Whitney Stephenson, owner and designer of Lee Jerome By Whitney Stephenson, was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Whitney graduated from Hughes High School’s Cincinnati Academy of Math and Science Pre-Engineering program. She later attended The Tennessee State University, where she majored in Architectural Engineering with a minor in Business Administration, but decided to join the United States Navy her junior year to help pay for school. As a sailor, her rate of Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Equipment (ABE) took her to San Diego, California onboard the USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76. After serving active duty and being honorably discharged, she completed her Bachelors in Business Administration specializing in accounting and continued to her MBA specializing in accounting and information systems.
Whitney started sewing once her son was born due to him being in the hospital and needing access for ports and wires. In 2017, she founded ImPerfectly Perfect Children’s Apparel (IMPKidz). Currently, Whitney resides in Charlotte, North Carolina where she owns Mahogany Brown Bridal, a luxury bridal boutique carrying only minority bridal designers.