Today we’d like to introduce you to Amiana Monik.
Hi Amiana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a writer, photographer, entrepreneur, speaker, and founder based in Belleville, Illinois, serving the greater St. Louis and Metro East area. Creativity has always been part of who I am. I’ve been writing since I was young, became a published poet in high school, and over the years that creative foundation expanded into photography, media, wellness events, product development, and community building.
Like many entrepreneurs, my path hasn’t been a straight line. There have been seasons of reinvention, seasons of growth, and seasons where I had to rediscover my voice and what I truly wanted to create. What started as individual passions eventually evolved into multiple brands and platforms that all share a common purpose: creating experiences, telling stories, and helping people feel seen.
Today, I wear several hats. I’m the founder of Midwest Black Girl Recess, a wellness and community initiative centered around joy, movement, and connection for Black women. I’m also the owner of Pampered Luxe, a luxury self-care brand focused on intentional skincare experiences. Through A. Monik Photography and Media, I provide photography, event coverage, and storytelling through both images and words.
Most recently, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a published author with my memoir, Faith, Love & Narcissism: A Healing Memoir of Becoming Her. Writing that book reinforced something I’ve learned throughout my journey: healing, creativity, and purpose often intersect in unexpected ways.
Above all, I’m passionate about storytelling in all of its forms. Whether through writing, photography, wellness experiences, or entrepreneurship, my goal is always the same: to create meaningful connections and leave people feeling inspired, seen, and empowered.
While my journey continues to evolve, one thing has remained constant is that I’m committed to building a life and legacy that reflects both creativity and community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s true for most entrepreneurs and creatives. One of my biggest challenges has been learning how to embrace being multi-passionate in a world that constantly tells you to “pick a lane, find a niche”. I’ve spent years balancing writing, photography, entrepreneurship, wellness initiatives, speaking opportunities, and family life while trying to build something meaningful in each space.
Another challenge has been learning to navigate seasons of reinvention. There have been times where I had to step back, reevaluate, and rediscover my voice and direction. Those moments weren’t always easy, but they taught me resilience and reminded me that growth isn’t always linear.
As a wife, mother of four, and entrepreneur, time management and balance are ongoing lessons. Building businesses and community while showing up for my family requires intentionality, flexibility, and grace.
Looking back, I realize many of the obstacles I faced were actually preparing me for the work I’m doing today. They’ve shaped my perspective, strengthened my faith, and given me a deeper appreciation for the journey itself. I don’t believe success comes from avoiding challenges; I believe it comes from learning how to keep moving forward through them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I consider myself a storyteller first and foremost. Whether I’m writing a book, photographing an event, covering a community experience, creating wellness opportunities through Midwest Black Girl Recess, or building products through Pampered Luxe, storytelling is the common thread that connects everything I do.
Professionally, my work spans writing, photography, media coverage, entrepreneurship, and community building throughout the St. Louis and Metro East area. Through A. Monik Photography and Media, I specialize in lifestyle photography, event coverage, and visual storytelling that captures authentic moments and experiences. As a writer, I recently published my memoir, Faith, Love & Narcissism: A Healing Memoir of Becoming Her, which allowed me to combine vulnerability, healing, and storytelling in a deeply personal way.
I’m also the founder of Midwest Black Girl Recess, a wellness initiative created to encourage joy, movement, and community among Black women, and the owner of Pampered Luxe, a luxury self-care brand centered around intentional wellness experiences.
What I’m most proud of is creating a career that reflects all of who I am rather than limiting myself to one lane. For a long time, I felt pressure to choose between being a writer, photographer, entrepreneur, or community builder. Eventually I realized I wasn’t meant to choose, that I was meant to build something that allowed all of those passions to coexist.
I think what sets me apart is my ability to move between different creative spaces while staying rooted in the same mission: helping people feel seen, telling meaningful stories, and creating experiences that leave an impact long after the moment has passed.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that mentorship always has to look like one person taking you under their wing and showing you the way. That certainly happens for some people, but my experience has been much more self-directed and nontraditional.
As a self-taught creative and entrepreneur, I’ve learned to seek mentorship in many different forms. Sometimes it has looked like attending workshops, taking classes, asking questions, studying people who were already doing what I wanted to do, or simply being willing to put myself in rooms where I could learn from others’ experiences.
Networking has worked best for me when I’ve focused on building genuine relationships rather than transactional ones. Some of my biggest opportunities have come from showing up consistently, supporting others, and being willing to have conversations without immediately asking for something in return.
My advice would be not to wait for the “perfect” mentor to appear. Be curious, ask questions, stay teachable, and remain open to learning from many different people and experiences. Sometimes mentorship looks less like one guide and more like collecting wisdom along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Amianamonik.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/amianamonik
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/miss.a.monik
- Other: https://Linktr.ee/amianamonik
