From Black and White to Living in Color with Alexis "Lexi" Williams of Aloha Glamour

Ep 131: From Black and White to Living in Color with Alexis "Lexi" Williams of Aloha GlamourPart of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤A Black woman from Mississippi became a Queen Mother in Ghana. It was not on her bingo card.Alexis "Lexi" Williams founded Aloha Glamour after losing her daughter Lauren Taylor, who was born and died in Hawaii in 2015 while Lexi was stationed there. Everything was black and white for a long time after. When she started seeing color again, she started the business. Every head wrap and every pair of earrings is handmade by artisans in Ghana she's known for years and calls family.What We Talk AboutWhere the name comes from: aloha means both hello and goodbye, and glamour is the confidence you find after life knocks you downHer beginner's guide to African fashion — take 80% of what you already wear and add 20% new, and no, you don't have to start with a three-piece suitHow her artisan relationships started with African print masks during COVID and turned into sewing machines, hired staff, and her picture on the wall as their CEOThe unexpected turn: what happens when you stop visiting Africa as a tourist and start investing in a community, and what being responsible for a village of 10,000 people actually meansIf you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you.Chapters:00:08 - Celebrating Black Business: Aloha Glamour02:47 - The Story Behind Aloha Glamour11:43 - Living in Color: A Journey of Personal Style and Heritage25:54 - The Journey of Aloha Glamour36:28 - Cultural Connections: Bridging Communities39:01 - Transitioning Aloha Glamour: The Next ChapterAll about Alexis "Lexi" WilliamsYou're gonna love Lexi — she's a veteran turned Queen Mother who will tell you to just start with the earrings. She serves as Nkosuohemaa, Development Queen Mother of Pokrom Nsabaa village in Ghana, and founded the Healing Crown Alliance Foundation, a grief support and diaspora cultural development nonprofit. She's the creator of Protect Your Crown, a cultural education program running in schools, churches, and corporate spaces, and holds the title of Ms. Black Ghana International Ambassador 2026, competing at the MBIA International Pageant in Belize this August. Aloha Glamour has been featured by Forbes and Oprah and received funding from Beyoncé. She describes the brand as a love letter to Black women who have survived something, and asks: what's the color of your story?Things We MentionedAloha GlamourHealing Crown Alliance FoundationProtect Your Crown cultural education programPokrom Nsabaa, Ghana, where she serves as NkosuohemaaMBIA International Pageant, Belize, August 2026This series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤Connect with Alexis "Lexi" WilliamsIG: @alohaglamourAloha GlamourStay Connected📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it freeMore ways to connectEmail: [email protected] on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.comSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick