Dayja Smith on Black Beauty, Hair Identity & Building Your Own Table

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Dayja Smith, Cleveland entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of Coco’s Crown, for a real conversation about Black beauty, hair identity, entrepreneurship, and creating access where it does not already exist.Dayja Smith shares how growing up in Cleveland shaped her hustle, how her background in science helped her build a natural hair care brand, and why healthy products made for us still matter. From launching Coco’s Crown to leading through consulting, coworking, and community impact, Dayja Smith breaks down what it means to be a multifaceted Black millennial professional in Northeast Ohio.This episode also goes deeper than business. Edwin and Dayja talk about the emotional and cultural meaning of Black hair, how identity and confidence are tied to self-expression, and why conversations around the CROWN Act, colorism, and acceptance still matter in Cleveland and beyond. They also explore how organizations like the Urban League help build opportunity for the next generation.If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Black leadership in Cleveland, and practical conversations around identity, ownership, and community, this episode is for you.What you’ll hear in this episode:Dayja Smith’s Cleveland roots and entrepreneurial journey  The story behind Coco’s Crown and why she created it  Why Black hair is more than style—it is identity, culture, and confidence  Reflections on the CROWN Act and access in professional spaces  Honest conversation about colorism, “good hair,” and Black self-image  Why pouring into the next generation matters  How Dayja Smith is building community through leadership and service Listen now and tap into a conversation centered on Cleveland civic engagement, Black identity, and the power of building something for us, by us.