With 85% of lawyers being white in the U.S., Natasha Mayne empowers Black women to walk in their truth, and in doing so, raises the 'bar.'
As a first-generation Jamaican immigrant she knew that she was destined for greatness. She did everything from clean toilets to being a substitute teacher to pay for her LSAT's. Through hard work and faith she was able to secure a full scholarship plus stipend to law school, and now runs her own law firm.
I spoke with Natasha about how she is shaking things up by defying conventionality and remaining authentically true to herself.
Kate Talbot: Tell me about yourself and your law practice.
Natasha Mayne: I am a Family and Matrimonial attorney and founder of The Mayne Law Firm, P.A. I am also a storyteller, greatness coach, motivational speaker, and founder of Natasha Mayne, Inc, a consulting firm focused on helping clients unlock their innate greatness.
Talbot: What inspired you to become a lawyer?
Mayne: As a child, my third-grade teacher told me I would be a great attorney because of my unprecedented ability to intelligently debate at an incredibly young age. I genuinely believed her, and as my sole inspiration for becoming an attorney, and here I am today! This is the prime example of the power of words.
Talbot: You’re dubbed the Vogue Attorney, can you expand on that?
Mayne: I wish I could take the credit for naming myself The Vogue Attorney, but my followers on Instagram came up with this amazing name. This name embodies exactly who I am. I am a lover of beautiful and luxurious clothes because clothing myself in the finest garments makes me feel like a giant ready to conquer the world. My sense of style reflects my personality: eclectic, bold, opinionated, and eccentric. No one expects an attorney to be so colorful and free because it is unorthodox, as everyone expects the traditional black suit and white shirt. However, here comes The Vogue Attorney in an orange Gucci suit, purple shirt, and Christian Louboutin studded sneakers or 5-inch heels.
I grew up in a big family with very humble beginnings, so I learned to be creative with the little I had. At 12 years old, I used my mother’s sewing machine to make clothes or added adornments to the pieces I already had. My peers in middle school loved my style and demanded for me to make pieces for them. That was my first taste of entrepreneurship when I started a clothing line. My grandmother and I would go to thrift stores and purchase bags of clothes for a dollar, and I embellished them in creative ways. I would re-sell each piece for $5.00 to $10.00.
Talbot: What sparked you to use social media storytelling on Instagram etc.?
Mayne: In 2017, I started storytelling on Instagram because I was in pain due to a breakup with someone that I genuinely loved. I learned that a successful relationship needs more than love; it needs respect, loyalty, and honor. As a divorce attorney, I heard the same cry of pain echo through my clients’ stories, and I knew I had to do something profound to impact the world. I eclipsed my pain with power by delivering heartfelt stories of magnificent transformations from pain and suffering to confidence and championship.
Many people loved it, but the naysayers would say, “what does inspiration have to do with the law.” My response was, “inspiration has everything to do with law, wait until it is your turn to deal with the law, you will have an instant addiction to inspiration.”
Talbot: Do you have a story about how social media has helped you gain new clients or opportunities?
Mayne: For the past three years, social media has given me international recognition with speaking engagements, new clients, and numerous business opportunities. Due to the slowdown of the pandemic, I was able to launch Natasha Mayne, Inc., and strategically focus on solidifying the power and value of my brand. The pandemic allowed me to step away from the daily grind and hustle of the law firm life and conceptualize and execute compelling content on social media.
Talbot: What has your experience been like as a Black woman in a predominantly white male world?
Mayne: As a Black woman in a predominantly white male world, racism and sexism do exist. I have experienced it, but I am resilient, goal-oriented, and purpose-driven. My focus is to be the change-maker as I put my energy in my work in which my success rate speaks for itself. I know the stereotypes regarding women lawyers or just Black women alone. I see it all the time, but I do not embrace it. No one can take away my unshakable confidence. I love challenges and going through trials and tribulations. This creates growth, and growth creates magical opportunities. My advice to immigrants is to live your truth, make good choices, and no matter what happens, never give up on your dreams.
Talbot: From that, what advice do you have for young women making a place in the world and challenging the status quo?
Mayne: My advice to young women is that we are naturally built to run the world, but we have been indoctrinated to believe otherwise. As a result, we must revolt against the status quo, resist the feeling of desperation, never settle, and do the unexpected fearlessly. We were born to think outside the box and be game changers and that is our superpower.
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