Visitors on Oct. 25 flocked to Baddies R Us, a new upscale beauty bar on Mack Road, where the glow of pink lights sparkled off every mirror, wall, and balloon. Pink carpeting stretched down the sidewalk, and the air smelled of champagne and roses.

For Promise B. Mae, media entrepreneur, TV producer, and founder of the Nyx Network, this wasn’t just a business opening. It was an investment in a community she grew up in.

“The plaza where I opened my shop is the same one I used to walk through after school,” Mae said, her smile widening as she looked around the space. “Who would’ve thought that little old me from Valley High would one day own something of this magnitude?”

Mae grew up in South Sacramento, where she learned early that dreams don’t grow without grit. Those lessons came full circle as family, fans, and community leaders gathered to celebrate her newest venture, an all-pink beauty sanctuary designed to empower women and transform a familiar block into a destination.

Mae grew up in a home where perseverance was a way of life. The eldest of her siblings, she was raised by her grandmother, a woman whose faith, discipline, and strength shaped Mae’s outlook on life. From an early age, she carried herself with quiet confidence and purpose. Whether performing on the dance team, leading in church, or excelling in sports at school, she displayed a drive that set her apart.

After graduating high school, she entered the hospitality industry, working for Hilton. Over nearly a decade, she worked her way up through the ranks, mastering the art of business operations and earning a reputation for her leadership, precision, and people-first approach.

Yet, even as she thrived in the corporate world, Mae felt called to something more. She wanted to build something that mattered. That calling led to The Box Detox, a feminine wellness brand that redefined conversations around women’s health and empowerment. With her bold vision, authentic marketing, and a loyal community of supporters, Mae turned the brand into a six-figure success and established herself as a force in entrepreneurship.

Inside Baddies R Us, nothing is accidental. From the cotton-candy pink chairs to the shimmering light fixtures, Mae designed every inch to create what she calls “a world within a world.”

“When people walk in, I want them to feel like they’re escaping reality for a moment,” she said. “I want them to leave feeling empowered, confident.”

To Mae, beauty is about transformation, but not just on the surface. She sees the salon as part of a larger ecosystem of women-owned brands reclaiming visibility, ownership, and pride. The grand opening reflected that vision, with sponsorships from Black Girl Vitamins, Serenity Lux Nails, and Ebony Wine and Spirits, all women-founded businesses.

“The color pink represents love, softness, and power,” she said. “This is bigger than me. It’s for the girls watching from the sidelines who think they can’t. I’m here to show them they can.”

Who Is A ‘Baddie’

Mae shared what the word “baddie” truly means to her, a definition rooted in integrity, confidence, and community.

“A baddie is a woman who’s well on her way,” she said. “Someone who carries herself with respect, takes care of her family, and handles business. You can’t flex that title unless you’re doing the work.”

To her, Baddies R Us isn’t just a beauty bar; it’s a mindset. “We’re showing women that luxury isn’t out of reach,” she said. “It’s here, in our neighborhoods, in our hands.”

Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang presented Mae with an official city resolution honoring Baddies R Us for its impact in South Sacramento.

“Promise’s vision to bring luxury to the neighborhood reminds us that every part of Sacramento deserves investment, pride, and spaces that uplift us,” Vang said. “Small businesses like Baddies R Us are the heartbeat of South Sacramento, creating jobs, inspiring hope, and proving that when we invest in our own, our whole community shines.”

As the crowd cheered, Mae stood under the glow of her pink storefront sign, a beacon of hope that, she said, “lights up the whole street.”

“When you drive by, it just brightens up the block,” she said. “It’s a light in the darkness. It makes people want to stop and see what’s inside.”

Long before the pink lights and celebrity co-signs, including a recent shoutout from Cardi B that sent Sacramento’s social media buzzing, Mae was building something bigger than herself.

With the Nyx Network, Mae has built a digital platform dedicated to elevating stories of Black culture and creativity. “Everything I’ve done started from the ground up,” she said. “No investors, no big backers; just faith, hard work, and determination.” Within its first year, the Nyx Network became a six-figure venture under her belt, solidifying Mae as one of the most powerful rising media moguls in the game.

Her network now streams original reality series and documentaries featuring diverse creators, with Mae serving as producer and visionary. For her, the media work and the salon share the same purpose: telling women’s stories, whether on camera or in the chair.

“I wanted to create something that would have an impact,” she said. “Something that reminds women that they are the brand, they are the business, and they deserve spaces that reflect their value.”

Mae also founded Buss Down Hair Goddess by Nyx, a luxury hair and beauty brand. She’s also the owner of Nyx Auto Sales, a transportation company that reflects her belief in generational wealth, ownership, and diversification.

Mae also has a passion for activism. Through her movement Black Existence Matters, she has organized protests, led empowerment events, and spoken at city council meetings to advocate for systemic change in Black communities.

Resilience In Motion

Even in the midst of celebration, Mae’s determination was visible. She revealed she had broken her ankle just a week before the grand opening, but refused to postpone.

“I’ve been walking on a broken ankle,” she said. “But I had to see this through. My family and my community are counting on me.”

That spirit of perseverance has shaped every phase of her career. From producing content during the pandemic to launching businesses that center Black women’s narratives, Mae’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and self-belief.

“People called me crazy for the things I imagined,” she said. “Now those things are happening right before my eyes.”

With the grand opening behind her, Mae is already planning her next chapter. She’s rebranding the Nyx Network to include new scripted projects and short films while expanding her business ventures, all propelled by her creative vision.

“I’ve learned to move in purpose, not fear,” she said. “Every time I doubt myself, I remind myself who I am and where I came from.”

Mae’s story, from South Sacramento student to media mogul and salon owner, has become an anthem for possibility. She hopes it inspires young women to see that success can be born right where they are.

“My message to young Black women is this: just start,” she said. “Take small steps, big steps, whatever it takes. We have superpowers. Tap into that and never let go.”