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At just 21 years old, Prairie View A&M University senior Jayla Stanford is redefining what it means to be young, driven, and unstoppable. What began as a creative hustle in high school has grown into a booming dessert brand—TreatsDippedByJay—and now, a food truck drawing sweet crowds in Houston’s Champions Food Truck Park.

Jayla Stanford at the grand opening of her TreatsDippedByJay dessert truck on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

 

Stanford recently celebrated the grand opening of her first mobile dessert truck, taking her viral cheesecake creations from Instagram fame to city streets. With delectable flavors like banana pudding, red velvet, and strawberry shortcake, her cheesecake cups and dipped cheesecakes on a stick have captivated social media—and customers—alike.

"I’m very blessed and so grateful," Stanford told Fox 26 Houston during their “Small Biz Spotlight” segment. "To be so young and reach this level of success—it’s rare, and I don’t take it for granted. Prairie View has been such a big part of my journey."

Launching a business while managing full-time college coursework is no easy feat. But Stanford credits her ability to juggle it all to careful planning, unwavering consistency, and a support system made up of family, friends, and her university community. An active participant in multiple PVAMU organizations, Stanford makes it clear that campus involvement and business growth can go hand in hand.

Her entrepreneurial spark was first lit in high school when she realized just how overpriced desserts could be. Inspired to do better—and differently—Stanford began crafting her own recipes. It was her innovative gourmet cookies that pushed her into the next level of success. Since July 2024, her online cookie sales have soared, generating over $50,000 in revenue and helping fund the purchase of her food truck.

Now, TreatsDippedByJay has become a household name in Houston’s small business scene, and Stanford’s journey from hobbyist to thriving entrepreneur continues to inspire. Her Instagram account, @treatsdippedbyjay, showcases not only mouthwatering creations but also the resilience and hustle that built a brand from scratch.

As Stanford drives into her future—literally—she represents a new generation of young Black entrepreneurs: bold, community-rooted, and unapologetically ambitious.

Watch Jayla Stanford’s full interview on Fox 26 Houston here.