When God pulled Eve from Adam’s rib, he created her with the purpose of walking beside the man from which she originated. A strong woman helps a man grow. She sees things in him that he never recognized. The old saying goes that behind every strong man is a strong woman. Nowadays, behind every strong man is a stronger woman. Ashley Kercado has exhibited strength and embodied grace since her early days in Jacksonville, NC.
While her childhood may not have been ideal, her mother, Janeen’s, hard work ensured that Ashley would not be hindered by the world’s restraints. Jacksonville is a military town, much like Fayetteville, because of its proximity to Camp Lejeune Marine base. Just outside the base, a young Ashley spent days fine-tuning her soccer skills with hopes of going pro.
While she may not have gone pro, her ambition landed her a job with Footlocker at age 16. As a high school student, her main interests included fashion, culture and music. Meanwhile, she was really interested in streetwear. That love of streetwear would lead her across the path of another student, a Portsmouth, Virginia, transplant named Jose Kercado Jr. His life’s journey took him as far as Japan before moving to North Carolina…