At the Funky Diva Jeans Boutique in downtown Gig Harbor, customers can’t help but notice a lot of fashion attitude.

From the ornate chandelier in the front window, to the zebra print decorations and upholstery, owner Cheryl Ingram’s shop has a unique atmosphere.

“You’re only as young as you feel,” Ingram said, adding that her store is for “funky divas that aren’t afraid to wear the bling.”

As the name suggests, the boutique specializes in clothes that have “funk,” including jeans and tops with jeweled details and rhinestone embellishments. Also featured are sparkly accessories, such as jewelry and handbags.

The store is no less than a dream come true for Ingram.

“I’ve had this dream since I was a kid,” Ingram said. “I’ve always loved selling clothes.”

Fashion is a passion for Ingram, who once worked for the now-defunct department store The Bon Marche, among other retailers.

For the past nine years or so, Ingram, who holds college degrees in accounting and fashion marketing, has worked in the state capital as a fiscal analyst for the state.

But a personal watercraft accident in 2006 left Ingram in chronic pain, and that made the daily commute to Olympia uncomfortable.

Ingram left her analyst position in September and opened Funky Diva in mid-November.

“I decided I could either sit at home and give up,” Ingram said, “or go for it.”

Ingram, a longtime resident of Gig Harbor who has lived in Washington state her entire life, said she’s grateful for the new business opportunity.

“I wanted to do something neat and young and funky for the harbor,” Ingram said.

Building a business from the ground up hasn’t been easy, though.

“I’ve had to start from scratch,” Ingram said. “I used to even be afraid of the till.”

With some willpower and a lot of support from family and friends, Ingram has overcome he fears, and she’s on her way to accomplishing her dream.

“I’ve thought about doing this for years now,” she said. “The difference now is that I have a great support system.”

Ingram credited her two grown daughters, both Tacoma-area residents, and a longtime friend, for inspiring her to pursue the venture.

Ingram has high hopes for the store’s future, including expanding her merchandise offerings to include children’s and men’s clothing.

The Funky Diva Jeans Boutique is located in downtown Gig Harbor in the Neptune’s Court retail center, located at 7801 Pioneer Way near the intersection with Harborview Drive. She can be reached at 253-432-4438.

Other information, such as hours of operation and pictures of merchandise, can be found at the store’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Funky-DIVA-Jeans-Boutique/288575481167767.

Once well-established, Ingram said she intends to make donations to local charities, particularly those that provide clothing to people in need.

“I’m sure I’ll do some jean drives down the road,” she said. “I want to be able to give back.”