5 Inspiring Women Who Changed the Course of My 2023
Giving these women their flowers because they led me to mine! <3
My 2023 was filled with success and opportunities from January to December. Those 12 months provided me with people, experiences, and epiphanies that helped me figure out what I want to make out of my life. As an avid supporter of women with a platform dedicated to the girls, I feel compelled to highlight the beautiful ones who directly inspired me this year!
Kimberly Ndubizu
Amongst many other things, Kimberly Ndubizu (@sliimkim on Instagram) is the founder of Rich Little Brokegirls, a podcast & female collective for aspiring housewives & CEOs. I remember reading about her in Essence Girls United a few months ago and immediately thinking she was the real-life Serena van der Woodsen (but better). In May I reached out to Kim on LinkedIn simply to learn about her career path, and ended up interning for Rich Little Brokegirls soon after that. We had weekly meetings that slowly started to feel like FaceTime sessions with an older sister after a few months. This is not a resume so I will not go into detail about our work together — just know we produced great things!
Kimberly is the definition of an ‘It Girl’ and is passionate about helping other women become one too. She not only gave me encouraging pep talks to start my own platform, but tons of insight on branding as well. My favorite part about her is that the Kim you see online is 100% the Kim you meet in real-life. She does not have an online facade and is never afraid to talk about the lows in her life in addition to the highs. The main lesson I learned from her is that you literally have to just DO things. Putting yourself out there is the first step in accomplishing your dreams, and Rich Little Brokegirls is exemplary of this notion.
2. Kenyatta Victoria
When it comes to women putting other women on, @KenyattaVictoria is the ONE! She is the Girls United Writer for Essence Girls United with such an inspirational career journey. Her story is filled with full-circle moments that prove hard work and dedication pays off! In April I reached out to her on LinkedIn to learn how she obtained a position at Essence (my dream company) and she gave me lots of tips to support my newfound passion for journalism. A little over a month after we spoke, I had an article published on Essence Gu (my favorite accomplishment this year) thanks to the advice she gave me. She supported my blog idea long before I launched it and responds with love whenever I reach out to her.
Kenyatta consistently writes about Black women in a positive light on an internet that seems to tear us down every chance it gets. She always gives other people their flowers so I wanted to take this opportunity to give them right back to her! With such a kind-hearted spirit, I have no doubts that Kenyatta will dominate the journalism industry in a delicate & ethical manner.
3. Nerisha Penrose
Nerisha Penrose, a.k.a @girlnamednee, is THEE go-to fashion & beauty girl. She is the Beauty Commerce Editor at Elle Magazine on the clock and a traveling fashionista in her free time. I contacted her this summer in hopes to learn about her journalism career and receive advice about my journey. During that conversation, Nerisha said something that I replay in my head at least once a month! I was telling her about my hesitancy regarding this platform because the people I knew in real life will see my posts and possibly have negative things to say. Her response was, and I quote, “What are they gonna do, beat you up?” I could not help but laugh, until I realized the truth in what she said.
Every time I worry about being judged, I hear her voice in my head because we cannot allow the opinions of others stand in the way of our destiny. Nerisha is unapologetically ‘That Girl’ and everyone should take a page out of her book. Her inspiring story, top-tier writing skills, and unwavering support has impacted my year in ways she does not realize.
*P.S. go on her Instagram if you need some outfit inspo*
4. Lenora Houseworth
This Pinterest-esque woman goes by Lenora Houseworth in real-life, @lenorashewrote on Instagram, and ‘Olivia Pope with a pen’ in the journalism industry. I found inspiration in all of the things she has done throughout her career and grew interested in learning more about it. Speaking to her back in March made me feel seen because she dabbles in marketing, journalism, poetry, and wellness like myself. She assured me that I could accomplish all of my goals and did not have to fit into one specific box.
Lenora’s story reminds me that balance is the key to doing all of the things my heart desires. Combining both my passions for journalism and wellness for this platform was inspired by her multifaceted line of work. Her amazing writing can be viewed on Essence, Teen Vogue, Meta, Black Enterprise, HelloBeautiful, Allure, and more!
5. Keyaira Boone
The talented award-winning @pennedbyKeyaira Boone was the very first person I scheduled a Zoom chat with this year after I reached out to her in February. As a fellow Jersey girl, she provided me with TONS of tips and resources to get my journalism journey started. I was deeply inspired by her story because she is living proof that the basis of success is belief in yourself. Her work has appeared on Essence, Emmy Magazine, Allure, Insider, HelloBeautiful, and many, many more outlets. She has interviewed huge names in Hollywood such as Mary J. Blige, Lauren London, Kelly Rowland, and Tina Knowles. However, behind all of her success is just a girl from North Jersey with a dream and the determination to get there by any means.
Keyaira suggested that I pitch to Essence’s Girls United sector, which led me to (almost) everyone else on this list. She was also the one who planted the idea of a blog in my head…. and here I am10 months later writing about her on my own platform! You probably would not even be reading this right now if it weren’t for her valuable pieces of advice, and for that, I thank her a million times.
To all of the Black queens on this list, I hope you all understand how much I appreciate your willingness to guide, support, and believe in me. My year would not have been the same without you and I am eternally grateful. I cannot wait to see more of the incredible things that life has in store for everyone.
~ ASW
