Connie Ferguson: 30 Years from Screen Queen to Mogul

In what ways has your relationship with your daughters evolved over the years?

It has grown in a huge way. I have a unique and special bond with my daughters, each of them is distinct in their own way. My first-born, is an extrovert and a people’s person. She is the light of my life and embodies her name perfectly. I had my first-born when I was 22, and we grew up together. Though she’s my daughter, she’s also my friend, and she understands the balance between our close relationship and my role as her mother. We share many joyful moments, and I strive to foster a relationship built on trust and open communication, where we can talk about anything.

Then, I have a second born, who is 22 years old. She is an introvert, artistic, and she is calm like me when I was growing up. She’s a musician of note, can play any type of instrument and she is self-taught. She’s just like me, personality-wise, she is an introvert but when she’s around people that she knows, her extroverted personality comes out. She’s very funny and she’s definitely her father’s daughter. She’s like Sho, she’s funny without even trying.

Both of them have great personalities and I have a good time with them. Since their father died, they have assumed special, soothing, and caring responsibilities and I feel safe when surrounded by them.

How does your approach to parenting differ from how your parents raised you?

I come from a big family. There are seven in total in my family. I remember growing up we were so close. Both my parents worked hard to provide for us. I think their biggest goal was to make sure that we were well taken care of. I feel like spending quality time with us was compromised even though they tried to spend more time with us.

When I started working, I wanted my mother to stop working because I could see in her that she just wanted to be a mother. At that time, she was working in a hotel with long hours, which led to her overstretching herself. When I decided to become a mother, I wanted to have fewer children so I could give them the time and attention they needed, as well as provide them with a good quality of life. Raising children is expensive, and I wanted to ensure they had the best possible upbringing.

As a grandmother, what has been the most rewarding aspect of it for you?

When my older daughter became pregnant, it was an unexpected surprise, and I hadn’t pictured myself as a grandmother at that point. However, discovering her pregnancy was a proud and joyous moment for me. I often teased her about being more excited than she was, but truthfully, I was more excited. Children are a true blessing, and when my grandson was born, it brought a wonderful sense of fulfillment. Having a grandson was particularly special, especially.

My grandson is smart, he’s a God-fearing child, and is what I would have wanted my son to be. I am proud of my daughter and how she embraces motherhood. I try sometimes to give her space to parent. It can be hard sometimes because he is a precious child. Now I understand why my mother loved my children more than me. Not that she hated me, but there’s a special connection that a mother has with her grandchildren.

What has kept you grounded and relevant in the acting industry for the past 30 years?

I think my faith and belief in God keep me grounded, along with my background and the way I was raised. I’ve been in this industry for decades, but I have never even looked at myself as a superstar. I have always been someone’s daughter, mother, wife, and grandmother. Fame is a blessing, but it has never gotten to my head. It’s a blessing because I’ve never allowed fame to take over my life and go where the wind blows. I’ve always maintained a more private life compared to many celebrities, and I believe that’s a key reason for my longevity. By concentrating on my work and keeping other aspects of my life out of the spotlight, I’ve managed to stay focused and enduring in the industry.

Do you feel that you’ve accomplished all of your dreams?

No, I would never get to a point where I feel like I have achieved all my dreams because I feel like life and people evolve every day. When you get to a certain age, there’s something new that happens and life doesn’t happen the way you want it to pan out. I always give myself grace that the biggest success in that are the lessons learned along the way.

These lessons prepare you for your next move. This is why I feel like I haven’t achieved anything because every milestone that you do leads to the next milestone. We are evolving every day.

What advice would you provide to a fellow entrepreneur who is experiencing difficulties with their business?

I would tell them that there is no instant gratification when you launch a product. Entrepreneurship is hard because you need capital and support. You can have feasible ideas but the biggest challenge is finance. My advice is to start small and test your brand, letting it generate revenue to fund its growth. If you have a grand vision, believe in it and work diligently. Be prepared for obstacles and naysayers, but stay focused and committed to your journey.

You lost your husband in 2021; how would you describe the space you’re in right now?

The space that I am in now, I would call it evolving. I feel like after losing Shona, I had to shed what I thought I knew about myself. I was married to him for 20 years and we became one person. So, losing him felt like I had lost a big part of myself. Coping with the loss was so hard, I had to go back to God and ask him what his purpose for my life was because what I thought it was clearly not. When I was with Shona, I thought our purposes were joint and we did everything together.

Now I am rediscovering my purpose and strength and what I can do on my own. It’s an interesting space to be in and to live with him in a different way without him being here physically. I believe that the people we love will forever be with us spiritually.

What challenges have you faced in your business?

The biggest challenge has always been finance. When we first launched CONNIE and introduced our lotions, we had to take out a loan to get started. The interest was very expensive. This can set you back, which is why I don’t advise people to seek instant gratification.

What can we expect in the near future from your beauty empire, Ferguson Films, and your acting career

We’re gearing up to expand our face care line, aiming to make it the next big thing in the market. For now, our focus is on driving the success of our current products. On the television front, Ferguson Films recently wrapped up a project that is in post-production, and we’re already working on developing another show.

Where can potential buyers purchase your products?

The lotions are still available at Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Clicks, and in some major retailers. We have now launched a website to start selling our products online.

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