Ra'Sheleria Williams (Founder and CEO)

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Hello! I am the owner and founder of "Girls Glowing Up." Let me share a bit about myself. I grew up in a single-parent household with my mother and two siblings, and I spent most of my childhood attending Midfield City Schools. While I cherish my upbringing, I never realized that the challenges I faced at such a vulnerable age would ultimately shape me into a person with a meaningful purpose.

As a child, I often found myself doubting my beauty and intelligence, though I managed to get through high school by being one of the funniest. If only I had realized my true beauty, or if I had put in more effort to learn how to succeed academically. If I had worked on my mental health, the outcome could have been different. However, I recognized early on that my heart was genuine. I understood that God had blessed me with the ability to empathize with others and their struggles, even if the world did not reciprocate that kindness.That was my super power. My inner knowing that I was born pure at heart, although at times it felt like a curse. 

As I progressed, I was fortunate enough to graduate from high school, which allowed me to explore both the world around me and my own identity. There was so much I needed to learn before reaching this significant milestone in my life. Due to my lack of knowledge, I postponed my life's purpose by engaging in unproductive activities, surrounding myself with negative influences, making poor financial choices,  lacking career focus, and basic independent living skills. At that time, I felt deserving of more because of my kind-hearted nature, but I realized that true change required me to take action. After welcoming my first child at the age of 21, I felt as though my life was just beginning—LOVE had knocked on my door, and I took a moment to reflect. By that point, I had clarity about my aspirations. I wanted to inspire young girls who may not have the awareness to know better or who weren’t taught to do so. That’s when my journey truly began. I made a fb post, told my friends and family, purchased a domain and created an organization in my head called EYE QUEENS. SLOGAN "WE  SEE A VISION IN OURSELVES". After telling everyone around me and buying a domain a website and constantly bringing it up in every conversation that allowed me to, the organization laid dormant in my heart. 

Continuing on, I attended and graduated from three different colleges. I started at Jefferson State Community College, where I earned university-ready credits and grades. Next, I moved on to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to obtain my bachelor's degree. Finally, I attended Louisiana State University to earn my master's degree, driven by a desire to prove something to myself—almost like this was the GLOW UP that I needed. 

Let me rewind a bit, as I need to share this important detail. While I was at UAB, I revived my organization. It was still called Eye Queens, but since I registered it as a campus organization, I thought it would be best to gather a group of girls to create a sisterhood. Our focus was first on ourselves and our life purposes, and then on giving back to our youth. During our first campus meeting, two people showed up, along with two of my friends who were not enrolled at UAB at that time. The meeting was a success, and I was thrilled to have the guests who attended. I looked forward to the next meeting; however, COVID struck, and the campus was closed for over a year. It was no coincidence that just as I began to take steps toward my goals, the pandemic hit, leaving us unable to meet and discuss further plans. Yet, I believe that this was part of God's plan. I hadn't GlOWN UP!

During that time, I may have recognized my desire to start an organization, but I often question whether I was truly prepared then, or even if I'm ready now. I was still making the same mistakes that I wish to help girls avoid. The girl who was once pure at heart had begun to feel anger and rage; she remained insecure, focused on external appearances rather than her inner glow. It was only recently that I learned to release the past and concentrate on the present. I strive to be empathetic and free of judgment, aiming to be solution-oriented rather than contributing to chaos. I recognized the need to forgive those who have hurt me and to seek God wholeheartedly. God knew I wasn’t ready when He saw that my heart's posture had changed. I needed a spiritual Glow Up!  I  still lacked essential independent living skills, including but not limited to money management, home management, communication skills,  and more.I came to the realization that I still lacked the work ethic necessary to support my passion as well. God saw that I needed to Glow Up my heart, Glow Up, my strength, and much more. He sees everything. Even though I knew my purpose, I wasn't prepared to execute. I hadn’t truly "glown up" yet!

You see, the concept of "glowing up" extends far beyond physical appearance. Far beyond a college education. Far beyond who others know of you to be. Glowing Up represents a profound transformation of one's inner self, and it can begin at any age. However, to be truly impactful, especially for vulnerable groups like school-aged children, it’s essential for them to realize that they can embark on their Glow Up journey as soon as they prioritize purpose over insecurities. They must recognize their significance in this world and understand that playing small will not help them achieve their goals. It’s a matter of all or nothing.

Ultimately, purpose aligns with destination. I recently secured a position at DHR, and I was thrilled because my role centered around supporting foster kids who have faced abuse or neglect. Interacting with the children on my case and chatting with other foster kids served as a powerful reminder that there is immense joy in inspiring, uplifting, and nurturing our youth. Nothing was more important to me than helping these children realize their full potential, regardless of the trauma they had endured. Sadly, this role offers limited impact, as it comprises 97 percent business and only 3 percent dedicated to making a difference in these kids' lives. However, that’s exactly what "Girls Glowing Up" aims to achieve!

I share all this to emphasize my purpose. I was born to empower young girls to shine brightly across the globe. My goal is to instill hope in those who may feel it’s out of reach. I aspire to inspire young girls to pursue their dreams fearlessly while also discussing the transformative glow up journey that will lead them there. We can all Glow Up together no matter your age, no matter your race, and no matter your political party. Glowing up is necessary for our world to thrive and move forward in the best  way.