Marlon’s Backstory

Did you ever hear the backstory of licensed massage therapist, Marlon J. Love? He’s a Black triplet born in Brooklyn, NY, with an identical twin brother and a fraternal sibling. Marlon was the second born, placing him in the middle of the trio. As the self-proclaimed “spokesman,” he always aimed to represent his brothers well. Growing up in Brooklyn in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Marlon faced many of the challenges young Black men often encounter. When Marlon and his brothers were preschool-aged, their mother abandoned them — she literally dropped them off at daycare and never returned. They were placed in the NYC foster care system, where they experienced an abusive foster home. Eventually, they were taken to the Leake and Watts Children’s Home in Yonkers, NY. At the age of five, Marlon was told that his future would likely involve being "in jail or dead" by the age of 30.

Marlon refused to accept that fate. He resolved early on to defy the negative stereotypes and statistics associated with Black men. Thankfully, his Aunt Alberta Love-George and Uncle Tim took the triplets in and raised them alongside their three cousins in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, where they became known in the neighborhood as the “Love Brothers.”

Fast forward to Marlon at age 43. After his divorce, he embarked on a new chapter in life, pursuing education in Fashion Marketing & Management, attending Bartending School, and ultimately, enrolling in Massage Therapy School. Over the years, Marlon built a diverse and successful career as an Office Manager, Wedding & Portrait Photographer, City Photo Walking Tour Guide, Fashion Designer, Bartender & Mixologist, and currently, a Graphic Designer (Love + Love Design Co.). These roles allowed him to meet new people and engage in rewarding projects — but they were just the beginning of his journey.

Marlon’s journey truly began in middle school when he and his twin brother Marcelle were sent to live with a relative in Washington, D.C. Before graduating from junior high school, Marlon chose to attend a high school across town that focused on architecture. He enrolled in the Pre-Architecture program at Spingarn Senior High School and discovered a passion for combining lines, shapes, and math to create functional objects. His teachers recognized his talent and entered his work into a D.C. city-wide contest, where he won first place. At their recommendation, Marlon applied to and was accepted by Howard University, enrolling in their five-year Architecture & Planning Program.

However, after a year and a half, Marlon’s life took a different path due to a religious shift and his subsequent 14½-year marriage. Following his divorce, Marlon devoted himself to what made him happiest — art and helping others. His late Aunt Alberta, a serial entrepreneur who owned a beauty salon, car wash, and funeral home, inspired him to establish his own business and build generational wealth through ownership.

Early in his marriage, Marlon discovered he enjoyed helping others by giving massages to family and friends. Many encouraged him to pursue it professionally, but his ex-wife discouraged him due to her insecurities. As a result, Marlon focused on wedding and portrait photography, a career that was eventually overshadowed by the rise of advanced smartphone cameras. Looking back to his Brooklyn roots for inspiration, Marlon embraced his passions for creating and helping others through graphic design and massage therapy.

After graduating from the Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage in Falls Church, VA, Marlon worked at Elements Massage in Pentagon City/Row as a licensed massage therapist while building his massage studio from his friend's garage. Looking ahead, he plans to open a spa and wellness center for men, where they can invest in self-care and wellness products.

This is the story of Marlon J. Love. Over the years, he’s learned never to let the difficulties of his past define his future. As he puts it, “Through God’s grace, I never let the challenges of my youth extinguish the promise of greatness within me. Never let life’s detours be a deterrence — embrace them, learn from them, and there’s no limit to what you can achieve if you put your mind to it and work hard.