Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alethea Crimmins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alethea , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
No, I wouldn’t have started sooner because that version of myself wouldn’t have been ready to handle the responsibility and pressures of this career. Mentally, I wasn’t in the right place—it would have been for all the wrong reasons. At the time, I was battling a lot of personal demons I hadn’t yet faced.
I was deep into my teaching career, which I thought was my life’s purpose. I was so focused on that path that I couldn’t see anything else for myself. I didn’t have the self-worth or belief in myself to even consider doing what I’m doing now, let alone succeeding at it.
At the time, I was a preschool teacher, and I was good at my job—really good. Teaching was stressful, but it was what I knew, and I was comfortable in it. I was the “rockstar teacher” that colleagues came to for ideas and support. The kids loved me, the parents adored me, and there was even competition to get their children into my class. My teaching style was unique; I’d take popular rap songs and rewrite the lyrics to make them educational. The kids loved it, and it made learning fun. That was my world, and I didn’t think I could do anything beyond that.
Then came COVID. A friend introduced me to TikTok as a way to pass the time. I started with the trends—voiceovers, dances, and silly videos—but then I thought, *No one knows me here; I can just be my goofy, authentic self.* I’ve always been a self-talker, my own cheerleader, and one day, I decided to film one of those moments.
It was raw and emotional. I put my phone on selfie mode, looked at myself, and started saying affirmations out loud. Something about seeing myself as I spoke was different—it hit me deeply. I thought, *If this feels so powerful to me, surely others need this, too.* I posted the video, but I was nervous—it was my first time being that vulnerable. I didn’t even check the app for two days. When I finally did, I saw so many comments from people saying they needed to hear those words and that they resonated with them.
At that moment, I realized I could use my words to brighten someone’s day and make them feel good about who they are. That’s what motivated me to keep going.
Looking back, everything happened exactly when it was supposed to. If I had started earlier, I wouldn’t have been ready. I wasn’t mentally or emotionally equipped to handle the spotlight or the negativity that can come with it. Now, I can appreciate all of this with humility and for the right reasons.
This journey has been therapeutic for me, teaching me to love and believe in myself. I’ve learned that I can do anything, and I know I wouldn’t have been able to embrace this calling any sooner.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Alethea Crimmins, and while people often refer to me as the “positivity queen,” I like to think of myself as the neighborhood hype girl. I’m that person you run into who hypes you up, makes you feel good about what you’ve got on, and reminds you how amazing you are. I’m like the auntie who gives it to you real and unfiltered but always in an uplifting way. As a wife of 10 years, a proud mother of three, and someone who’s been through her fair share of struggles, I’m here to help people see their greatness—even when they can’t see it themselves.
Growing up, I was bullied and put down for being different. For years, those negative voices were so loud in my life. But I found strength through self-talk. I covered my mirrors and walls with sticky notes—affirmations reminding me of the person I wanted to become. Instead of hearing “ugly,” I started saying “beautiful.” Instead of “obnoxious,” I declared “powerful.” That practice helped me drown out the negativity, and now I use those same tools to help others reframe how they see themselves.
As for how I got into this industry—it honestly just happened. There wasn’t a grand plan or a roadmap. I started making videos to share what I was learning about self-love and positivity, and things grew from there. I’m a motivational speaker, whether that’s online or on stage. My goal is to help people become the best version of themselves.
What makes my journey special is that I never imagined this could be my life. As a child, I had a stutter, and by third grade, I was silenced—literally and figuratively—by a teacher who didn’t think my voice was worth hearing. For years, I believed no one wanted to hear me stumble over my words. Now, millions of people wake up with my voice, using it to start their day and push through their challenges. I’ve learned how to be great in the faces of those who doubted me, and that’s a message I love to share with others.
What I’m most proud of is the community I’ve built—a positive, safe space where people feel free to be themselves. It’s not just about me; it’s about the connections I’ve made with people all over the world. My platform isn’t about putting on a show for likes or views. It’s real, raw, and unapologetically me. I’m a girl from a small town who’s loud, vulnerable, and determined to make an impact.
If there’s one thing I want people to take away from my work, it’s this: You are powerful, you are enough, and you can be great in the face of anything or anyone trying to hold you back.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I built my audience by consistently being myself while showing up for others. My goal was to be for others what I wish someone had been for me, but the truth is, I became for myself what no one else was. My content started as me speaking life into myself and capturing those moments on video. For me, the camera was like a mirror.
During COVID—and even now—the internet was full of negativity. I decided to counter that by giving the world something it desperately needed: positivity. When you find your lane, something that feels authentic and makes you feel good, stay there. Don’t chase trends or try to be what you think others want.
My advice? Be yourself, and don’t be afraid to post your content. There’s no magic formula or secret recipe. People connect with realness and authenticity—whatever that means to you. Don’t try to be anybody else. People follow you because they see something real and relatable.
Just post the video. You might think it won’t go anywhere, but you never know what people need to see. Consistency is key. I found a problem—the lack of positivity—and offered a loud, unapologetic solution. I weaponized my energy the same way the world weaponizes negativity, and I used it to uplift. You can do the same.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
had to unlearn that other people’s opinions matter. Growing up, my family placed a lot of emphasis on what others thought about us. It was always, “You can’t do this because people might think that about you,” or “You need to look a certain way because of what people might say.” My entire life became about shaping my decisions around the opinions of others.
Because of this, I was scared to do what I really wanted. I didn’t know how to live for myself because I was so consumed by the fear of what people might think. But over time, I realized that other people’s opinions don’t define me. Their thoughts about me don’t make me better or worse—they’re just opinions. Letting go of that fear gave me the freedom to live authentically and unapologetically as myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://iamalethea.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aletheacrimmins
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamaletheacrimmins/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alethea-crimmins-418255299/?trk=public_post_main-feed-card_reshare-text
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@aletheacrimmins
