Check Out Nelly B’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nelly B.

Nelly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a proud HBCU graduate of THEE Spelman College. I always knew I wanted to become an attorney because I had a passion for solving other people’s problems and wanting to see people thrive. I got a scholarship to attend Georgia State University College of Law and the rest was history! I started my career at Jones Day, where I was a litigator, and conducted internal and government investigations. I lateraled to BakerHostetler to practice cybersecurity law. Through all of this, pro bono work was my main focus. I became heavily involved in immigration work, including asylum and U-Visa cases. I also took part in assisting transgender individuals changing their names, Georgia residents seeking pardons to better their lives, and human trafficking survivors seeking vacatur of convictions and sentences stemming from their trauma. I also had the ultimate honor to part of the legal team representing the City of Minneapolis in connection with the investigations from both the U.S. Department of Justice and Minnesota Department of Human Rights following the murder of Mr. George Floyd. The representation resulted in wide-sweeping police reform throughout the city of Minneapolis.

Although I was so involved in pro bono work, I always knew I wanted to put my money were my mouth was. In 2025, I created my very own scholarship at the law school I graduated from: Georgia State University College of Law. The scholarship awards $1000 every year to a 1L who is 1) a first generation law student, and 2) a graduate from a HBCU.

Today, Sharnell mentors countless students and young professionals and takes a personal stake into the success of Atlanta’s best and brightest. Through her involvement in LEAD Atlanta and the Westside Future Fund, Sharnell plans to remain engrained in the cultural fabric of the city of Atlanta. She also serves on the Governing Board for the City of Atlanta Office of Inspector General. This underscores her passion for the advancement and betterment for the City of Atlanta overall.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Pivoting to an entirely new area of law was not easy. But also, starting my content journey has been the most out-of-the-box thing I’ve done. However, former struggles with school forced me to gain an immense amount of discipline and set aside my pride. In both my content and professional journeys, I’ve learned everything is “figureoutable.”

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 started “Luxeploration with Nelly B” as a creative outlet from the hustle and bustle of being a big law attorney and civil servant. I wanted something I simply did for myself. Now I create content to capture all that I consider “luxury.” Luxury to me encompasses so much, including doing what makes you happy, how it makes you happy! This includes travel and experiences from the lenses of a high-functioning Black woman who happens to also be a wife and dog mom. What sets me apart is that I don’t lead with the corporate. When people meet me, they meet Nelly B. Rarely do they meet the other side first. Once they do, it unlocks a whole new understanding of the depth of what we as Black women can and will accomplish. I find it as an honor to represent that.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was fulfilling the tradition of visiting Magens Bay Beach as a child growing up in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where my family is from.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/LuxeplorationWithNellyB
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nellyyy.bae/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LuxeplorationWithNellyB