Waistbeads are a traditional African body adornment (originating in Nigeria) that consists of small to medium beads, crystals, charms, etc, strung on string, elastic, or wire. They were worn as symbols of womanhood, fertility, spirituality, and femininity. They were, also, sometimes worn as a way to tell socioeconomic status or marital status. In many traditions, they were only to be shown to your lover. Waistbeads have been worn as early as the 15th century and have recently become increasingly more popular within the last 10-15 years.

My name is Kristy Browning and I am the owner of Soul Raine Bodyworks LLC. I am the mother of a beautiful little girl, whom my business is affectionately named after. Creating waistbeads began as a hobby for me but quickly grew into something more intimate and passionate. Most of my life, I struggled with my self esteem and with loving myself due to traumatic experiences I endured. I spent far too many years hating my body and not liking who I was as a person. My journey with waistbeads has helped me learn to love myself unconditionally and to become more comfortable in my body. This has fueled my passion for waistbead creating because I know there are thousands, if not millions, of other women out there who have had similar experiences to mine and who just need a little push on their self-love/healing journeys. My ultimate goal is to be a reminder that we are all worthy of love, peace, and happiness. I aim to embody the Soul Raine motto by being the Raine that waters someone's Soul!