FAQS

WAIST BEADS

What are waist beads?

Waist beads are traditional body jewelry originating in Africa. It is believed the oldest evidence of waist bead wearing is in ancient Kemet, known today as Egypt, where the women wore several layers of waist beads called girdles. Today, they are popular in most West African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Senegal, and many others. They are also becoming increasingly popular in the United States.

Do waist beads have meaning? What are waist beads used for?

Waist beads have many uses and meanings. They can be worn for fashion purposes, waist shaping, and weight monitoring. They also symbolize feminine beauty, sensuality, sexuality, and body positivity.

Is wearing Miss EmpowHer waist beads cultural appropriation? 

Wearing Miss EmpowHer waist beads is a form of cultural appreciation, not appropriation. Waist beads are designed to be worn by women of all shapes, sizes, and races. If you want to wear our waist beads, you should feel comfortable wearing our waist beads. 

Can plus-size women fit Miss EmpowHer waist beads?

Yes! Our waist beads are 50 inches and fit sizes 00-18 (USA).

Where are Miss EmpowHer waist beads made?

All of our waist beads are handmade by women in Ghana. 

How do I wear Miss EmpowHer waist beads?

Waist beads are traditionally worn on the hips along the panty line under your clothes. In the US, many women prefer to wear them along their natural waist, so they show when wearing a crop-top or bikini. How you decide to wear them is up to you!

How do I put on my Miss EmpowHer Waist Beads?

To tie them on, you place them around your waist, decide where you want them to sit, leave a little wiggle room, remove the excess beads, and tie 3-4 knots. Once you are sure the beads are secure, cut off the extra string and beads.

Are Miss EmpowHer waist beads adjustable?

Miss EmpowHer waist beads can be cut and re-tied to fit if you lose a substantial amount of weight. Just be sure there is enough string to make 3-4 knots.

How should I wear my waist beads?

Waist beads are traditionally worn low and loosely along the lower stomach area. However, some people choose to wear them higher on their waist. You can wear as few or as many waist beads as you feel comfortable in. Most women wear about 3 or more strands.

Do I take off my Miss EmpowHer Waist Beads?

Miss EmpowHer waist beads are semi-permanent and can be worn while bathing, swimming, sleeping, etc. 

How long do Miss EmpowHer Waist Beads last?

Miss EmpowHer waist beads are made with the best materials to ensure long wear. With that said, everyone who has worn waist beads knows there is a moment when they will eventually pop due to stress and wear, but with proper fit and care, Miss EmpowHer Waist Beads can last many years. 

We recommend avoiding tying your waist beads too tight to ensure they do not break when you bloat, sit or bend. To increase the longevity of your waist beads and to avoid damage to your waist beads, we also recommend that you avoid tying your waist beads too close to your panty line. From following these best practices, I have worn the same waist beads for over a year.

ORDERS & PRE-ORDERS

Where is my order?

All in-stock, non-pre orders will be filled within 2 business days of being placed (not including weekends or holidays).

Orders are packed and shipped in Boyds, Maryland. Shipments are made via trackable service. You will receive an email with tracking information as soon as your order is headed your way. 

Please allow 1 day for tracking information to update on your order. If you are unable to track your order, please let us know and we'll be happy to assist. 

What is a pre-order?

Pre-orders are orders taken prior to the official release of a product. 

Because we do not store credit card information, payment is taken in full at the time you place your order.

When will my pre-order ship? 

We do our absolute best to ship pre-orders so they arrive on or before the official street date / date listed on the product details page. Pre-order items in your cart will have their expected ship dates listed under the item quantity and price. We will contact you via email should those estimates ever change.

It is currently, or past the stated ship date on my confirmation and my pre- order still hasn’t shipped. What is going on?

While we make every effort to keep shipping dates accurate, delays do happen, and your pre-order may ship out later than expected. We will contact you via email should shipping timeframes ever change, but if you have questions or concerns regarding an order, please contact us for further information.

My order hasn’t shipped yet; can I add another item to it?

Unfortunately, orders cannot be combined once submitted. Please complete a new order for your additional items.  

Does Miss EmpowHer ship Internationally?

Yes, Miss EmpowHer does ship internationally. However, at this time we ship to a limited number of countries outside of the United States.  We currently ship to Canada and The United Kingdom.

COVID-19 SHIPPING DELAYS

Will I experience shipping delays due to COVID-19?

You may experience 1-2 week shipping delays. Thank you for supporting our woman-owned business.

PAYMENT METHODS

What payment options do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, JCB, Diners Club, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You can also choose to pay with PayPal or Afterpay (only for orders over $35). 

AFTERPAY

What is Afterpay?

Afterpay is a service that allows us to offer our customers the ability to make purchases now and pay for them in four equal payments made every 2 weeks without any interest. Customers with orders over $35 are eligible for after pay at Miss EmpowHer. To learn more about Afterpay click here.

Why is Afterpay declining my order?

Afterpay is a separate company to us, so we can't be sure of the exact reason why your transaction was declined. The most common reasons are:

  • You have exceeded the $2,000 transaction limit with Afterpay.
  • You do not have sufficient funds available on your card at the time of purchase.
  • There may be restrictions in place with your details in the Afterpay system.

For additional help, we suggest contacting Afterpay directly at (855) 289-6014.

PRESS INQUIRES

Press Inquiries 

For press inquiries, please email contact@missempowher.com