Daily Inspiration: Meet Toyin Ajayi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Toyin Ajayi.

Hi Toyin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a Black woman that enjoys spending time outdoors, I wanted to create a safe space for other Black women like me. Oftentimes Black women are told that certain outdoor activities aren’t made for us and that’s just not true. Creating the Outdoorsy Black Women social network was my way of connecting all the Black women out there that are doing amazing outdoorsy things, and inspiring those that are just hoping to try new things.

Outdoorsy Black Women is really about celebrating Black sisterhood and knowing that wherever you go, we can take that sisterhood with us. There are so many wonderful organizations working hard to diversify the outdoor world, with Outdoorsy Black Women I’m just trying to do my part in this movement to provide us with more representation. I’m confident that as more Black women see themselves represented in the outdoor world, more of us will get out there! I’ve met so many amazing Black women that have inspired me already; beekeepers, farmers, surfers, rvers like myself and much more. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Outdoorsy Black Women as we grow, but I can say for sure it’s an honor to be creating Black history.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think it’s been an adventurous road. There isn’t really a handbook for starting a social network so I’ve been learning a lot as I go. I think the biggest struggle is just getting people to understand it’s a space created for Black women that is about positivity.

Another struggle has been getting the right funding in place and building a team.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Toyin Ajayi is a modern-day renaissance woman. A self-proclaimed OG blogger, she has worked as an influencer for over 15 years. She founded Your Life After 25, a lifestyle blogazine for women, in 2011 and has continued to help women in her own way over the years. Toyin values helping people and building community and recently decided to bring that love to the outdoor world. In 2021 she launched the Outdoorsy Black Women social network and app and continued to cultivate that community. Toyin lives life as a full-time RVer and she loves hiking, skydiving, and experiencing new outdoor adventures.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
This is hard to say. There are a lot of changes happening with social media right now but for our community, the goal is to get more Black women outdoors and shift what it means to be outdoorsy. I do think the outdoor industry is working to be more inclusive, so I hope to see more changes happening from the ground up.

Pricing:

• Our app and community are free to join

Contact Info:

• Website: https://outdoorsyblackwomen.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoorsyblackwomen/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorsyBlackWomen
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/OutdoorsyBW
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OutdoorsyBlackWomen
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@outdoorsyblackwomen