Nikki describes growing up as black woman with curly hair in a society that told her she’s supposed to look different in order to achieve success and in order to find acceptance. We hear her transformation of hiding from the world to highlighting who she is to the world by rejecting the social narrative and writing a new one. She eventually created a global brand and an online community, curlynikki.com, where thousands of people share their story of self-acceptance and remind each other that the love and belonging we seek shines out from within always. We discuss finding yourself in the face of social pressures and leaning into spirituality as a means to ground and find center.