We were lucky to catch up with Sheridonna Wilson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sheridonna , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s go back in time a bit – can you share a story of a time when you learned an important lesson during your education?

One of the most important lessons I learned in school is this: stay true to yourself, your passion, and your dreams—and the rest will follow.

Picture this: I was attending Bryant & Stratton College in Liverpool, upstate New York. In high school, I studied computer design—things like morphing images and creating digital homes so naturally, when it came time for college, I thought I’d pursue graphic design. But life took a turn. I got married in my early 20s, had two beautiful children, Joseph and Isabella, and moved to New York with my then husband. Still, something inside me knew I needed to go back to school not just to provide for my family, but to make myself proud.

When I enrolled in the Graphic Design program at Bryant & Stratton, I truly enjoyed it. But something unexpected started to happen. All of my projects—every assignment, every design—gravitated toward fashion, modeling, and style. My professors noticed. One in particular, Professor Lee Shelton, took me aside during my final year and said, “You’re a fashion designer.

Coming from Kingston, Jamaica, I wasn’t exposed to the world of fashion designers growing up. But my spirit knew who I was before I did. Lee, who was an animation alum from Syracuse University, saw something in me. She, along with Professor Bill DeForest, encouraged me to apply to Syracuse University’s Fashion Design Visual & Performing Arts VPA program. At the time, I had been creating fashion illustrations using leftover fabric from old bags and clothes, turning scraps into silhouettes.

That recommendation changed my life.I trusted the process—even though I didn’t originally want to move to upstate New York. I followed the signs, leaned into faith, and chose to believe that everything was working in my favor. When I was interviewed by Syracuse University, they were impressed by my raw talent, even though I had no formal training in garment construction. I was just a girl from Kingston, Jamaica, led by destiny and my God-given ability to create.

When I received my acceptance letter from SU (which I still cherish to this day), I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be. I graduated from Bryant & Stratton with a 4.0 GPA and went on to thrive at Syracuse, leaving with high honors. One of my SU professors, Professor Long, later recommended me to teach fashion design to elementary school students in grades 3, 4, and 5 my senior year. That experience was transformative. Those students enriched my life and deepened my love for fashion education.
After three years of teaching, I moved to Maryland. One of my former students, Hiba, found me during one of my live streams and asked me to continue teaching her online because she loved my teaching style. That simple request gave birth to my beloved Unity Fashion Institute.

Looking back, fashion chose me from the beginning. My father used to call me his “foreign baby” and dressed me up in fancy dresses like a princess. That early energy evolved into who I am today: a luxury, sustainable, and fabulous fashion designer, model, educator, humanitarian, and community leader.

So, if there’s one message I pray readers take away from my story, it’s this:
Walk by faith. Trust your gut. Follow your joy. Stay aligned with your spirit. Your purpose will find you.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

About Me & My Brand: Sheridonna Designs | Sheridonna’s Beauty Salon | Unity Fashion Institute

My name is Sheridonna Fiona Wilson, and I’m a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur—fashion designer, stylist, educator, author, model, and the proud founder of three dynamic brands: Sheridonna Designs, Sheridonna’s Beauty Salon, and Unity Fashion Institute (UFI). Each brand is a reflection of my purpose: to empower individuals through fashion, beauty, and education, while promoting a lifestyle rooted in confidence, creativity, and authenticity.

How I Got Started
My journey began in Kingston, Jamaica, where I was raised by a hardworking family with deep values and big dreams. My father called me his “foreign baby,” always dressing me in fancy dresses like a princess. I didn’t realize it then, but that early expression of style and love planted the seeds for the woman I would become.

After moving to the U.S. two days before my tenth birthday and pursuing education at Bryant & Stratton College and later Syracuse University, I discovered my true calling—fashion design—through a serendipitous series of events and the guidance of professors who saw something special in me. I graduated with honors and left SU with a mission: to serve, lead, and elevate others through the creative arts.

What we Offer
Sheridonna Designs is my custom fashion and ready-to-wear brand, specializing in luxury sustainable fashion. I design timeless, elegant garments for individuals who want to express themselves boldly, confidently, and ethically. From exclusive red-carpet gowns to empowering everyday pieces, I help clients reinvent themselves through intentional style.

Sheridonna’s Beauty Salon is a luxury traveling beauty service based in the Washington Metropolitan area. We bring personalized hair care directly to our clients, offering premium salon experiences in the comfort of their own homes. We’re all about “Luxury Meets Personalized Care”, ensuring every client feels seen, heard, and beautifully styled.

Unity Fashion Institute (UFI) is an online fashion education platform where I teach aspiring designers how to build real skills—from fashion illustration, patternmaking, and sewing to launching a fashion business. UFI is not just about technique—it’s about confidence, leadership, and creative expression. It was born after one of my young students, Hiba, reached out and asked me to keep teaching her online. That moment sparked something powerful, and I knew it was time to build a global learning platform.

What Sets Me Apart
What sets me apart is that I lead with heart and I innerstand in the power of purpose-driven design. I see fashion and beauty as tools for transformation, healing, and empowerment. Whether I’m styling a custom piece for a client, creating a red-carpet moment, teaching a young designer how to sew, or curating a self-care hair experience—I’m always focused on one thing: helping others feel confident and radiant from the inside out.

I integrate sustainability, culture, and community into everything I do. I use repurposed fabrics and eco-conscious practices in my fashion line. I amplify diverse voices through my work. And I create space for people—especially women and young creatives of color—to step fully into their light.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m proud of the lives I’ve touched—whether it’s the student who went on to start their own fashion line, the bride who cried tears of joy seeing herself in her dream dress fabulous hair or the busy mom who finally felt pampered and beautiful again. I’m honored that I followed my calling even when the road wasn’t clear, and I’m feel privileged to now be a mentor and role model for others walking their own creative path.

What I Want You to Know
At the heart of everything I have a simple message:
Your dreams are valid. Your presence is powerful. You were born to shine.

My work is not just about fashion, beauty, or business—it’s about helping people step into their true selves. If you’re looking for style with substance, beauty with intention, or education with heart, then you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s build your glam lifestyle together.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My reputation has been built on a strong foundation of transparency, integrity, respect for myself and for others, combined with exceptional quality, passion, and consistency in everything I do. These aren’t just words to me, they are the values I live by, and they show up in every interaction, design, service, and collaboration.

I innerstand that people are drawn to authenticity, and my clients, students, and supporters know that what they see is what they get. I show up fully, lead with compassion, and pour my heart into my work, whether I’m designing a custom gown, teaching a fashion course, or styling a client’s hair. My passion is undeniable, and I treat every client and project with the same level of care, no matter how big or small.

Relatability has also played a huge role in my journey. I share not just my wins, but the real stories behind them the challenges, the growth, the lessons. That openness builds trust. People feel connected to me because I’m not afraid to show the human side of success. I want them to see that if I can do it, they can too.

I’m also deeply committed to excellence in craftsmanship. I don’t believe in shortcuts. Every piece I design, every course I teach, and every beauty service I provide is delivered with intention and honor. Quality is not an option, it’s a standard. That attention to detail and consistency keeps people coming back, and it turns clients into loyal supporters and brand advocates.

Lastly, I prioritize exceptional customer service. I listen, I care, and I go the extra mile to make sure each person I work with feels seen, valued, and empowered. I don’t just deliver products I create meaningful experiences.

In short, my reputation has grown because I’m consistent, I care deeply, and I’m committed to excellence, integrity, and impact. That’s the Sheridonna way.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story that deeply reflects my resilience begins when I was just 10 years old. I had recently moved from Jamaica to the United States after the heartbreaking passing of my father. Back home, I had a loving nanny named Miss Olive who helped take care of me, she would do my hair and make sure I felt beautiful and cared for. But when I moved to America, things were different.

My mother, who was doing her best while grieving and adjusting to a new life, didn’t know how to do hair. Suddenly, I found myself in a new country, with a thick Jamaican accent, rocking big “poo-poo braids” that made me feel completely out of place. I didn’t like how I looked or how I felt, I felt lost, uncomfortable, and invisible.

Eventually, my mom introduced me to her hairstylist, Alice, and our family friend, Aunt Mo. These two women would unknowingly change the course of my life. They made me feel seen, beautiful, and worthy. But as finances became tighter, my mom couldn’t always afford to get my hair done every week. That’s when I made a deal with the salon, I would help out in exchange for getting my hair done. I was young, but I already understood the power of showing up and offering what I could.

By the time I was 15, I made myself a promise: “I will have salon hair every day of my life.” Not because of vanity, but because of how empowered, confident, and alive I felt when I was cared for and styled with intention. I saw how Alice and Aunt Mo transformed not just hair, but spirits, women would walk in stressed or sad, and leave the salon feeling like queens. I told myself, “One day, I want to do that for myself and others.”

But my journey wasn’t easy. Being from Jamaica, I didn’t have a Social Security number at the time, which meant I couldn’t attend beauty school right away. I waited over ten years before I could enroll in cosmetology school. When I finally moved to Syracuse, New York, everything started to shift. I was focused, determined, and ready to step fully into my purpose.

I made a bold decision: I enrolled in graphic design college in the morning and cosmetology school at night. It was exhausting, but I was fueled by my vision. I wasn’t going to let my circumstances define me, I was going to define my destiny. With deep excitement and honor, I graduated from both schools on time and with high honors. That’s a moment I will never forget.

Today, I use everything I’ve learned, my design skills, my cosmetology training, my creative eye, and my entrepreneurial spirit, to serve my clients and students with excellence. I kept that promise to myself. To this day, I make sure I have salon hair every single day, because that’s what makes me feel my best. It’s a ritual of self-love, a symbol of my resilience, and a reminder of the little girl who refused to give up on herself.

I honor her every time I pick up a comb, sew a garment, or walk into a room with confidence. I am proof that when you stay committed to your vision, even in the face of adversity, you can create a life that’s not only beautiful but deeply meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sheridonnadesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unityfashioninstitute
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Unityfashioninstitute/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheridonnawilsonbedell?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
• Twitter: https://x.com/unityfashionin1?s=11
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQqcozJDteJaGX3v3RysADQ?view_as=subscriber
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/unity-fashion-institute-burtonsville
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jQEFhZVY90cEs2oZHlXO3

Image Credits

Photographers, Isabella Bedell, Joseph N. Bedell, and Sheridonna Fiona Wilson