Courtney N. Williams wears many hats with grace and purpose – a devoted wife, loving mother, entrepreneur, and a passionate advocate for blended families. Known for her influential presence in the marketing industry for almost nine years, Williams shares her journey from single motherhood to building a massive following on Instagram centered around motherhood, blended families, marriage, faith, and fashion.
Courtney didn’t set out to become a lifestyle influencer; it happened due to a genuine desire to connect. And so, an accidental platform was born, a space where women found solace, inspiration, and a sense of community.
Williams talks to the Defender about her life, love, and dedication to empowering women through her platform.
Defender: Can you tell us about how you became a lifestyle influencer?
Courtney Williams: Absolutely! I was intentional and strategic in sharing content on Instagram. One day, after I got engaged, I decided to share more about myself and my story. I had never done that. I shared how I went from being a single mom to now being engaged and planning a wedding and how I was about to venture into blended family life. It went viral from there. I wasn’t expecting that. I saw that there was a need. Many women related to my journey, so I thought I might start sharing this part of my life more. That’s how my niche grew. I was sharing my family life and marriage and navigating a blended family life.
Defender: Is there a perception you think people have of those with blended families?
Williams: Blended families get a negative rap. When you read statistics, it doesn’t show them working out or being successful. So, my family is giving it our all. We aren’t perfect, but we’re changing the narrative. We’ve intentionally shown the positive side of blended families and parenting. We are showing that we can work together, keep God at the center, and put the needs of our children first.
Defender: How do you balance being an influencer and a devoted wife and mother?
Williams: Being disciplined, organizing my priorities, and making sacrifices regarding my schedule have helped me in the past. This season, it’s all about delegation, bringing people to help me. At one point, I wasn’t in the position. I can’t be everywhere doing everything.
Defender: What qualities were you looking for in a partner the second time?
Williams: I was in a different predicament in the dating world. I was a single mom, and I did have a child. I wasn’t looking to settle, and I knew what I wanted. I had to be very upfront with my needs, wants, and what I was looking for at that stage of life, especially since having a child. And then, most importantly for me, of course, was having someone who was on the same path spiritually. I wanted to make sure our goals aligned.
Defender: Your platform covers various aspects of life. How do faith and fashion influence your message to women?
Williams: Faith is the anchor of my life. It’s the foundation that grounds me, especially in challenging times. Fashion is a form of self-expression, and I believe in embracing every facet of womanhood. Through my content, I want to inspire women to feel confident, empowered, and connected – spiritually and stylistically.
Defender: What are some significant goals you hope to accomplish with your platform?
Williams: We want to take this further than social media. It could be a foundation for other things for us, whether it’s conferences or books. We’ve even discussed potentially getting into the entertainment space regarding TV or launching a product line. We want to explore other avenues and streams of income. We are excited to expand.
Defender: What resources helped you elevate your platform over time?
Williams: One thing that helped a lot is that an agency represents me. When I first started. I didn’t even know that was a thing. It would have prevented a lot of learning curves. It’s super helpful to have someone who can help you with contracting, negotiating, and ensuring I’m not being taken advantage of by brands or getting lowballed.
Defender: What message do you hope women take away from your platform, especially in the context of Black love and empowerment?
Williams: I always hope that people across our page will see that although your journey didn’t go according to plan or exactly how you wanted it to, your dream life is still attainable. We constantly receive testimonials from people who are inspired by our content. Black love exists.