Becoming in public

Becoming did not wait for permission. It happened in real time. In drafts. In uncertainty. In choosing growth while being watched. This page holds the stories of learning, unlearning, and becoming visible before feeling ready.

I became who I am in places that didn’t always deserve that version of me. In timelines, comment sections, late-night posts I probably should’ve kept to myself. But that was the only place I had to practice becoming in real time. So I did.

“When I stepped into the digital world back in 2016, I stepped into a world unknown, and I stepped in with the wrong heart posture at that time. It took me down a journey that I never knew I would be on—a journey where I now strive to inspire women to be a version of themselves unimaginable. A version where they believe in the ability to live out their wildest dreams with pure intentions—not for the validation of others, but through developing a genuine relationship with someone whom I think everyone should desire a relationship with.”

Maia Poetry

“I stopped trying to be what I thought people wanted and started being who I actually am… I let all of myself have a voice and let the projects, purpose, and people find me… When you show up in your fullest self—honest, open, and a little bold—this place becomes less about being seen, and more about being felt.”

Oneika Mays

“I would tell my younger self to enjoy being weird. Enjoy your quirks, in fact, lean into them… They lead to a deeper understanding of self and in turn acceptance of others… Lean into the things you love.”

Jiya Pinder

“Find joy in planting seeds even if you never fully witness the harvest. Forever remain in love with the defiant act of letting your fearless, optimistic, innocent, resilient, brilliant, imaginative inner child guide the way. She survived everything that was supposed to diminish her for a reason. She knows the way.”

Sequana Whiteside

“Telling my younger self that, as a creative, there are so many different mediums to explore and that you don't need to limit yourself would be one of the first things I would sit down with her about… I would often self-limit because of my lack of resources and my understanding of creativity being only what I saw on TV… Create, expand, and adapt over time… creativity is as limitless as life itself… sometimes you have to create your own spaces and your own way of telling your story. No matter how much time it takes, it is OK to continue to work on your art and create your craft. The right people will find you, and the right people will support you, because your story is just as important — even if you're not seeing it on TV just yet.”

Jade Stevenson

“Me showing up confidently and securely on social media has a lot to do with Accepting that I too deserve to be seen and I don’t have to perform for my value. It was accepting that people have opinions and they may not always favor me but it doesn’t necessarily say anything about who I designed to be. I am no longer reckoning with my purpose and instead understanding that self-expression is a vital part of my gift to this earth.”

ElDaCreatrix

“Online spaces allowed me to hear my words somewhere other than in my own head. I joined back when you had to have a college email. Not everything I said was groundbreaking. But it does keep a record, in a time where I felt deeply unseen.”

Genesia Williams

“I’m Averi D, aka Sienna V. Feruzi, and I need to apply my words and voice through online outreach… I enjoy using my words and books plus coaching to financially and socially empower women of color.”

Averi Drummer

As a multifaceted Black woman… navigating space online has meant choosing when to be seen and when to protect myself.

Anonymous