Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Ajia’Marie Leonard

Ajia’Marie Leonard shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Ajia’Marie, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, what’s been bringing me the most joy lately is motherhood, just spending time with my son and watching him grow into his own little personality. Those simple, everyday moments: his laughter, his curiosity, even the quiet times. It remind me of what truly matters. It grounds me and brings me balance when life gets hectic. Beyond that, I find joy in self-care and creative expression, whether it’s exploring fashion in new ways, journaling, or just enjoying time with people I love. Those personal moments feed my spirit and give me the energy to pour into my work.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ajia Marie, but most people know me as Mimi. I’m a model, entrepreneur, and the founder of Lady Rose, a clothing brand created in honor of my late mother and big sister which I’m in the processing of rebranding. Based in Atlanta, I’ve built my career around fashion, beauty, and empowerment while balancing the joys of motherhood. My story is about turning loss into legacy, challenges into confidence, and using my journey to inspire others to chase their dreams authentically.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. 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 simply me, curious, creative, and fearless in the way only a child can be. I didn’t think about standards or limitations; I just followed whatever sparked joy, whether it was playing dress-up, experimenting with beauty, or expressing myself through art and movement. I was naturally confident and imaginative, not because I was trying to be, but because it was who I was at my core.

As I grew older, the world started layering expectations on me, what success should look like, how I should present myself, what paths were considered “realistic.” For a while, I carried those voices, but I realized that losing touch with my authentic self would mean losing the very spark that makes me unique.

So, part of my journey has been about unlearning what others told me I “had to be” and reconnecting with that original version of myself, the girl who believed anything was possible. That’s who drives my brand and my work today. I’ve learned to merge that raw authenticity with the discipline and strategy needed to build a career, but at the heart of it all, I’m still that dreamer who refuses to be boxed in.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been tied to loss, growth, and the journey of finding my voice. The deepest wound I’ve faced was losing my mom when I was 22. That loss shook me to my core and forced me to step into adulthood with a strength I didn’t even know I had. Grief has a way of changing you, it can either break you or shape you. For me, it became the fire behind everything I do. To honor her, I started a clothing brand named Lady Rose, inspired by her spirit, her beauty, and the lessons she left with me. Carrying her name into my work is my way of keeping her legacy alive and turning pain into something creative and lasting.

Another defining moment was becoming a mother myself at 27. Motherhood has been both healing and motivating, it gave me purpose beyond myself and reminded me of the strength women carry every single day. Balancing my career with raising my son isn’t easy, but it fuels me to go harder. He’s my biggest reason to push through, because I want him to see that his mom followed her dreams and created something meaningful without ever giving up.

Alongside those life-changing moments, modeling itself has come with wounds, rejection, comparison, and the pressure to fit a certain mold. But those challenges taught me resilience. I’ve had to learn that confidence isn’t handed to you, it’s built from within. Healing has meant leaning on my faith, staying true to my authentic self, and creating spaces where others can grow from my story.

So yes, my wounds have shaped me, but they don’t define me. What defines me is how I’ve turned grief into love, pain into fuel, and motherhood into my greatest source of inspiration. Lady Rose is a part of that healing, it’s not just a brand, it’s a living tribute to my mom, and a reminder that even from loss, beauty can bloom.

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. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think the public version of me is absolutely a real part of me, but it’s not the whole story. What people see on social media or in my work is my curated self, the confident, creative, stylish side that I’m proud of and that represents my brand. But like anyone, I’m layered. I have private moments, doubts, and vulnerabilities that don’t always show up online.

That said, I don’t believe in creating a persona that’s completely separate from who I am. The confidence, the passion, the drive people see publicly are genuine. They’re just the parts of me I choose to share. The difference is that behind the scenes, I’m also a mother, a daughter still grieving her own mom, an entrepreneur figuring things out day by day. Those private experiences give depth to the public version of me.

So, the public version of me is real, but it’s also curated, like a highlight reel. The full me is a mix of what people see and what they don’t: resilience, hard work, quiet moments, and everything in between.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people tell a story about me that’s bigger than beauty or titles. I want them to remember that I was someone who brought joy and light into the lives of those around me, someone dependable, and always willing to help when it mattered most. I hope they say I turned pain into purpose, inspired confidence, and gave others the courage to chase their dreams, even when life got hard.

I hope they remember how deeply I loved my son, how fiercely I honored my mom’s legacy through Lady Rose, and how I used my own story to create opportunities and encouragement for others. More than anything, I want people to feel like my journey reminded them to embrace their own light, to be resilient, and to lift others along the way.

If the story people tell is that I made life brighter, shared love generously, and helped others see their potential, then everything I’ve done will have mattered.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Angelfaceddemonn
• Twitter: Thedolimii
• Facebook: Ajia Marie Leonard
• Youtube: Ajia’Marie Leonard

Image Credits
Gioelegantphotos
Loren Viera
The Model Experience