Conversations with Shadae Small

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shadae Small.

Shadae, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, my life was always rooted in movement, culture, and creativity. I was born in Atlanta, spent five years living in the Bahamas, then nearly ten years in Panama before eventually moving back to Atlanta for high school. Because of that, I grew up surrounded by different languages, perspectives, music, and ways of life. I think those experiences shaped me long before I even realized it. They taught me how big the world really is and how much beauty exists outside of what feels familiar.
Creativity was always my outlet. As a kid, I was constantly making videos, filming little concepts, editing random clips together, and documenting life however I could. In high school, I started a YouTube channel and completely fell in love with storytelling and digital media. Looking back now, I realize I was always trying to create worlds where people could feel something, feel inspired, or simply feel understood.
That passion led me to move to Rome at 18 years old to study Film & Digital Media. At the time, it felt terrifying. I didn’t know a single person there, and I definitely wasn’t the most confident version of myself yet. I think people sometimes assume confidence has always come naturally to me, but honestly, it didn’t. I was scared of failing, scared of not fitting in, and scared of stepping into spaces that felt unfamiliar. But something inside me knew that growth lived on the other side of discomfort, so I jumped in anyway with both feet.
That decision completely changed my life.
Over the next five years in Rome, I built a life that was more beautiful than anything I could have imagined for myself at 18. The people I met there became my family. They believed in my ideas, helped me bring my visions to life, and encouraged me to step fully into my creativity. Studying film sharpened my eye for storytelling, but living abroad helped me discover who I really was outside of fear and limitation.
During that time, I also found my musical path through DJing and making music. Rome’s nightlife, creative scene, and international energy pushed me to experiment artistically and trust my instincts. I eventually released my first single, Peligrosa, and filmed a music video in front of the Colosseum surrounded by the incredible support system I had built abroad. That moment felt symbolic in so many ways. It represented everything I had overcome internally to become the person standing there.
What my journey has taught me more than anything is how important it is to do things scared. I truly believe some of the most beautiful parts of life begin the moment you stop waiting to feel fully ready. That philosophy now inspires everything I create, whether it’s music, DJing, filmmaking, or digital content.
A huge part of my mission is inspiring young women, especially Black women, to step outside of the boxes the world places on them and create lives that feel expansive, joyful, and authentic. I didn’t grow up feeling fearless or fully confident, so I want people to understand that confidence can be built through experience, through risk, and through choosing yourself over and over again. I want to encourage women to travel, see the world, take up space, and make the uncomfortable their safe space because that’s where transformation happens.
Living internationally also allowed me to become multilingual, and now being able to speak three languages has completely changed the way I connect with people. It’s given me the ability to communicate with people from so many different backgrounds and make them feel seen, understood, and valued.
At the core of everything I do is connection. I want my work to feel like a hug to the people who come across it, especially Black women, who for so long have been taught to shrink themselves, overwork, or believe they have to struggle endlessly to deserve good things. When I talk about living a “rich” life, I’m not just speaking financially. I mean a life that feels full, meaningful, creative, peaceful, adventurous, and deeply aligned with who you are. A life where you allow yourself to experience joy, softness, freedom, community, and beauty without guilt. That’s the kind of richness I hope to inspire people to seek through my work and through the way I choose to live my own life.
And to the girl reading this who feels afraid to take the leap, who feels like she’s too different, too late, too uncertain, or not confident enough yet, I hope my story reminds you that you do not have to have everything figured out to begin. Sometimes the most life-changing decisions start with fear. The version of you that you dream about becoming is built every single time you choose courage over comfort. There is so much more waiting for you on the other side of the things that scare you. The world is bigger than you think, and there is space for you in it exactly as you are.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, and honestly, I think that’s what has shaped me the most. A huge part of my journey has been learning how to keep going even when things didn’t go the way I hoped they would.
When I first started DJing, I taught myself everything completely on my own through YouTube, trial and error, and a lot of patience. People often see the polished moments now, but they don’t always see the uncomfortable beginning stages that come before that. I’ve had moments where I questioned myself deeply and felt like I wasn’t good enough yet.
I’ll never forget my first public DJ gig because, honestly, it went terribly. Another DJ and I switched boards during the transition, and because I was still learning, the sound ended up coming out as static. At the time, I felt embarrassed and felt like I had failed very publicly. Looking back now, I can laugh about it because I realize I was being so hard on myself. I was learning something completely new in real time, and growth is rarely graceful in the beginning.
I think social media can sometimes create the illusion that successful people got there without struggle, fear, or mistakes, and that’s just not real. Behind every beautiful moment people see online are countless unseen moments of uncertainty, hard work, rejection, and self-doubt. I’ve become very open about talking about those parts because I want people to understand that imperfection does not disqualify you from your dreams.
At the end of the day, I truly believe that if a dream has been placed on your heart, there’s a reason for it. There’s a version of you that already exists on the other side of the fear, failures, and setbacks. Sometimes the hardest part is simply trusting yourself enough to keep going until you meet her.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in content creation, DJing, music, and lifestyle storytelling. At the core of everything I create is the goal of making people, especially young women, feel empowered, seen, and inspired to fully embrace themselves. A lot of people may initially know me for my personality online and my confidence-driven content, but beyond that, I really see my platform as a space rooted in empowerment, creativity, and connection.
Whether I’m creating a DJ set, releasing music, filming content, or simply sharing pieces of my everyday life, I always want there to be intention behind it. I love uplifting women, giving advice through my experiences, and encouraging people to step outside of fear and into the fullest version of themselves. Music especially has become one of my favorite ways to express that energy because it brings people together emotionally, regardless of language or background.
I think what sets me apart is that my work is deeply personal and genuinely reflects my life experiences. Having lived in multiple countries and immersed myself in different cultures, I naturally bring a global perspective into my art and content. I also think there’s power in the fact that I’m willing to be honest about both the glamorous moments and the difficult ones. I never want my audience to feel like they have to be perfect to pursue the life they want.
One project I’m especially proud of is my documentary A Star is Born, which is available on YouTube. The documentary dives deeper into my personal story and creative journey through an interview-style format, and it really captures many of the experiences and lessons that shaped me into the artist and creator I am today. I think it gives people a more intimate look into the person behind the content and the vision behind everything I create.
From teaching myself how to DJ, to moving across the world alone at 18, to releasing my first single Peligrosa in Rome, every step of my journey has come from trusting myself even when things felt uncertain. Right now, I have a lot more music and creative projects in the works, and I’m excited to continue evolving not just as an artist, but as someone who can genuinely inspire others through what I create.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think the most important quality behind my success has been self-belief. Everything truly starts with the way you see yourself and what you believe is possible for your life. You have to believe that you are capable of achieving big things before anyone else will. I’ve always been someone who refuses to place limits on myself or my future.
A quote I live by is: “Don’t place any limits on your life that God didn’t give you.” That mindset has shaped the way I move through the world. So many times, the biggest thing standing between people and the life they want is the limits they unconsciously place on themselves. I never wanted fear, doubt, or other people’s opinions to define what I believed I was capable of becoming.
Whenever there’s something I genuinely want to do, I go for it wholeheartedly. When I wanted to learn new languages, I committed to it. When I wanted to move across the world alone at 18, I did it despite being terrified. When I discovered my passion for music and DJing, I taught myself and kept pushing even when I made mistakes or felt uncertain. I think a huge part of my growth has come from deciding that fear would never have the final say over my life.
I’ve learned that confidence is not about always feeling fearless or perfect. It’s about trusting yourself enough to keep moving forward anyway. That mindset has opened so many doors for me creatively and personally because I approach life with the belief that I am not limited to one version of myself. I’m constantly evolving, learning, and expanding.
A huge source of that confidence also comes from my faith in God. My faith keeps me grounded and reminds me that I’m capable of more than my fears try to convince me of. It gives me strength during uncertain moments and helps me trust the path even when I can’t fully see where it’s leading yet. I truly believe that through faith, discipline, and self-belief, people are capable of transforming their lives in incredible ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/shadaemarie
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadaexm/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6juomvAgaAE
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/shadae-marie-898739488
• Other: https://tr.ee/D4pY69edw0