From Teen Mom to Inspirational Speaker for Black Women: My Full-Circle Moment at Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Prominent Black Women’s Banquet

There are moments in life that take your breath away—not because they’re unexpected, but because they remind you just how far you’ve come.

That’s exactly how it felt to stand on stage as the keynote speaker for the Prominent Black Women’s Banquet hosted by the Epsilon Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated at the University of Memphis.

The same ballroom where, more than 25 years ago, a college planning this same event, juggling leadership roles, schoolwork, and motherhood… was now the place where she returned as an inspirational speaker for Black women, sharing her story, her heart, and her S.O. What! message of resilience. You can check out part of the speech here.

But this time, the moment held even more meaning. My granddaughter was in the audience, seeing me not just as “Sunshine,” but as a woman walking boldly in her purpose.

And beside me that night was my line sister and friend since 8th grade, Bilicia—a sister who has stood beside me through every season of this journey. Our journeys have been different, but our bond has only grown stronger. That kind of sisterhood? It’s rare. It’s sacred. And it’s a reminder that we’re never meant to walk this road alone.

Sharing the S.O. What! Mindset

That evening, I delivered what has become the heartbeat of my life—and the foundation of every stage I stand on: the S.O. What! mindset.

It’s more than a phrase. It’s a philosophy. A fight song.

S.O. What if life doesn’t go as planned?
S.O. What if it gets hard?
S.O. What if people count you out?

You still rise. You still push forward. You still believe in what’s possible.

As an inspirational speaker for Black women, I don’t show up to impress—I show up to impact. I’ve lived through setbacks, single motherhood, self-doubt, and pressure—and I’ve learned how to turn that pressure into purpose. Now, I teach others how to do the same.

The Response That Moved Me

What made the night unforgettable wasn’t just holding the mic. It was the conversations afterward.

One after another, women—sorors, students, mothers, mentors—approached me saying they had been taking notes, that the message resonated deeply, and that they would now be saying “S.O. What!” in their own lives.

That’s when I knew: the message landed where it needed to.

Because this isn’t just about motivation—it’s about transformation. When we choose to own our stories and speak life into others, we create ripple effects that reach far beyond a single night.

A Night of Sisterhood, Legacy, and Light

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated has been an anchor in my life for decades. To come back to an event I once helped plan and now serve as the featured speaker was more than a full-circle moment—it was a generational one.

From student to alumna… from young mother to grandmother… from planner to presenter. And all of it wrapped in sisterhood.

Representation + Realness = Transformation

Being seen is powerful.
Being heard is healing.
But being real? That’s what changes lives.

Representation matters—but it means even more when it’s rooted in truth. The truth that your past doesn’t disqualify you. That your pain doesn’t define you. That you can be flawed and still flawless in your purpose.

I stood on that stage, not as someone who has it all together, but as someone who refuses to let life’s hardships have the final say.

To Every Black Woman Reading This

You are worthy. You are powerful. You are enough.

Whether you’re walking into a classroom, a boardroom, or your healing journey—remember this:
Your crown may be heavy, but you were born to wear it.
Your story may be complicated, but it’s still unfolding.
And your challenges? They’re not stopping points—they’re building blocks.

So keep showing up.
Keep believing.
And when the pressure gets real, you already know what to say…

S.O. What!

Looking for an Inspirational Speaker for Black Women?

Planning a women’s empowerment event, sorority program, leadership seminar, or student gathering? Let’s connect.
I speak on resilience, confidence, purpose, and leadership—and how to turn pain into power, and setbacks into success.