We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Allaina Maria. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Allaina below.
Alright, Allaina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?
My hero is my Uncle Darryl J. Ford Sr. My grandmother Jeanette Ford birthed eight children. Darryl was number five. He was a gentle giant who loved his family profusely. He showed up at every family cookout and was always the last to leave. He piled his plate high with food and took his time to eat every morsel. His infectious laugh cut through the room like a hot knife on butter. He made sure to let his family know that he loved us. He never judged, but offered support and encouragement, no matter the situation. December of 2022 my uncle took his last breath. His death was so unexpected and sudden. His exit broke the chain of the magnificent eight. Our family was left to deal with the devastation of his loss.
His untimely death broke my heart but fixed my vision as it lit fire in my soul. Since I still had the gift of life, I made a choice to not allow the grave to have any of my potential. I resolved within myself to give life all that I’ve got. To dig deep and draw from the well within and spring forth. As a result, I began my journey of “Becoming” and unlocking every gift that I had. My books, screenplays, motivational speaking, and my company all came after he left. My uncle went down to the grave pushing me to rise up and take flight. Grief can be crimpling. But I decided to choose to live through it and not in it. So, every day as I continue to chase my goals and go after my dreams, I remember my uncle Darryl and the indelible mark that he has left on my life.
Allaina, 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 am the mother of two beautiful daughters who fuel my everyday life. I am a believer in God. I am a woman who stands for justice and fairness. I am a woman of femininity, beauty and grace. A woman who is grateful for each breath and appreciates every moment. I am thankful for the sun and just as grateful for the moon. Every day is a blessing. I am ever a student of life, learning and gleaning as I journey. The absolute joy that I feel while connecting and meeting new people is top tier!
Professionally I wear many hats. I am the CEO of Allaina Maria 360, LLC., a singer and songwriter. I am also a multi-genre author. My urban fiction novel “Mariah” will also serve as my debut as a screenwriter and executive producer. A great passion of mine is motivational speaking. I have been blessed to speak both state side and internationally. To be chosen to come to any organization (be it online or in-person) to speak is humbling and rewarding. “Becoming- You Already Have What It Take Inside of you to Become”, is one of my core messages. I have the wonderful opportunity to use my voice to encourage, fortify and build up the listener and provide tools for their life’s tool belt to begin their journey of taking the next steps in life. I am also in the works of releasing my T-shirt line, candles and skin care products.
My mission is to cultivate motivation and self-reflection through high-quality, comprehensive discussions and entertainment across music, films, motivational speaking and literature that stimulates personal growth, challenges perspectives, entertains and uplifts spirits. To provide quality 360 services within motivational speaking, music, films and books.
What sets me apart as an artist is my humility and teachability. No matter how much success others may see, I am always open to receive instruction and learn. Be it from a child or a CEO, I can be taught. My heart and posture are always open to listen and hear. I also make sure I avail myself to be a help to others who are on their journey of becoming. No gatekeeping, but true mentorship and sharing all that I can to help. I make it a point to make sure I am authentic in all that I do, Also, I make it a priority to support other artists and their work.
What I want people to know about me most is that I do what I love, and I love what I do. I am proud of Allaina Maria 360, LLC and every facet thereof. I am so grateful to each person who saw enough in me to support me in any way. Thank you.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As a creative our main task is to create. To use our imagination and talent and present it to the world. As a singer/songwriter, I enjoy the creative process of threading together lyrics and beats. The process is therapeutic for me. Music has a way of soothing the soul. To be used as a vessel as a musician is magical. To use my pen and voice to brings good vibes world is a sweet reward. As an author/screenwriter, the freedom to use my imagination and create a new world is an amazing feeling. What better way to escape than to immerse yourself in a good book or movie? To provide entertainment and temporary escape is a beautiful task that I love to take on. As a motivational speaker, I get to use words that illuminate and bring light and life into the ear gate of the listener. The opportunity to speak into people’s life in a positive way is health to my navel and marrow to my bones. The joy of leaving a mark of hope is a job that I do not take lightly. To sum it all up, the most rewarding aspect is being a vessel, a well where people can draw from and find respite.
How did you build your audience on social media?
As we all know social media is important to businesses looking to gain exposure. A social media manager is a wonderful resource to help narrow in on your target audience as well as create engaging content on your behalf. Every business may not be in the position to hire a social media manager. Using elbow grease is the way to go. The constant posting can be a daunting task, this I know. But how will people know you are their if you don’t post? Share your content, post your brand, spread the word. You are your greatest investment. So, until you can afford to expand, post!
How I built my audience is by simply engaging, commenting and liking posts. I showed myself friendly and in return gained friends. Every post wasn’t about my brand. I allowed my new audience to get to know me. I balanced between sharing my services and posting engageable content that makes people want to come back to my page just to check me out. Through that I have gained not only followers but supporters,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allainamaria.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorallainamaria/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allaina.washington/ – https://www.facebook.com/AllainaMaria/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allaina-maria-b2224927a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AllainaMariaSpeaker-Author/featured
Image Credits
Scott Thomas Photography