Meet Diana G. Muturia of Clyn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana G. Muturia.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Diana G.. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I came to the US when I was 18 and studied math and mechanical engineering before I dropped out in my last year. I continued to pursue my love for technology and a passion for fashion modeling came about.

I’m now the Founder of Clyn (pronounced as Clean), an app that connects small home service providers to residents in their area. My application is patent pending and has got the attention of influential people in the business world such as Forbes Council and Founder of the CEO Advisory Partners, Henry Mittleman, President of Dynamond Building Maintenance and MGM (Master of Global Management), Fernando Cruz, the engine behind #PhoenixTechNerd and Phoenix Startup Week advisor, Chris Huie, and Senior Research economist of ASU and well sought-out realtor and Property Investor, Lora Mwaniki-Lyman. The app has also caught International attention from cleaning and janitorial companies in Canada, Europe, and Africa.

As a fashion model, I’ve been featured in multiple publications such as Ellément Magazine, MILQ Magazine, and Graftobian 2019-2020 Edition. I’ve been in a 2019 beauty campaign with national online makeup store, Beauty Bridge USA. I’ve also been on air on Sonoran Living on ABC15 Arizona, working with Influential MUA Jalia Pettis in multiple areas. I’ve walked for multiple shows such as Sarabo Couture, Herstori Wraps, Sisi Aduke, Lagos Phx, Ativ Custom Couture, and Nazila Couture. Just to name a few other brands that I’ve worked with are Avalon Cosmetics, AfricanFestUSA, Exquisite African Fashions, and Trap Coffee. Lastly, I worked with The Esplanade and The Camby Hotel in conjunction with Flying Robot Productions as their lead female executive model for their 2019 Commercial.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My story is definitely not a Mark Zuckerberg story. I didn’t drop out of college by choice. I struggled financially to cover my tuition like majority of college students do today. I still remember my last day of college like it was yesterday. I got kicked out still begging for help with tears in my eyes. I remember one of the college advisors yelling at me to go back to my country because I didn’t want to leave. I was the only one in my family that made it this far, and I wasn’t about to give up.

That led to being homeless in Texas for a few months and eventually finding a place to stay that I could barely afford. My long-term boyfriend and my number 1 fan, Josh, who was my closest friend at the time thought I was worth fighting for and we gathered the little money we had for a one-way ticket to Arizona where he rented a room at his friend’s condo in downtown Phoenix before it was well developed. Even then, having a somewhat stable place to stay, we both struggled to get by. With only an old laptop to my name and feeling like a complete failure, depression and anxiety became my biggest demons.

I did small jobs like cleaning houses and apartments, took care of my neighbor’s pets, helped the older neighbors move things around, etc. Josh and I quickly made a friends because we were always available to help.

There are times I drank as much water as I can, so I wouldn’t think about how hungry I was during the day. That way I could save the only meal of the day for dinner when Josh got back from work. It was our moment to appreciate what God had provided that day.

I remember this very specific day; when our former roommate’s girlfriend baked some garlic bread, though she didn’t like how they turned out and threw it in the kitchen trash can. I patiently waited for them to leave and I immediately opened the trash can, stuffed two pieces of bread under my tank top and rushed to eat it in our dark 7×8 bedroom. I sat on Josh’s bed, heavily breathing, indulged in it like manner from heaven. On my last piece, I looked down at my shaking hands from the adrelining rush, partly due to fear of being caught and partly due to the excitement of the smell of garlic bread. Still, in the dark, I sat in silence and thought to myself, “I can’t be like this… I have a family depending on me to make things work here. I’m their only hope. I don’t want to be this way anymore.” That was a big turning point in my life. It keeps playing in my head almost everyday. I think that’s what keeps me going.

Moments like those instilled discipline and knowledge that I don’t think I would have learned in a classroom. Some things you have to go through in order to learn.

Clyn – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
After college, I didn’t want to waste my smarts even at my most humble moments. As the sorted out cleaner in my neighborhood, I learned the struggles of trying to create rapport, always asking for referrals, negotiating my prices, etc. I also met other small cleaning providers especially in the Black and Hispanic communities and got to listen to their unique stories. That inspired me to create Clyn, an app that is specifically made for people like them. The app connects small home service providers to residents and small offices in their area.

My biggest reason, however, is to change the perception of how home service providers and janitorial jobs are looked upon. We often see that cleaner or janitor in the shadows always cleaning up around the house or office spaces, but don’t hear of them. Maybe an occasional “hello” or “Hola”, but we don’t realize how much effort they put to make sure our environment is clean and clear so we can focus on our daily tasks.

Can you imagine looking at the same coffee stain on the office hallway for days or using restrooms that have been barely cleaned for a week? It’s unbearable for most. But usually when we get to work the next morning that coffee stain from the previous day is gone. Or better, the awesome feeling of being the 1st to use the clean restrooms in the morning! They are like heroes that save the day behind the scenes.

This mobile app, as simple as it is, has been so much needed not only in the valley but internationally. I’m deeply humbled that my work is openly welcomed and I can help people in different communities!

On the other hand, my modeling career has been extremely fulfilling. Working with amazing creatives in the valley and nationwide. My reason to keep pursuing modeling is to show little brown girls of different deeper skin tones and different shapes and sizes, that they are beautiful and can be on commercials, high fashion magazines and maybe in the future, on billboards.

Modeling has also given me a platform to instill that fashion models also do a lot for their community and in Arizona, we are not just pretty faces. We are women and men who are entrepreneurs, own businesses, run charities, activists, leaders at our 9-5 jobs and so much more.

Tell us about your favorite and least favorites things about our city.
I fell in love with Phoenix, AZ mainly because the cactus reminds me a lot of myself.

I like to think of myself as the cactus, a flower that learned how to grow without being watered. That learned to withstand harsh environments. It’s a character I see not only in myself but in many Arizonans whether they were born or moved here.

There’s a grit we have within us. Although, we still have plenty of room for improvement.

The Phoenix market is growing fairly quickly and it requires us to be ready for it. We need to be more tech forward, collaborate, and invest within ourselves. We can see this being done by leaders such as Chris Huie who teaches people in our community how to code, Anneke Marie who is a big supporter of black-owned businesses, Anibal who brings people of diverse cultures together and as for myself, helping small home providers get a chance to earn more through a simple mobile app.

Secondly, we have great talent in the valley, but underwhelmingly underpaid, making most of the untapped talent move to the East or West coast to be compensated fairly. In turn, it takes away the spotlight from shining on Phoenix.

I think in time, if we intentionally put our dollars back into our community more than we have been, Phoenix will be the next big city! We have that potential.

Pricing:

• Clyn app, register for free through clynapp.com/sign-up before the app is out

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.clynapp.com
• Phone: 602-541-9423
• Email: diana@clynapp.com
• Instagram: @clynapp, @diana_muturia
• Facebook: @clynapp, @diana_muturia

Image Credit:
Modus Apparel (@modus_apparel), David from Pixyst Photography, Stewart from Focus First Photography, Finding Arizona Podcast, Jalia Pettis from Style Exhibit, LaQuana from Ativ Custom Couture, Jonathan Songolo, Clyn

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