There are moments in an entrepreneur’s journey that don’t just validate the work, they ignite it. Seeing my name in The New York Times was one of those moments. Not because it was a dream come true, but because it signaled something bigger. It confirmed that the conversation I have been fighting to bring to the forefront for over a decade is finally being heard.

I was not supposed to be the woman headlining conversations in media about bridal fashion, inclusivity, visibility, and influence. I was the woman who was once told to shrink, speak softer, and stick to what people already understood. Instead, I chose to build what I could not find. And that choice led me to create Pretty Pear Bride and eventually helm Aisle Society, one of the largest wedding media networks in the world.

Being featured in The New York Times is not just a personal milestone. It is a message to every woman who has ever felt overlooked: visibility is power, and your voice is worthy of platforms that once shut you out.

The Road to Recognition Was Built on Refusal

I refused to accept an industry that showcased brides who did not reflect the world that actually exists. I refused to let size inclusivity be a trend. I refused to rely on external permission to lead. That relentless refusal is the same energy I pour into my work today, helping women and wedding professionals grow their influence, claim their space, and turn visibility into real-world results.

For many, media features are a highlight moment. For me, they are part of an expanding narrative around leadership and representation in the wedding and lifestyle industries. I’ve spoken extensively about the importance of shaping not just content, but culture. I shared more about this in Experience Luxury: Insights from Engage Summits, where I unpack the deeper power of presence in luxury rooms.

The Responsibility of Being Seen

Media recognition creates impact only when paired with responsibility. Representation alone is not enough. It must be followed by transformation. I have spent my career bridging inspiration with action.

In Breaking Barriers: Plus-Size Inclusivity, I dive deeper into how the industry must evolve for good.

This is what being featured in outlets like The New York Times, Business Insider, and The Los Angeles Times truly represents. It is not simply press. It is purpose. It confirms that inclusivity, visibility, and diverse leadership are not side conversations. They are shaping the new standard.

Read more of that journey in Shafonne Myers Featured in Business Insider.

Visibility Is Not Vanity. It Is Strategy.

Too often women in business treat visibility like an accessory rather than a strategic asset. The truth is, visibility builds authority, and authority creates opportunity. One of the core pillars I teach inside my coaching and media ecosystem is rooted in sustainable audience growth and platform power.

For anyone looking to grow influence and build a loyal community, I break it down step-by-step in 5 Essentials for Social Media Audience Growth & Visibility Strategy.

The Weight of the Feature

When The New York Times reached out to discuss plus-size bridal representation, I knew the stakes. They were not just asking for my story. They were asking for my stance. And I showed up with the same conviction I bring to every stage, every summit, every publication: plus-size women do not need permission to exist in luxury.

We have always been here. What has been missing is acknowledgment. I am not the exception. I am the evidence of what happens when you build your own table and then refuse to sit there alone.

Beyond the Feature: A Call to Leadership

If there is one thing I want every reader, every bride, every founder to take from this moment, it’s this:

Do not chase visibility. Command it. Do not wait for permission. Claim it. Do not dim your presence to fit into spaces. Expand them.

I share more about this perspective in Featured on the Pitching Powerhouse Podcast, where I talk about the intersection of media, mindset, and movement.

What Comes Next

Being featured in The New York Times is not a finish line. It is a foundation. It confirms what I already knew: this work matters. The wedding industry is being redefined, and women like me are leading that shift, unapologetically.

I will continue to build media platforms that honor every body. I will continue to mentor women who are ready to lead with power. And I will continue to open doors that were once locked.

Because the ultimate goal is not to be featured in history. It is to rewrite it.

If You Are Ready to Be Seen, You Are in the Right Place

This is your invitation. To visibility. To courage. To platform. To power.

Your voice is needed. Your story is strategy. And your presence is profitable.

Stay tuned. We are just getting started.

Check out the full New York Time piece here!