More to the Story with Staley: Latina Boutique

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — She’s a Navy veteran and a mother of three, who happens to be very active in the community.

And now, she’s a business owner. All because of a prom dress!

Several years ago, Josselyn Nielsen went shopping with her daughter for a prom dress. They looked and looked but couldn’t find anything.

But what Josselyn did find was a surprising purpose!

“The wonderful experience turned into this experience of ‘Mom, I can’t find anything that suits me.’ So that was four to five years ago,” Nielsen said. “I had this pit in my stomach. It was…. you need to do something about this.”

And Josselyn did. Despite the fact that opening her own business was a never a dream it’s now reality.

North Star Boutique opened in March, in the Northshore area.

It’s geared towards body positivity- what you have inside, not outside.

It’s also geared towards younger Latino women. Josselyn was born in Honduras.

“Data shows that 20% of Hamilton County students are Latino. So, the population is rising here in Chattanooga,” Nielsen said. “I think it’s important as a Latino woman that these younger Latino girls see that you can become a business owner too. That you can make a difference.”

Nielsen says she’s grateful for her life and always searching to give back. That’s why she joined the Navy for four years. That’s why she’s a mentor, a leader, a teacher and an activist.

But right now, her new business is front and center in her world.

“This to me is a project. It’s a mission… not really a business. I’m in this for the long run. When you own something such as this, it transcends any kind of store,” she added.

North Star Boutique is open five days a week. Tuesday through Saturday.

It’s a place where, as Josselyn Nielsen says, YOU are what makes an outfit look fabulous.