Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Sade’. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

I’ve been interested in writing since I was a little girl. I grew up in an era where girls my age would collect magazines just for the posters. I collected the posters too, but I was always interested in the actual story that was being told. I knew early in life that I wanted to be somebody who told or contributed to stories. I also grew up wanting my own magazine. Of course, I didn’t know the business aspect of it but I was fascinated with the finished product.

As I got older, the more I began to experience life. Friends came and left, the pressure from society and those close to me started to rise but through it all I was always a guarded and reserved individual. Life experiences and observing others made me that way. Although I wasn’t verbal about my emotions, I would find a way to write about them.

After graduating from high school, I got a job at a neighborhood pharmacy. I immediately knew it was temporary although I formed some relationships that allowed me to learn different perspectives on situations that I had never encountered.. You know girl talk or family issues. The pharmacy paid the bills but, I found myself becoming physically worn out, emotionally stressed, and at times depressed. Because I’m naturally guarded with my feelings, I kept my pain to myself and felt the only way to release it was to write it. I could have easily written it in a journal, but I knew based on my experiences and those around me I wasn’t the only one going through this distress especially at my age. I felt the need to share with other people who can relate to what I was going through in an impactful way.

In 2013, I enrolled in Miles College where I majored in communications. Being surrounded by college students and coworkers who were facing a number of life challenges inspired me to start Nicole Sade, a luxury lifestyle blog that inspires, uplifts, and encourages women with fun and relatable content centered on cultural issues, relationships, careers, mental health and wellness, and success stories of millennial women of color.

I knew I would be the voice for so many women who were facing similar situations within the Birmingham community and other cities. Starting the blog opened up so many doors for me. Most importantly it boosted my self-esteem. To have followers from your own state and others across the nation was heartwarming. Blogging led me to write my first novel, No Room for Trust. Based on the experiences of young women in Birmingham, the novel is a tale that many teens and young adults could relate to. Inside the novel, I’ve covered various topics using different scenarios about relationships, friendships, building trust, dating, being a college student, and more.

In addition, launching Nicole Sade’ has allowed me to see first-hand what I was capable of and how my posts related to several women. I didn’t realize that simply launching a blog meant I was officially becoming a brand.
At first, I thought I was just using my words to express myself and connect with other women. I didn’t know I was stepping into entrepreneurship. I had to learn on the fly that this was much bigger than just hitting “publish” on a website. I had to actually brand myself as a blogger. From choosing colors and defining my voice to positioning myself as someone worth reading, following, and supporting.
Then came the technical side. I had to figure out how to build and design a website, secure a domain name, create consistent content, and promote it across social media. I had to research email marketing, media kits, and analytics, things I never imagined would be a part of “just writing.”
On top of that, I realized collaboration was key. If I wanted to grow, I couldn’t just write for myself, I had to connect with other writers, publications, and eventually larger brands. That meant pitching myself, networking, and putting my name in rooms I wasn’t even sure I was ready for.
The biggest shock of all was learning I needed to form a legal entity. I thought I was simply sharing my thoughts, not creating a business. But I learned very quickly that if I wanted to protect my work, monetize it, and operate professionally, I had to legitimize what I was building.
I didn’t have all the answers, but I made a decision early on: I would not be left behind because I didn’t know something. So I signed up for every workshop, webinar, and course I could find marketing, branding, media training, business setup you name it, I was in it. And still to this day, I’m a student of the game. Every step has been a lesson, but those lessons are what molded Nicole Sade’ into more than just a blog they made it a platform, a voice, and ultimately, a brand built to empower.

At some point, when the platform started to grow and my writing matured I began to take myself seriously as a writer and began to look for local publications and blogs to build my experience. I have written for several publications including Birmingham Times, Reckon South, Forty Magazine, Red Pash Magazine, CampusLately, and more. While crafting stories for these publications I made sure to stay true to my purpose which was to be a voice and advocate for millennial women of color. It’s important to make sure our generation is being highlighted for the amazing things we are doing to shape our communities, while being uplifted encouraged, and inspired. That’s exactly why the Nicole Sade’ brand was launched. In the process of launching this brand, I had to figure out exactly what this brand looked like and how it would best represent me and the ladies I wanted to attract to the brand.

Nicole , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Nicole Sade’, author, blogger, award-winning journalist and media personality dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of millennial women of color based in Birmingham, AL. My love for writing started when I was a girl collecting magazines not just for the posters like everyone else, but for the stories. I knew early on that I wanted to be someone who contributed to culture through storytelling. That passion evolved into the launch of Nicole Sade’, a lifestyle brand and digital platform designed to inspire, uplift, and empower women through relatable content focused on mental wellness, relationships, careers, culture, and real-life success stories.

What began as a simple blog quickly turned into a full-fledged brand and business. I didn’t realize that launching a blog meant I was becoming an entrepreneur. What sets me apart is my authenticity and commitment to representation. I don’t just write about women, I write for them, with them in mind. My work is not rooted in perfection, but in transparency and connection. I speak on real experiences, heartbreaks, hustle culture, identity, pressure, and healing in a way that makes women feel seen. The Nicole Sade’ brand solves the emotional gap many women face when they feel isolated in their journeys. My platform serves as a safe space where they can laugh, reflect, and grow.

What I’m most proud of is that I turned my personal healing into a public platform for empowerment. I want people to know that everything I create whether it’s a blog post, a book, a radio segment, or a brand collaboration comes from a place of purpose, not performance. I want future readers, followers, and partners to understand that this isn’t just content, it’s community. And I’m building it one story at a time.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is knowing that my words hold the power to affirm, heal, and elevate others. One moment that truly solidified that for me was when I wrote a blog post on my Nicole Sade’ platform about Seasonal Affective Disorder. I shared my personal reflections along with practical tips on how to navigate that emotional shift, not realizing how many women silently struggled with it. After publishing, my inbox flooded publicly and privately with women saying, “Thank you. I finally feel seen.” Some had never even known what they were experiencing had a name until they read that post. That moment reminded me that storytelling isn’t just expression, it’s service.

That impact isn’t limited to personal topics. In my work with publications, I’ve told stories highlighting incredible women and entrepreneurs, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how their businesses grew because their stories were finally heard. Some gained new clients, new visibility, even newfound confidence. I’ve even received awards simply for writing about another woman’s journey. That, to me, is the true beauty of this work being able to use my voice to shine a light on others. The reward isn’t just in creating, it’s in knowing that creation sparked change.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely. One of the biggest lessons I learned later in my creative journey was that talent alone isn’t enough, you have to understand the business side of creativity. I wish I had known earlier about grants and funding opportunities specifically for writers, content creators, and storytellers. There were so many times I put projects on hold because I assumed I had to do everything out of pocket, not realizing there were resources designed to support people like me.

I also wish I had understood sooner that there are multiple ways to monetize your work beyond just posting content. Between sponsored partnerships, affiliate marketing, digital products, speaking engagements, and community-based offerings, there are so many streams available to creatives, if you know where to look.

But most importantly, I wish I knew earlier about the power of collaboration and partnership. In the beginning, I operated in a bubble thinking I had to build everything on my own. Once I started connecting with other writers, brands, and platforms, everything shifted. Your reach multiplies when you stop creating in isolation. Now, I actively seek out alignment, not competition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nicolesade.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/envy_nicky?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZTBpbG5pM3p5d2o0
• Facebook: Https://facebook.com/authornicolesade

Image Credits

The Rose Hat Photography