LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – In celebration of Black History Month, Ray-Con Beauty Academy, the first Black-owned cosmetology school in Lexington, is making waves in the beauty industry. Founded by Connie Mosley Goree, a seasoned veteran with over 30 years of experience, the academy is dedicated not just to teaching beauty techniques but to empowering individuals and nurturing the next generation of beauty professionals.
Located in the heart of Lexington, Ray-Con Beauty Academy aims to distinguish itself from other cosmetology schools across the Bluegrass. Connie Goree, the academy’s owner, emphasizes a unique approach to education.
“We’re teaching the book way, we’re teaching the state board way, but I also want to incorporate other things for them, where they don’t have to pay for those classes,” Goree stated. “They will already be professional enough to know how to take those classes. Be whatever you want to be. If you want to be a makeup artist, incorporate that into your business.”
The academy’s focus on entrepreneurship equips students with the skills and knowledge to build their own businesses. Goree’s vision for the academy was driven by what she describes as divine intervention.
“I’ve been an owner for over 38 years. I’ve also been an educator for the last 15 years of my career. I took sick with cancer and didn’t think I was ever going to stand behind the chair again, so I wanted to give back to my community what God gave me,” she explained.
Her journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Growing up in the projects of Eastern Kentucky and diagnosed with cancer at just 29 years old, Goree faced numerous challenges that tested her strength and determination.
Despite battling cancer four times, including a stage 4 diagnosis, she remained steadfast in her dream of opening her own beauty academy, “that journey for me is ongoing, and I fight every day. It just teaches me to not stop here, just continue going on and on and on,” Goree shared. “I wanted children, and I had fertility trials done, 6 embryos put in and 4 of them took. I had a miscarriage and they didn’t know why I had a miscarriage. And I kept on trying to have children, taking fertility drugs and stuff like that. And then I found out that I had ovarian cancer then it went to my uterus and I was still in denial and still young, wanted to have children and couldn’t have children.”
Goree believes that sharing her journey is essential, especially with her students. “When this first happened, I had to learn how to walk all over again. I walked with a walker, and I worked behind my chair with a walker that had a seat, wheels picked me up. I would get off on wheels, and I worked behind my chair with a walker that had a seat. I got sick and worked. I never once gave up. I was determined, whatever I faced, to finish it and if they see it in me, then they would complete it.”Students at Ray-Con Beauty Academy find a supportive environment where they can ask questions and receive guidance. “It’s a small group of us; we really can ask everything we want to know, and if we need help with anything, she’s always there to help,” said student, Genevieve Parker.
Another student, Karma Silaer, expressed the impact of Goree’s mentorship: “One thing I learned is to not give up, and it’s okay to feel by yourself through hair, but Miss Connie has helped me feel like I have somebody to support me.”
A graduate of Kentucky State University and a special needs educator, Goree reflects on her journey without regrets. “I knew God has a purpose for me, and He still has a purpose for me. If He took my breath right now, I’ve lived my purpose. I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do in life,” she said. “All I know is that saying, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant, come on home.’ I’m okay.”
After a two-year process with the cosmetology board, Ray-Con Beauty Academy officially opened its doors last month, marking a significant milestone in the local community.
