We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandi LeShawn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brandi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Growing up I have always been involved in the art of music. From playing instruments to pretending to be Dorinda from the Cheetah Girls, I knew music was my first love. I have always wanted to be a singer/song writer and performer. After having my son I gave up on my dreams. It wasn’t until after ending a toxic relationship, that I fell back in love with music and dancing. I started dancing more to heal my soul and heal from trauma that I had been experiencing the past few years. I found confidence from nothing and started posting my dance videos on social media. I didn’t think anyone would notice me at first but soon my following started growing. Women began reaching out to me supporting my journey, saying they wish they had my confidence, that they were proud of me and so many more encouraging words. Someone reached out to me and suggested I offer virtual dance classes via Facebook, so I did. My following continued to grow and I decided to host my first in-person class. The feedback I received from this event is what made me realize, this is what I’m supposed to do.

I remember back in the winter of 2020, after that breakup, I prayed not only for healing but to be used by God executing the purpose he has for me. I prayed to be able to offer a service for people, but not just any physical service. A service that could be used for their healing, as well a service they didn’t know they needed until I showed them. He gave me just that. It was already in me, but he had to take a way a lot of distractions, people, and things that no longer served purpose in the new life that I was creating. Dance has been so much more than movement for me, it has truly aided in making the younger me proud.

Since then I have been able to teach over 200 classes in different studios in and out of state, build connections, and learn from other creatives in my field. The women that support me on a daily are the reason I continue to pursue dance professional, alongside my children that have been watching their mom grow up. I want to continue to show them how to rise above adversity, beat the odds, and make yourself proud first.

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

Hi everyone, my name is Brandi LeShawn! I’m a 20 something year old mom of two broke besties! I was introduced to music at a young age by my father and it became my first love. Dance has since been a safe and healing space for me that I know get to share with others on their healing journeys. I offer da5nce choreography and dance fit classes in and out of North Carolina. What sets apart from some is that I do what I do to see others progress, heal, and become the person they aspire to be. Money is cool but being a happy and healed individual is cooler. I’m proud of my consistency and determination. Since entering the dance world professionally, I have been faced with many setbacks but I have yet to let them stop or slow me down. I want for those that follow me to know that I am human and a real person behind what they see on social media, that I am rooting for their success always, and to never let their struggles define who they are.

F.A.T. Girl Fitness, also known as , Fit and Thick Girl Fitness was created to inspire, motivate, and uplift women of all sizes to work towards their own fitness goals through dance. I stand on women empowerment, self love, and creating a sisterhood. I have heard many stories from ladies that take my classes and you just never know what someone is going through and how something so small as a 60 minute dance class can help in different factors of life. I am my own living testimony.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. The goal AND mission that drives me is my inner healing. There aren’t enough pages to even unpack every part of my story and the things I have been through, but everything I’ve been through has gotten me to this point. Everything was trauma. If I could talk to the younger me, I would tell her, “we’re healing”. The dreams I created for myself as a child are slowly unfolding and coming to past. That is enough drive for me.

Stephanie “Peanut” Wilson is also the motivation for me. She was one of my best friends who supported me and pushed me to do the things I’m doing now. She was killed earlier this year by police, but just as I promised, I won’t quit.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

This year alone almost broke me down but i had a vision and a mission. I decided to indulge in full entrepreneurship as makeup artist and dance instructor. I had already been doing makeup for five years so the trade was nothing new to me, however, not working for someone as long as I did, by choice, was. I felt the only way I could see my potential was by stepping out on faith completely. I need to prove to myself that I could do this. So I did. While in school for esthetics, I was also doing makeup every weekend and teach seven classes a week at the dance studio. Due to unforeseen circumstance, I moved to a new city and thought it would be a place where I could continue to thrive. I was sadly mistaken. Things took a turn for the worst. Life seemed to get harder. I was doing everything I was supposed to do but it was as if the universe said, “you can do that but you can’t do it here”. I had major issues with the apartment complex, I had to drop out of school due to catching COVID, I was overwhelmed with teaching so many classes and the issues that came from other staff and management at the studio.

Things had gotten so bad that I was left with a decision of letting my kids live with family while I lived in a car. I had to have a conversation with my kids that literally shattered my heart, but I was willing to make that sacrifice for multiple reasons. My family stepped in and helped me out.

It allowed me to take a much needed reset. I left the studio I was teaching at and moved home with family. Now I’m leasing my own space, teaching at my own pace, my kids and I have a stable home and I’m happy. I’m working towards my dreams everyday.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/brandileshawn
• Facebook: Brandi LeShawn
• Youtube: Brandi LeShawn

Image Credits
Thomas Photography and Film LLC Ron Huntley of Jink Media Group