Meet Cortney Héir, Le Père Fondateur de la Maison de Héir.

CORTNEY HÉIR = CONGLOMERATE

The Official Blog for Maison de Héir x Cortney Héir

"You can't run. You can't escape from who you truly are. Sure you can use external alternatives, escapism, other than going within, you may have gotten that little dopamine rush... but have you ever noticed you always come back to yourself? Back to square one, pondering... You can't run from who you are. You can't help that you were born into a certain environment. You can't help who gave birth to you. You can't choose your fate, but what you can claim is your destiny." - Cortney Héir.

[Plays the soundtrack of my life: "Bittersweet Symphony." Turns up the music to the highest level at 3:18 A.M. Looks over my shoulder in slow motion at the imaginary cameras flashing, looks back at the imaginary mirror in front of me, admiring my beauty as the lights pulse the hue of red, slowly petting my black kittens, Pyra & Madonna Héir, continues typing.]

I'm being dramatic? Not to me. This is my actual life, you're in my reality right now:

My name is Cortney Héir. Formerly known as "Cortney Gage Churchill." I was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Raised in a household with both mother and father, non-religious, free-spirits, and by both grandparents, The Churchills, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Elders of the congregation. I was fortunate enough not to grow up in poverty, free from being excommunicated from the family because I'm gay. I didn't grow up in a trap house, or have drug addict caretakers. That's not my story, the traditional rags-to-riches/success. I was raised by a Nobel family. Doesn't mean my upbringing was all glamorous. Whose story is? "I AM NOT AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION." You'll understand the name change as we continue my mind maze.

Once I graduated from Woodlawn High School in Baltimore, County, I moved across the country by myself to Los Angeles, California at the age of 17 to attend one of the most prestigious conservatories in the world, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. The Academy Alumni, most respected entertainers, like Denzel Washington, Danny DeVito, Paul Rudd, Kim Cattrall and many more accomplished phenomenal careers after attendance. It was so competitive and you had to get an invitation to come back for the second year, as I did, I knew my gift was going to carry me far for the rest of my life. In 2015, I graduated and my professional career as an entertainer was refined.

Like many young talents trying to find their way in the city of fallen angels, it took a while to get the ball rolling. I worked for free as a background actor, unpaid model, unpaid stylist, unpaid creative director, unpaid photographer, unpaid videographer, unpaid assistant, unpaid personal shopper, unpaid director, unpaid junior agent, countless auditions, until I got my first paid booking one year later: AIR JORDAN X NIKE campaign. Thank you, Los York Studios, Stardust Production; and my former agents Jamie and Brittany. Also forgot to mention I was a paid... house cleaner. That's how I met my former talent agent, Brittany. She booked a cleaning service. Casual conversation about my dreams of being a working actor; she never mentioned that she owns a talent agency. As I walked out the door she said "Cortney..." and handed me her business card, followed by "I believe in you. I want to sign you. Call me when you're ready." She saw the light in me, she saw my gems, my gifts, she heard the passion in my voice, she heard my frustration, she took the risk.

Always had an entrepreneurial spirit instilled in me from a very young age. My family has a diverse portfolio of businesses. No one went to school for business; only I, recently. I graduate in 2026 with my Associate's Degree in Business Administration. Then, I'll proceed to get my Bachelor's in Cosmetic and Fragrance Marketing. Although I have had a lot of success and monetized on my gifts; I'm forever a student. I don't know everything and continuing my education, in all areas of my career and life existence-- I want to fill this brain with so much. I believe that once you stop learning; you stop growing; once you stop growing, you're dead. However, business has always been self-taught within my family; knowledge passed down to us all, instinctive; learning from the elders' mistakes and wins; and they taught me from an early age... work. I used to be so miserable painting those walls with my favorite uncle. He owns a construction company. But, the most fond memory was when we would get in his work truck and he'd take me to get a McGriddle and an orange juice; while he got a cup of coffee and ate that sandwich brutally, ha! Having ownership is what I noticed in everyone. Ownership, the masters, of their lives.

My family sacrificed a lot for me to go to school. My father wanted me to go to community college. My mother argued him down; and made some hard choices for me to get there. She owned her Mercedes and before she established her restaurant which funded my tuition; she took out a title loan and sent me on my way. They paid my rent for two years, bought me cars; anything I wanted I got. They all said once you graduate from college; I was 19 at the time: You better figure it out. What did I do? Figured it out.

At 19, I founded my first business, a cleaning service. At 20, I founded a sunglasses line. At 21, I got my first client and founded an interior design company. At 22, I received some heartbreaking news that changed my entire life. At 23, I founded a clothing line. At 24, I founded a wellness product, which we’ve since relaunched and rebranded in 2025 as Héir Sea Moss, and I founded the entertainment company. At 27, I founded a non-profit to help FIST clients (a mental health diverse program to help Felons Incompetent to Stand Trial — like I was after being detained; thank you, Project180 LA), all charges have been sealed and dismissed. At 28, I founded a luxury health and wellness brand, a beauty brand, and a full-service entertainment company (Talent de Héir).

Alcohol became my medicine. I knew my spirit was crying for help, but I had to hold the secret out of "loyalty." I was convinced and manipulated into believing it was for what was best for me; it was painful, but I don’t hold resentment because it shaped who I am and gave me so much depth. So, now that I'm mature, it was the best decision for me. But it was harming me. Negatively impacting my life... Several failed suicide attempts. Crying for help without saying it. Followed by a DUI. After graduating from the court-ordered rehab, I had a manic episode abruptly, Bipolar 1. No one knew what was happening, not even me. I just knew things were manifesting faster than my head could spin. While I was having fun in my own reality, the world was entertained on social media. I was being publicly humiliated and no one sent help; just uninviting words and death threats, strangers and family in the comments.

The world was against me on a sensitive matter. The family dog, Velvet, a Yorkie, was murdered in my arms, viciously attacked by a pit bull. Now, I’m manic, fighting a pit bull, punching it dead in the nose with stainless steel rings on every finger, screaming for help, and the bystanders and owner of the dog are just watching this occur with their camera phones in my face, crying for help, as I struggle and the pit bull has their teeth wrapped around her throat; shaking its head like she's a rag doll. Horrible. Still traumatized. Trauma never goes away I learned in therapy. We just learn how to move around the world while it lives within us.

After being hospitalized, I regained my sanity. After mania, depression hits. I was working at my mother’s restaurant miserable, crying. She once said, “What’s wrong?” Me with the ugly cry: “I’m miserable working here. I’m back in Baltimore, where I don’t belong. I hate it here. I’m not doing enough. I’m not where I want to be in life. I feel like a failure.” She replied: “You’re only a failure when you stop trying. Stop crying. Work here. Stack ya money. And figure out a plan.”

Months later my little sister and I were dancing to Beyoncé and Solange’s Coachella Homecoming performance. I did have the TV blasting. But we all just finished partying and having a good time. My sister and I didn’t want the night to end.

“Who do you want to be? Beyoncé or Solange? We’re bout to go on stage! Hurry up!” She screams, “Beyoncé!” Overly excited. Like girl calm down, it's just Beyoncé. I said, “Okay girl... Solange cooler anyway.” We both laughed and started tik-ticking-fa-me. A beautiful moment. She is so beautiful, creative, and intelligent. She wants to go to school for Business. She’s in high school now.

Several minutes after our performance, a heated argument broke out — my mother went off. Words were said and she ended it with... “This my shit. This is my house. You can get the fuck out.” I went back downstairs; it was about 2 A.M. I packed up everything I brought over there for the weekend; ubered to my grandparents’ home; grabbed my legal documents; Social Security card, birth certificate, Driver’s license, little trinkets, kissed my grandmother goodbye as she locked the front door in confusion on what just motivated this decision... her final words were, “Where are you going to stay? Who do you know there?”  “I don’t know... I’ll figure it out,” I replied. 

I caught the $20 Chinese bus that was coming in the next 45 minutes in Downtown Baltimore, and moved to New York at the beginning of COVID-19 with $2,000.00 in my savings. It was a ghost town, cloudy, gray, and no one was in Times Square. I figured it out though.

I lived in a basement, which I found on Airbnb. I had the back area closed off by a curtain; it was the biggest for what it was. But it was insane how they did that house for us creatives and tourists. One of the best introductions to moving in the city, Bushwick. Favorite part of Brooklyn. Covert Street. Forever in my heart. About 12 people in one apartment; all demographics; different skin tones, ages, languages, ethnicities; it was an international, creative, trap house, melting pot. Full of support, encouragement, drama, and love at the end of the day.

Worked at FEDEX for a few months as an essential worker. It was fun at first because I had a crush named Nigel. He paid me absolutely no mind. He was my eye candy for those 3 silent hours of moving boxes into a truck. But the music was playing in my head. I found a job that took my body, not my mind. And I made that choice because I got invested in making music. Constantly at the crash pad, the tenants would say, “Do you make music?” “You should sing!” “You don’t sing?” “Your voice is so beautiful. You’re a star.” I heard it so much, I felt like GOD was screaming through these people to take heed to it.

I founded my independent entertainment company. I hired every underrated talent I connected with while roaming through New York City. Dedicated, overlooked, motivated, ultra creative, and saw my vision. I produced so much music, made 2 albums, and shot so many visuals, but I only released one, “Dreamer.” Why? Because I take pride in my work. Quality holds value to me, not quantity.

Watch "Dreamer" Official Video:
Cortney Churchill - DREAMER (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

I designed the costumes I saw in my dream. Some of the scenes in the music video, I saw in a dream first—then brought them to fruition by recreating them. Interviewed and offered a paid internship for my college and newly graduated designers. One asked if she could use my designs she helped bring into tangible form as a reference, and she got in—an entry-level position in the Teen Vogue mail room, she said. “Strike a pose, there’s nothing to it. VOGUE.” We start somewhere, but she got in. Brianna, a.k.a. Nova.

My senses started to get heightened. I became deeply spiritual and things were happening to me that I had never experienced before. Prince started visiting first after reading these books, then my ancestors.

Fast forward, a year later, I fall into a spiritual drought. I was being pulled to go back to LA. What I do? Packed everything up and moved across the country with $1,000.00 and paid $600.00 a month to sleep on a couch.

But, here’s the kick ball change... before I moved out of my apartment in Ridgewood, NY, I had a dream of me in a jail cell; kicking and screaming, “LET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! LET ME OUT!” Two months in, manic episode #2. Detained. Transported into MCJ—Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail.

Watch Unseen Body Cam Footage:
CORTNEY HÈIR: I AM NOT AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION

Then I had déjà vu. I remembered in that moment I saw this in a dream before it happened; and I recalled that moment because while I was in HOH Housing—High Observation Housing (HOH): This term specifically designates areas for prisoners with mental illness requiring intensive observation, care, and safety precautions. It's designed for inmates with acute mental health needs (Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 2015)—there was this medieval armor statue figure at the bottom of the steps; I was on the second floor. I remembered it. Crystal clear. 

The only thing that didn’t happen from the dream was that someone came to the door and handed me keys through the slot and I slid down the stairs on a mattress. They didn’t even give me a mattress while I was in there. I slept on a rusted metal bed frame that was full of urine and water. I was so far in my imagination and spiritual realm, I was playing in my feces. That’s where Cortney Churchill found his solace in solitude.

After the initiation with my clan and GOD, an unshared experience, Cortney Churchill is dreaming in peace, and Cortney Héir was resurrected.

...I AM NOT AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION.

I wouldn’t trade places with anyone in the world nor would I have done anything to prevent any of these experiences. Because... it was all divine and none of it was bad. I always say: find beauty in the darkness and there’s no such thing as bad experiences. You may not like what’s happening in the moment, but it’s all working for you in the end.

We’ll pull more layers back. The story isn’t over. Try not to get lost in my mind maze. 

I am Cortney Héir, the founding father of Maison de Héir. 

You are the luxury. You are the standard. This is the Art of Inner Luxury.

—

Written by CORTNEY HÉIR

Instagram: @CortneyHeir