Chanel from Bella Dama cigars. A single Mother who followed here dreams.

What I am going to tell you is a story about a woman who has turned her destiny around and never given up. A story that has inspired me and I hope will inspire adults around the world, happily married parents and especially the single mother and father.

That life can be difficult at times is something that cannot be avoided. Increasing taxes and food prices make it difficult for families and even more so for single parents. Social media controls what is right or wrong and it is becoming harder and harder to feel accepted for who you really are. Today, many people are losing themselves and forgetting their own identity.
This is the story of Chantel and Bella Dama Cigars. A story that shows that dreams can come true, that tough challenges can be overcome and that you never have to lose your own identity.

Table of Contents

A father that showed how to follow dreams

The smell of cigars came from the basement, poker games were in full swing at night and the dream of becoming the world’s best poker player was constantly present for Chantel’s father. Many would say that it was a controversial upbringing that shaped Chantel. A desire to become the world’s best was constantly present and it was later reflected in Chantel. Not to become the world’s best perhaps, but to always follow your dreams and fight for them, to never give up. Already at an early age, her father, a man from a small New York town with big dreams, moved to Las Vegas to become one of the big poker names.

A struggling mother

When Chantel’s father moved to Las Vegas to follow his dream, her mother and the rest of the family stayed in Maine. Being a single mother at that time was taboo and not as accepted as it is in today’s society. The days were long and tiring but the tenacity and love for her daughters were there. Single with two children, her mother worked 3 jobs and attended college while being looked down upon. A struggling woman who showed Chantel the value of hard work paying off for those you love. Something that later reflected in Chantel’s family life and raising her own daughter.

What did Chantel do before the cigars?

Chantel does not have a background in cigars. Chantel had an e-commerce clothing business and worked at various events. A life that she enjoyed and the finances come together. However, Chantel, who has a daughter, had some tiring periods that had to be endured for the love of her child. When her daughter was quite young, Chantel became a single parent, like her mother. Everyday life can often be difficult for a single parent, getting them to college is in those cases almost impossible. An extra apartment and expenses that had to be paid for so that her daughter could get a good education was a challenge. A challenge that she took on with a smile on her face and a determination that her daughter would have a solid foundation not afforded to many. A strength to never give up and show the way for her child. Her positive outlook and way of chasing dreams is something that she passed on to her daughter, who is succeeding brilliantly in her studies and will graduate in December.

A crash came in to her life, Covid knocked at the door and customers became few.

Covid gave birth to Bella Dama Cigars.

As we all know, when the Covid crisis hit the world, everyone started stockpiling food, people stayed indoors and clothes were the least priority to buy. Chantel’s clothing store was no more to be found. She lost her business. What happened next would probably be called madness by most people. I don’t know if I wouldn’t have called her crazy if she had told me about her plan at the beginning of Covid. What I learned during our interview is that she was a genius and a woman with incredible strength. People are afraid to spend money in the covid crise, Chantel started a cigar brand without any knowledge, she only had a passion as a companion. What sparked her thoughts were her father’s late night poker games and the smell of cigars seeping out of the basement.

“My journey began with a manufacturer here in the US. My friend who is a cigar aficionado helped me with my first 3 blends and then his legal practice became more demanding and I was left to stand on my own two feet,” Chantel explained.

“In 2023 I came to a crossroads, I needed to find a bigger factory where I had more input and reduce costs. I looked at and sampled with several different factories to find the one that shared my vision and provided the best quality for my cigars. I ultimately chose Tabacalera Aragon in Esteli, Nicaragua to work with.” This business isn’t for the faint of heart and there have been times when I felt like folding. But I know I am not finished and that I belong at this table. Being a female entrepreneur in a male dominated industry, one would think it would make my journey much more difficult. And it has had its moments. But those have been few and far between. It is an incredible community that is special like no other. That’s what has kept me in the game”.

The logo reminded me of a cigar version of the Rolling Stones and I wanted to satisfy my curiosity.

“The logo is not a version of the Rolling Stones. It’s there because I think it was a bit sexy, feminine and reminiscent of the sixties. There were times I was unsure whether my logo would be taken seriously. I was incredibly wrong and had it explained to me by many people that Bella Dama Cigars is recognizable and unforgettable precisely because of the lips”

Bella Dama cigars

Bella Dama currently has 9 different cigars. To read about the cigars, visit their website by clicking on the images.

We got into a conversation about dreams and social media. Social media is necessary in my arena. But I feel that young people can be influenced by their ‘perceptions’ of what is and they don’t see the behind-the-scenes realities. It can be difficult to find their identity because people only present their best and sometimes skewed reality. A view that we both shared.

“I have never shown any other side than who I am. What you see is what you get. Today people are controlled too much by social media and social circles of how we should be, especially youth. If you rely on the approval of others, you will never be happy with yourself. If someone doesn’t like me for who I am, then let them. As parents, we show the way to our children, they learn by example. They should not care what others think, but should concentrate on finding themselves and what gives them peace and happiness, not what society dictates”

I can say this much, Chantel who was single mother, has managed to help support her daughter thru college, start her own brand of cigars without any knowledge in the beginning and managed to do it all by herself. A tough road that shows that dreams can come true and being a single parent is no obstacle. It brings hard work, unparalleled dedication and some sleepless nights, but it is possible. She is truly a source of inspiration in terms of perseverance, dreams and how the love for her child makes everything possible. A power woman.

Chantel I really appreciate you sharing your story and how Bella Dama cigars became a reality. Your journey shows that anything is possible and that children are not an obstacle to dreams. Your journey tells us that perseverance and passion can make dreams come true. It also shows that you should be yourself and not what others expect. Your journey can become a source of inspiration for thousands of single parents who want to achieve their dreams if you tell it to the world.

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