04 Apr Emily Bustamante (Emily B): Iconic Style, Business Power & Timeless Grace

In a world full of fleeting trends and filtered fame, there are women who rise with quiet power—those who move through life with elegance, substance, and unwavering authenticity. Emily Bustamante, lovingly known as Emily B, is one of those rare women.

A stylist. A designer. A mother. A muse. Emily has turned personal passion into professional purpose, and over the years, she has become a symbol of what it means to walk through life with both fashion and fortitude.

🌟 Early Life: Born with an Eye for Beauty

Born on February 10, 1981, in New York City, and raised in Virginia, Emily is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent—a rich heritage that has deeply shaped her identity and creative expression.

From a young age, Emily had an instinct for style. She began sewing in high school and quickly found that fashion was more than clothing—it was her voice. Her sense of color, silhouette, and detail wasn’t taught in textbooks—it was innate. By the time she entered her twenties, she was already working as a celebrity stylist, known for her ability to transform any look into a statement.

🎬 The Spotlight: More Than a Reality Star

Emily stepped into the public eye in 2011 as a main cast member of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York. What made her stand out wasn’t just her beauty or fame—it was her honesty. She invited the world into her real-life story: juggling a high-profile relationship with rapper Fabolous, raising children, and fighting for her place—not just beside a man, but in her own name.

Where others chose spectacle, Emily chose subtlety and strength. She didn’t chase cameras; she carried herself with quiet resilience. Her time on the show wasn’t about drama—it was about dignity. Her emotional transparency and unshakable poise gave countless women permission to value themselves, even in the face of heartbreak and hardship.

👠 A Woman of Impeccable Fashion Sense

To speak of Emily Bustamante without highlighting her extraordinary fashion sense would be incomplete.

Whether she’s styling a celebrity, attending New York Fashion Week, or simply stepping out in her day-to-day life, Emily embodies fashion as storytelling. Her signature style blends urban glamour with timeless sophistication—pairing curve-hugging silhouettes with sharp tailoring, bold heels, and head-turning accessories.

She’s never afraid of color or texture. From monochrome moments to mixed prints, Emily’s looks are always intentional and elevated. But it’s not just about what she wears—it’s how she wears it. Confidence is her ultimate accessory.

Her Instagram feed is a masterclass in modern femininity: structured coats, slinky dresses, oversized sunglasses, and stilettos that make a statement. Her love for shoes, in particular, has become part of her identity. As she once said:

“Shoes are the foundation. I start with the shoes—and build my look from the ground up.”

This philosophy led to her next powerful chapter.

👠 The Entrepreneur: Style You Can Step Into

In 2013, Emily launched her first footwear line in collaboration with ZigiNY, introducing the world to the Emily B Shoe Collection. The line featured bold, fashion-forward designs: thigh-high boots, embellished sandals, and heels that celebrated feminine power with edge.

These weren’t generic releases—they were expressions of who she was. Designs like “Imperial,” “Legend,” and “Lyndy” captured her signature flair and quickly sold out in boutiques and online shops. The collection expanded in 2014, offering even more colorways and textures, including neon patent leather and exotic prints. Each pair was crafted not just for style, but for women ready to own every room they walk into.

Fashion publications praised the line. Stylists embraced it. And most importantly, women related to it—because it was made by someone who genuinely understood their walk.

🖤 OnHer: A Brand With a Mission

In 2024, Emily unveiled her latest venture: OnHer The Brand. The name is more than a label—it’s a declaration. Designed for the “confident businesswoman whose styles merit recognition from the streets to the boardroom,” OnHer is a reflection of Emily herself: bold, multi-dimensional, and unapologetically stylish.

Though still in its early rollout, the buzz surrounding OnHer is palpable. Fans and fashion lovers are eager to see what Emily creates next—and there’s no doubt she’ll deliver something that combines trendsetting design with timeless quality.

OnHer isn’t just about dressing well. It’s about being seen. It’s about wearing your worth.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family First, Always

Beyond fashion, Emily’s most cherished role is that of a mother. She has four children: her daughter Taina Williamsfrom a previous relationship, and Johan, Jonas, and Journey Isabella with Fabolous.

Through all of life’s transitions, Emily has remained deeply grounded in her love for her children. Her social media often reveals a side of her that fans admire even more than her outfits—the side that shows her nurturing, guiding, and protecting her family.

Her relationship with Fabolous has endured its own share of public scrutiny, but Emily continues to define herself by resilience, not headlines. Her life is not a reality show—it’s a reflection of real-life grace.

✨ Why We Celebrate Emily B

Emily Bustamante isn’t just a fashion icon. She’s a cultural figure who has shown what it looks like to rise with class, move with purpose, and turn pain into power. She has become a voice for women who are building businesses while raising babies, making hard decisions, and still showing up styled and self-assured.

Her influence lives not just in the clothes she’s created, but in the courage she’s modeled for other women. She has redefined the modern Latina woman—unapologetic, fashionable, successful, and full of heart.

To Emily B:
Thank you for showing the world that fashion is more than fabric.
That elegance has depth. That motherhood and ambition aren’t opposites.
That we can be soft and strong, polished and powerful.
You don’t just wear fashion. You embody it.

written & curated by ozzie small