This week at The Swirl World on Facebook we received an in-box from Merieta Bayati, one of our new fans.

Turns out Merieta is the product of a Persian Swirl!

She says, “My mom is Black and my father is Persian. They met in college in Jackson, MS where I was born and raised. Here’s a photo of my entire family.”

Woot Woot!

I know we keep saying this, but it bears repeating:

Here in The Swirl World, our goal is to highlight Swirl couples and share their STORIES. So much of what we read and see in the media concerning Black Women is negative. We intend to dispel the myths and negate the stereotypes by showcasing Women of Color in loving relationships who are loved, respected and appreciated.

When you come to The Swirl World, you won’t be bombarded with drama and negativity because in our world, we celebrate and lift up “Ordinary People . . .  Extraordinary Love.” 

We’re going to feature Mr. and Mrs. Bayati in an upcoming post, but today we want to feature their daughter Merieta.

Tell us a little of yourself, background. Besides being quite beautiful and talented, tell us a little about your education, what you are doing now, do you currently have a boyfriend, hubby and is it a swirl situation?

I was born and raised in Jackson, MS, but I currently reside in Hamden, CT. I hold a BS in Business Management and in addition to working in Human Resources at Yale University; I am a Motivational Speaker and Singer.

My days are usually spent planning events; speaking to young girls about self-esteem, business, and helping them realize their full potential.

As a single mother of an 8-year-old son, I do lots of juggling and multi-tasking to keep my life balanced. By choice, I am currently single, but I absolutely do not discriminate when it comes to love. I have no idea if it will be a swirling situation or not when I meet Mr. Right J. My parents have definitely taught me that anyone can fall in love.

What was it like growing up in a Persian/Black American home? Were you the only Swirl family in your community/neighborhood? How was it for you in school? How did your brothers and sisters adjust or did any of you even notice?

Growing up in the Bayati household was definitely interesting. We were that crazy “mixed” family that everyone knew, but also loved to be around. The boys all knew not to come near me because my strict father had them terrified. The Persian culture is very different from the Americans so that was a little tough in my pre-teen and teen years. I didn’t understand what made me so different from the rest.

For the most part, school was fine and people accepted me and my siblings for who we were. But there were those moments when people would ask, “What are you?”, “Is your daddy white?”, “Are y’all Spanish?”, “Why is your hair like that?”, “Is that Black lady your nanny?”

Mind you; we grew up in a very racist state and interracial dating was not common. After years of hearing the same things, it just became a normal part of life. I would often wonder what makes me so special and why did people make such a big deal about what my race was. I only knew that I was “different” because my peers pointed that out.

It wasn’t until my late teens that I finally became confident enough and accepted myself for who God created me as. We all are human beings regardless of race. When it comes to love, I see no borders whatsoever. My mom always taught me to be proud of both cultures and never let people categorize me as just “Black” or just “Persian,” but to know that I am BOTH.

What are your long-term goals and ambitions?

*I plan to release my first book in Spring or early Summer of 2014, “The Godlie Girl’s Guide to Living a Fabulous Fulfilled Life.” There are so many perceptions that because you become Christian and now love God, that your life has to be boring….WRONG! I’m having the time of my life!

*As the founder for Camp Girlie Girl, A Place for Girls and Their Moms ™, I would like to someday offer the camp to others throughout the country…but I’m taking one step at a time for now.

*I am looking forward to advancing my education by soon pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration and growing my personal brand as a Speaker, Singer and Social Media Consultant. To learn more about me and what I do, you can visit my website at MerietaBayati.com.

Xoxo and so much love!

If you’d like to learn more about Merieta and connect with her, visit her on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram or her blog Single Saved and Searching.

Stay tuned for a full profile on the Bayati Family!

Want to be profiled here on the blog and on our Facebook page? Contact us via inbox on Facebook or send an email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

All rights reserved. Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, Dallas, TX, USA. Photos used with permission.