From Vision Loss to Finding Her Voice
Life can change in an instant.
For some people, that change comes in the form of a lost job, a broken relationship, or an unexpected setback. For music artist and content creator Solo Boogie, life changed forever when she lost her vision at just 20 years old.
I had the privilege of sitting down with Solo Boogie to discuss her journey, her music, and how she transformed one of life's greatest challenges into a source of strength and inspiration.
More Than a Stage Name
Born Selina, Solo Boogie is a visually impaired music artist and content creator from Kentucky who is still exploring life, chasing her dreams, and discovering new possibilities.
What immediately stood out during our conversation was her authenticity. Solo Boogie doesn't pretend to have all the answers. Instead, she openly shares her experiences in hopes of encouraging others who may be struggling through difficult seasons of their own.
Her passion for music runs deep, and through her lyrics she shares pieces of her journey, her pain, her growth, and her resilience.
When Everything Changed
Before vision loss entered her life, Solo Boogie had a completely different vision for her future.
She played basketball, attended college, enjoyed drawing cartoons and graffiti art, and had dreams that looked very different from the life she lives today.
Then, at the age of 20, everything changed.
Losing her vision was devastating. Like many people facing a life-altering disability, she experienced a loss of confidence and struggled to adjust to her new reality.
"I kind of lost my confidence after I lost my vision," she shared.
Yet over time, she began to realize that blindness didn't mean the end of her dreams. It simply meant finding new ways to pursue them.
Finding Purpose Through Music
March 28 holds special significance for Solo Boogie.
Not only was it the date she released her first mixtape, but it was also the anniversary of the day she lost her vision in 2019.
Rather than allowing that date to symbolize only loss, she chose to reclaim it as a day of purpose, creativity, and growth.
Her music reflects her life experiences, including personal tragedies, family losses, and the emotional journey of adapting to blindness.
Most importantly, her music carries a message of hope.
No matter what challenges people face, Solo Boogie wants them to know that they can still pursue their goals, discover their purpose, and create a meaningful life.
The Reality of Adjusting to Blindness
One of the most powerful moments of our conversation came when we discussed the adjustment process after vision loss.
As someone who lost my own sight at age 15, I could relate to many of Solo Boogie's experiences.
Even after years of living with blindness, she shared that there are moments when she forgets she is blind because she is simply living life as herself.
That perspective resonated deeply with me.
Blindness is something we experience, but it is not who we are.
It's one characteristic among many. It doesn't define our personalities, our ambitions, our talents, or our ability to contribute to the world.
Over time, Solo Boogie has learned to navigate life using sound, touch, smell, and intuition in ways she never imagined before losing her sight.
Those experiences have given her a unique perspective and a deeper appreciation for life.
Challenging Misconceptions
Many sighted people struggle to imagine life without vision.
Solo Boogie spoke candidly about how she encourages others to step outside their comfort zones and consider how much they rely on their sight every day.
She believes that many people's fears stem from the unknown.
What they don't realize is that blind and visually impaired individuals are raising families, building businesses, pursuing careers, creating art, traveling, and living full, meaningful lives every single day.
The tools may be different, but the possibilities remain endless.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
The message at the heart of Solo Boogie's story is simple but powerful:
Don't allow your circumstances to determine your future.
Whether you're facing disability, loss, grief, rejection, or any other challenge, your story is still being written.
The road may look different than you imagined, but that doesn't mean it can't be beautiful.
Solo Boogie's journey is proof that resilience is not about pretending life is easy. It's about choosing to move forward despite the obstacles.
It's about finding your voice after losing your confidence.
It's about discovering new strengths when old abilities are taken away.
And it's about using your experiences to inspire others along the way.
Final Thoughts
My conversation with Solo Boogie was a reminder that some of life's greatest challenges can become the very things that shape us into stronger, more compassionate, and more determined individuals.
Her story is one of courage, growth, creativity, and perseverance.
If you've ever felt like your circumstances were holding you back, let Solo Boogie's journey remind you that your dreams are still possible.
Your path may be different, but your purpose remains.
And sometimes, the greatest victories come after the greatest setbacks.
Be sure to listen to the full episode of the BFF Empowerment Podcast to hear more of Solo Boogie's inspiring story and her message of hope, resilience, and determination.
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 …Read More
