About the Owner
"BE YOU... Like No Other"
As the owner of BE YOU 4 LIFE Apparel, Sandra strives to create opportunities that help push the needle forward on diversity, inclusion, and representation for black athletes in the arena of multisport.
Her goal is to create a platform to offer exceptional quality, unique designs, and contributions through our cultural lense and experience. Sandra has combined her education and love of fitness in creating this platform where she can reach and connect with people through fashion and fitness.
Sandra is a Female Fitness Competitor, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Spin Instructor, Marathoner, and Duathlete.
In the 1980s, Sandra and her family immigrated to the United States. As a child, she lived in Paris and moved to the United States at the age of 6. She speaks three languages (French, Haitian-Creole, and English). As a Haitian-American immigrant, she remembers dealing with rejection as a child, as she and her sister were often teased for being different. As a result of these early childhood experiences, Sandra suffered from low self-esteem. However, she remembers the refuge she and her sister found in sports and church.
Running was one of the things that helped heal the scars impacting her feelings of self-worth and acceptance. She and her sister became known as the “fast sisters,” which helped them develop a sense of belonging. She learned at an early age that sports could help children bond and develop a broader understanding of community that transcended race, socioeconomic status, and stereotypes. Sandra excelled in track and field, where she believed the playing field was leveled because it didn’t matter how you looked or where you were from, all that mattered was stepping on the starting line ready to give it your all.
Sandra graduated from the University of Massachusetts (UMass) at Amherst with an undergraduate degree in Sociology, and graduated from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, with a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration: Social Policy. Sandra was committed to using her education, training, and love of sports and fitness as a way to forward her career.
When asked, Sandra says there are three words that define who she is. She calls them her F-Factors: Faith, Family, and Fitness. Through her faith, family, and fitness, Sandra has found her voice and hopes to inspire others to find their voices through self-love and positive affirmation. This was her impetus for creating the BEYOU4LIFE Apparel line.
Her company slogan is: BE YOU - Like No Other. Dream, Love, Inspire yourself to be your best YOU.
Her clothes are designed with bold colors and positive messages of inspiration and encouragement for everyone, regardless of shape, size, or race.
BEYOU4LIFE Apparel helps you dress for every step of your life and fitness journey.
