Mind your manners! Good advice, right? But how will anyone know what manners need minding if they are not taught? Prestige School of Protocol aims to do just that.
Precious Jewel, founder of the school, has helped children and young women hoping to make a good impression. Many of her clients aspire to prepare for college, join a sorority or simply strengthen the familial bond.
“Prestige School of Protocol is not only an etiquette academy and finishing school that teaches etiquette and social graces to women, children, families, and organizations, but as a certified etiquette consultant, I also focus on womanhood, image, and strategy,” Jewel said.
Jewel launched the school in March 2021 after graduating from The Ohio State University while simultaneously receiving her certification from the International Association of Professions Career College.
“Before receiving my certification, I taught etiquette and social graces to young girls for years. I was just not officially certified yet,” she said. “I would provide lessons to young girls and peers my age in the areas of professionalism, poise and confidence.”
“I first launched as a virtual only school servicing mostly adult women in various states and other countries like South Africa,” she said.
From social media to social occasions
Jewel grew her business through social media, where she quickly gained thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok. This allowed her to collaborate with beauty experts and fashion companies like Tom Ford in New York and Louis Vuitton in Paris, while connecting with other consultants in the industry.
Jewel’s approach to the business shifted recently, from social media and online accounts to local events and classes.
“I decided to stop influencing and marketing my services nationwide and start focusing on marketing my services to those in the Toledo area so that I may work with students, adults, schools and groups in person. At first I was nervous because I originally assumed that we did not have the demographic that would actually be interested in my services.”
Currently, Jewel is planning a “Princess Tiara Fashion Show and Etiquette Tea” for February and March of 2024, where girls ages 4 to 11 will learn about social graces and poise at the Maumee Indoor Theater.
“To my surprise, many have been supportive of my school’s upcoming program. Local area businesses have donated so many amazing prizes for the winners of our fashion show. This experience has made me realize that I should have begun in-person programming in Toledo a lot sooner,” she said.
A multi-generational approach
Jewel takes her role as mentor seriously, and often hosts gatherings for girls where she teaches ontopics like writing thank you cards and letters, setting a table, or arranging flowers. She finds that tea parties and slumber parties are the perfect opportunity to educate girls on self-care, or introduce a topic like fine dining or selecting a personal fragrance. She often hears comments from her social media followers, who tell her that they wish they had someone in their lives who would have taught them about etiquette, dating, and femininity.
“Growing up, I had a village of women who were very proactive about teaching my sister, cousins and I about womanhood, and made sure we received the opportunity to enjoy girlhood,” Jewel said. “From influencing on social media, I realized that many did not have these experiences.”
This inspired her to offer virtual charm school webinars. This November, she will be hosting “Generations of Beauty”, a multi-generational conversation for young girls and women of all ages to learn from beauty experts and stylists while sharing tips and tricks learned along the path of womanhood.
One day, Jewel hopes to open a brick and mortar school where she could offer programs, services, and day camps for women and children.
“I do miss providing an online space of generational connectedness, where women and girls all over the age spectrum could bond over the positive experiences of womanhood,” she said “ From bonding over family recipes to sharing familial traditions, I have always loved what I do. I am planning on creating the same experience in person.”
For more information on the school and upcoming events, visit prestigeschoolofprotocol.com.
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