Aligned, Empowered, and Evolving: Reflecting on 2025 and Stepping Boldly into 2026
Hello, hello, hello—and welcome back.
If you’ve been rocking with the BFF Empowerment Podcast for a while, you may have noticed it’s been a minute since you heard my voice in a solo episode. While I took a step back from solo recordings, it was all for a beautiful reason: making space for the incredible women of the Women on the Rise segment to share their stories. Their voices, journeys, and truths deserved the spotlight—and I wouldn’t change that decision for anything.
But now, I’m back.
As we step into a brand-new year, I wanted to pause, reflect, and share both where I’ve been and where I’m headed. I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in intentional goal-setting, reflection, and growth. So before we dive fully into 2026, let’s take a moment to honor 2025.
Looking Back: What 2025 Taught Me
One of my biggest accomplishments in 2025 was launching the BFF Empowerment Podcast. What started as a shared vision eventually became a solo journey—and while paths shifted, the purpose never changed. I wanted a platform where I could share my story honestly and create space for others to do the same. Whether the stories were joyful, painful, empowering, or messy, they mattered.
Another major milestone was stepping onto a pageant stage for the very first time—and walking away as Ms. Altruistic 2025. That experience was transformative. It wasn’t about beauty or appearances; it was about service, empowerment, and impact. Altruism is who I am. Giving back, serving my community, and uplifting others has always been at the core of my purpose—and that title fits me perfectly.
2025 also marked my fourth literary award, and my first international award, for Stolen Innocence: A Survivor’s Journey to Freedom. That recognition opened doors to speaking engagements, virtual author appearances, and deeper conversations about healing and resilience.
I also released my 15th book and 5th children’s book, Braille’s Superpower—an empowerment story for blind and visually impaired girls, while also teaching sighted children about kindness, acceptance, and embracing differences. This book holds a special place in my heart because it reflects the world I want our children to grow up in.
On a personal level, 2025 brought growth in my relationship as we blended our families under one roof. Becoming a blended family came with adjustments, growing pains, and learning curves—but also with love, intention, and forward movement as we prepare for the next chapter.
Stepping Forward: What’s Coming in 2026
2026 is already starting strong with the launch of No Limits Girl, a web-based empowerment app designed for young girls—especially blind and visually impaired girls—to build confidence, creativity, emotional awareness, and self-belief.
This app is deeply personal. I lost my sight at 15, a tender age where identity, confidence, and self-worth are still forming. I didn’t have a supportive system or tools to help me navigate those changes. No Limits Girl exists so today’s girls won’t have to walk that path alone.
The app includes:
- Confidence-building lessons and affirmations
- Emotional wellness and bullying awareness
- A creative Kitchen Corner with interactive recipes
- A Beauty Lounge for self-expression and creativity
- A Braille Learning Hub covering literary braille, Nemeth (math), and music braille
- Games, quizzes, community features, and safe social interaction
Accessibility was my first priority. The app is screen-reader friendly and web-based so it can be accessed on any device—desktop, tablet, or phone—without limitations. Updates happen in real time, ensuring continuous growth and improvement.
Beyond the app, I’m also working on:
- A new R&B gospel-inspired album, Writing in the Spirit
- A new nonfiction book sharing my pageant journey and lessons in self-empowerment
- Expanding the BFF Empowerment Podcast with a blog, subscriber content, and a new roundtable series called Girl Talk—unfiltered, honest conversations with women about real-life topics
We’ll also be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the podcast in March, alongside a special courtside chat with fellow pageant titleholders in honor of International Women’s Month.
Walking in Purpose
Everything I do—my writing, music, podcasting, speaking, and now app development—is rooted in empowerment. It took me a long time to realize that my pain had a purpose and that my story mattered. Today, I know exactly where I belong.
I may feel overwhelmed at times. I juggle motherhood, partnership, work, creativity, and service—but I’m learning to give myself grace while continuing to show up fully. I am aligned. I am empowered. And I am evolving.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Whether you’re listening, reading, sharing, or growing alongside me—your presence matters.
Here’s to growth, purpose, and a year with no limits.
Author/Poet/Motivational Speaker/Entrepreneur/Podcast Host/Pageant Titleholder/Advocate/Women's Empowerment Coach/Mom
Blaque Diamond is a powerhouse of resilience, creativity, and purpose. Known as a motivational speaker, award-winning author, poet, podcaster, and advocate, she has transformed a life marked by adversity into a mission rooted in empowerment, visibility, and hope.
Blind since the age of 15 due to childhood abuse and medical neglect that resulted in irreversible retinal detachment, Blaque Diamond refused to let her circumstances define her limitations. Instead, she embraced her journey with courage and faith, earning the nickname “No Limits” for her unwavering belief that obstacles are not stop signs—but stepping stones.
Also being a survivor of sexual abuse and a 2x time domestic violence survivor, marred her life with strife and tested her endurance and ability to bounce back, but those traumas that were meant to break her only further harden her. Making her unbreakable.
She is a 15-time published author, having written books across multiple genres including memoir, poetry, urban fiction, and children’s literature. Several of her works have received national awards, further solidifying her voice as one that both challenges and inspires. Her writing is deeply personal yet universally relatable, often centering themes of healing, self-worth, survival, and triumph.
Beyond writing and self-publishing books,, Blaque Diamond is also a songwriter, having released 3 R&B EP’s with music that reflects emotional depth, vulnerability, and growth. Each creative outlet she touches becomes another avenue for storytelling and empowerment.
As the host and creator of …
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