Dr. Jessica Dorsey of Ellenwood on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Jessica Dorsey and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I am walking a sacred, divine path. Every step I take is ordered, intentional, and aligned with the purpose God has placed within me. It’s the road that has led me from my own personal metamorphosis to becoming a voice for others, a builder of community, and a restorer of heritage.

Where others may see detours, I see divine direction. Where others see uncertainty, I see the opportunity to walk in faith.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Jessica “JaiBella” Wilson-Dorsey; holistic counselor, cultural advocate, pageant queen, actress, and the proud Yeye Oge (Queen of Style) of Agadangba Kingdom in Lagos, Nigeria. As the Founder and CEO of The Pink Society, Inc., BADD Girl, Inc., and The Sacred Place, LLC, my work blends faith, culture, and healing to empower women and communities around the world.

What makes my journey unique is that it’s rooted in both spiritual calling and cultural reclamation. I’m Afro-Indigenous, (Choctaw) and part Yoruba. I am Nigerian princess by royal adoption, and my life’s mission is to restore identity, dignity, and opportunity; whether through mentorship programs, international philanthropy, or sacred wellness practices. From creating certification programs for Christian holistic practitioners to building initiatives that provide clean water and feminine products in Nigerian villages, my work is about impact that transcends borders.

Right now, I’m expanding my Spiritual Midwife training program and preparing for community development projects in Nigeria. Every project I touch carries the same heartbeat: to help others walk their sacred path, live with purpose, and know there is indeed a more excellent way.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a little girl with big dreams, a tender heart, and an unshakable sense that I was here for something greater. I was curious, creative, and deeply connected to God, long before titles, expectations, and labels tried to define me.

I was also very gullible and naïve, because I cared too much about what others thought of me. I wanted to please everyone, even at the expense of my own voice. But that sensitivity also made me deeply compassionate, able to feel the pain and joy of others in a way that would later shape my calling.

Back then, I didn’t see limits; I saw possibilities. I sang, I acted, I nurtured others, and I believed every prayer could change the atmosphere. That little girl is still here, wiser now, stronger now, and no longer bound by the weight of other people’s opinions. Today, she walks her sacred path without apology.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been rooted in rejection, betrayal, and the pressure to shrink myself to fit into spaces that were never built for me. I’ve experienced seasons where people I trusted the most became the ones who hurt me the deepest, whether through broken relationships, church hurt, or the subtle but constant message that I was “too much” or “not enough.”

I also carried the wound of people-pleasing, born from a need for acceptance, which left me vulnerable to manipulation and burnout. Those wounds didn’t just scar me, they shaped how I saw myself, how I loved, and how I allowed others to treat me.

My healing came in layers, and it’s still unfolding. I learned to sit with my pain instead of running from it, to invite God into my deepest wounds, and to release the belief that my worth depended on someone else’s validation. Through prayer, ancestral wisdom, and holistic practices, I began to reclaim the parts of me I had silenced.

Now, my scars are not signs of weakness, they are proof that I survived, transformed, and rose again. Those very wounds have become the well from which I pour compassion, wisdom, and courage into others.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire my grandmother, Cora “Big Mama” Carodine Buchanan, not for any worldly power or title, but for the depth of her character. She was a woman of quiet strength, rooted in faith, kindness, and the kind of wisdom you earn through life’s trials. She didn’t lead with a loud voice or a public platform; she led through her consistency, her love, and her ability to nurture everyone around her.

She grew gardens, made soap by hand, quilted family history into fabric, and cooked meals that carried both nourishment and healing. She never sought recognition, yet her influence shaped generations. She showed me that true character is measured in how you treat people when no one is watching, and that integrity is more valuable than status.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think the thing people will most misunderstand about my legacy is that it was never about titles, crowns, or recognition, it was about service, restoration, and obedience to a divine calling. On the surface, people may see the pageantry, the leadership roles, the public honors, and think it was about building my own platform. In reality, every step I’ve taken has been about building bridges for others, preserving culture, and creating spaces where people can heal and rise.

Some may not understand the depth of sacrifice, the private battles, or the spiritual warfare that came with carrying this assignment. My legacy isn’t the spotlight moments, it’s the lives touched, the communities empowered, and the seeds planted that will grow long after I’m gone.

One day, I hope people realize that my greatest work was not what they saw, but what they couldn’t see: the prayers, the midnight tears, the quiet decisions to keep going when quitting seemed easier. That is the true foundation of my legacy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.baddgirl.online/
• Instagram: Empressjaibella
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19NkJpJZ9E/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/9CqVoJ0Hd90BM9uIoq

Image Credits
Rodney Dorsey, Jr.