her accounting job in 2016 and a divorce would soon follow. After a successful closet sale, Martha took to styling, which led to several plus-size women seeking her expertise. The journey from uncertainty to fearlessness has now resulted in sales three times her 2020 goal, all while during a pandemic. 

Berry is a recipient of a Black History Achievement Award from her hometown for being a stellar entrepreneur. Her mother helped to instill entrepreneurship in her by creating a praise dancing business when she was limited on opportunities in Franklin. From that, Martha taught several women to praise and worship God through the gift of dance. The model takes pride in showing other up-and-coming business owners they can do anything they set their minds to.

Martha credits her mother, her husband, Elliott Berry, and two daughters, Icelande and England, for their support and for encouraging her to not give up during hard times. 

Martha’s latest effort to give back comes in the form of I'MarE Cares. A nonprofit organization she created to help streamline her existing activities centered around knowledge sharing, financial assistance, business development educational services, and public speaking primarily focused of building capacity in single mothers, especially those facing homelessness.

“I am proud of overcoming divorce and being successful. I am proud of being able to break generational curses by helping my daughter by gifting her a boutique, and I am proud of being not just a business owner, but a business owner who gives back to others,” – Martha Elmore-Berry