When I was 19 years old, I took a trip to Morocco with my mother and I absolutely fell in love. If you’re thinking I fell in love with a man, you’re wrong! I fell in love with the city of Marrakech also known as the pink city of Morocco. After my first trip, I felt as if Morocco was my happy place. I could definitely see myself living there sometime during my lifetime or at least have some property there. I recently returned to Marrakech, Morocco for the 4th time for the 1st IMARA women’s empowerment retreat.

The retreat, (powered by Veyep Sports & Ion 360), was created by the incredible women of The Colored Girl. The ladies of The Colored Girl (Tori Elizabeth and Victory Jones) are real life best friends, who met via Instagram, decided to put their creative minds together, and create a disruptive, pervasive & powerful movement, for women (of color) everywhere.

” IMARA is a mindful movement which aims to bridge the gap, between artists of color and the audiences of color. By creating awareness on an everyday level, using special connections within the communities of color, and correlating these in an artistic way, within an empowering environment; via an exclusive, thoughtfully curated experience. Specifically for women of color, who tend to be the trendsetters within their communities. This is an experience like no other… FOR US, BY US.” – The Colored Girl

These two power houses asked me to speak on the Art of Influence panel alongside beauty personality, Jade Kendle, and founder of the Black Mirror ProjectDeddeh Howard. Together we informed women of color about the power of social media and why it’s imperative to have when owning your own business or building your own brand. For one whole week, the IMARA retreat had multiple panels that included other women such as Bozoma Saint JohnKoshie MillsTerri MatthewsDr. Michelle HenryDr. Sanaa Jaman and so much more.

When we were not listening to powerful women inspire our hearts, minds and souls, we did fun activities in the city of Marrakech that I believe you might find very fun and exciting on your next trip to #Marrakech.

  1. Visit Majorelle Garden and The YSL Museum
  2. Go to The Marrakech Polo Club and watch a Polo game
  3. Take a stroll though the gorgeous La Mamounia hotel
  4. DRINK SOME MINT TEA!

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Also, the speakers and participants of the IMARA retreat stayed at Marrakech’s finest hotels, Dar Sabra and Jnane Tamsna.

To make sure you are at the next IMARA retreat, follow The Colored Girl on Instagram and Twitter @thecgirlinc

XX,

Ivy Coco