We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Austina Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Austina below.
Hi Austina, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
By Austina Smith, Founder of 21 Majestics
There’s a saying that goes, “You’re only as strong as your weakest link.” That quote has lived rent-free in my mind since the beginning of my journey in public relations, shaping the integrity behind WHO I represent and WHAT I represent.
I didn’t always know I was meant for PR. In January 2021, about seven days into the new year, I was just another entrepreneur trying to figure it out. I had recently launched 21 Majestics as a business consultancy, helping new entrepreneurs access resources. But one thing I did know? If I wanted to grow, I had to network, network, network.
That’s how I ended up at an entrepreneur brunch in downtown Louisville. I stumbled upon the event online and made a commitment to SHOW UP. When I arrived, the room buzzed with energy—tables were set up for group icebreakers, and before the brunch even started, we were asked to introduce ourselves with an elevator pitch (a quick 30-45 second intro about who we are and what we do).
I stood up, took a deep breath, and delivered my pitch confidently: “I’m a business consultant. I elevate individuals and businesses to maintain top-tier status and achieve results for their image.”
I wasn’t expecting what happened next.
An esthetician named Heather—better known as The Lady Brazilianaire—walked straight up to me after I spoke. She admired my confidence and asked, “What do you really do?”
I was confused. Hadn’t I just told her?
She asked again, pressing me: “No, really. What is it that you do?”
That question made me pause. I repeated my answer but added more heart to it: “I help individuals and businesses elevate their brand and maintain a powerful image.”
Heather smiled knowingly. “That’s public relations,” she said.
At that moment, something clicked. I had been so focused on the consulting title that I hadn’t even realized my natural talent was in PR. I was intrigued, and we set up a meeting at her brick-and-mortar business later that week.
When I arrived, she broke down what PR truly is—brand elevation, strategic positioning, media relationships, and image management. It wasn’t just about giving advice; it was about crafting a narrative that made people pay attention.
Then came the million-dollar question: “How much are your services?”
That was it. My first real business deal. We came to an agreement, and just like that—21 Majestics had earned its first dollar. But more importantly, I had found my true calling.
A month later, Heather landed a feature on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and because of our work together, I gained direct access to NBC Universal. That opened the door to an even bigger opportunity—executing a campaign for Roots 101 African American Museum for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice award for Top 10 Best New Attractions in the USA. The campaign was a success, and the museum secured its spot in the Top 10 in 2021.
Looking back, that first dollar wasn’t just revenue—it was validation. It was proof that my skills, my voice, and my vision had value.
Since then, I’ve built a niche empowering African American neurodivergent individuals and their allies, creating spaces where their talents can be seen, heard, and discovered.
But none of this would have been possible without Heather seeing my potential and challenging me to own my greatness. That’s the foundation of 21 Majestics—elevating others, pushing boundaries, and making sure that the right people get the recognition they deserve.
And it all started with that one moment.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi, my name is Austina Smith my life of discipline began in my youth as an athlete (Basketball, alongside track and field). I was pretty good which had my talents lead me into the elite world of college sports. Basketball fell out of my range of passion in high school, so I dug deeper into track in field knowing I needed to solid ticket from either academics or athletes either way I was in strong pursuit to further my education. In 2011 I gained a scholarship to participate at a private college in Fort Wayne, IN initially with no track, but a strong determination to win and gain respect for being “without”. Our track and field team was so good with our no track selves. We became national champions in our first year! This accomplishment not only gave us respect from our peers and professors at school, but also a life long commemoration of rights to say “WE DID IT”, now placing us in the Hall Of Fame fall 2023. With our hard work paying off almost a decade ago. Indiana Tech now has an indoor and outdoor track. This will forever have an imprint to remind me as well as my teammates that we are great and if we don’t do anything else. We did this!
Those years of discipline has brought me some good sense into my business developing years. I took a fees outside of college to figure life out and now I’ve gained experience and have found a niche that works for my clients and the world we live in today. I loved the impact I felt planting something and later seeing the growth in harvest. It’s a different feeling you get that only once accomplished you can begin to understand, but being a record breaker and history maker becomes somewhat addictive. You want another shot to become something else great and sometimes that is really all you have left to hold on in your pursuit to be happy especially in today’s time of influence. You must know yourself and know your worth or you will be washed away in the sea of “should’ve, could’ve, would’ve”, but I’m happy I did!
Having these elements as an all-star athlete. You learn to hyper focus your mind in business and never lose site of the You Win We Win mentality. As an athlete (my specialty was high jump) technique beats talent. You can be an artist and have the looks and the sound, but if you don’t rehearse to maximize gaining the art of cadence, then you are just another wanna be artist trying to “make it”. I utilize my discipline learned from athletics for my clients because it works. I mention how strong and powerful they are to have a mind that can work for them (not everyone does). Once you help shed one’s ego. There is a lot of room to mold them. Just like an athlete. Either you can be coached or you can’t be. I ask my clients how far they want to go as if I were their coach seeing what their ultimate result would manifest to be. Are you wanting to have a stable business or become a business mogul. The choice is up to the person seeking support to become something more than what they see in their current selves. I call it the “how bad do you want it formula”.
A client sheds their truth both personal and in business and we chisel those negatives and surround them with solutions to become positive. Sometime we don’t even realize we’re set in cycles until a person comes and says hey “ you know your by a whirlpool right”?
My mission and to not let you sink yourself…
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned to this day is experience weigh more than a documented degree. Don’t get me wrong I myself as a graduate from Indiana Tech (Bachelor’s in science, business administration and sports management) was taken back from this information. The thing is, it’s the truth! After I graduated in 2016. I seek out different management careers back home in Louisville,KY. I landed an interview to manage at a new smoke shop developing in the area from Richmond, VA. I sat down with the district manager about the in and outs of what was required to be a manager at one of their locations in Louisville. We spoke about many things, but what stood out was his transparency when it came to who he hired. He was a stickler for people with experience (I had none). He expressed as having a great accomplishment of obtaining higher level education is admirable, but experience is something only one can educate themselves on. Just like a person with talent they’re skilled and have a standard of greatness, but let another person see and have the same capability to be great as well, but apply experience to work hard. That individual is more likely to win. At that moment I began to understand business.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Collaboration and resources have been my primary strategy in gaining clients. Attending networking social events or just being in the right place at the right time. You either make or break a moment when walking into a space of the unfamiliar, but it is up to you to take advantage of moments especially when it comes to making connections. Think about the bigger picture and how you want your future to look. Begin to work a mold and become intentional when it comes to “being outside”. Find your name, find your niche and throw out a pitch and execute a home run by connecting via contact and following up setting up a date to meet and discuss one another’s goals potentially enabling a strategy to help one another grow in business.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/21_majestics?igsh=cXVibWNmMXZhamgz&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14QUKAfjc5/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DJW32VVmz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Mighty Shades Of Ebony
Hannah Drake
Doug Edgar
Indiana Tech Hall Of Fame National Champs