Conversations with LaToya Howard

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaToya Howard.

Hi LaToya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Scarborough, Ontario, to two young parents who had me at just 16 years old. My dad was drafted to the Toronto Blue Jays when he was around 18 or 19, and while he chased his dreams, my mom raised me with the support of my extended family on my dad’s side. Life was never very stable growing up—I went to about eight different schools, so it always felt like I was starting over.

When I was 14, my mom moved my siblings and me to Tulsa, Oklahoma. We moved in with one of her church friends that she met online, but months later we were kicked out of her house. After that, we were bouncing from shelter to shelter. It was a very unstable time for me. I had the option to stay with my dad’s side of the family, but as the oldest, I felt like I needed to be there for my mom and my brothers and sister. I knew she needed me, and I wanted to support her through it all.

Even through the chaos, one thing about me stayed the same—I was always the funny, bubbly, silly kid. School wasn’t easy, and later on I found out I had ADHD, which made sense looking back. After high school, I tried college twice but dropped out both times. Deep down, I knew the traditional path wasn’t for me. I’ve always dreamed big, so I started a YouTube channel. I thought, “If I put myself out there with my wild personality, maybe a TV network will discover me.” I started making comedy skits, and to my surprise, people connected with me.

Soon after, YouTube started paying creators, and brands began reaching out. I’ll never forget my first big deal with Pepsi—it was a five-figure contract, and I couldn’t believe they wanted me to promote their product. That’s when I realized: my little YouTube channel had become my own show. I moved to L.A. to network and collaborate, but shortly after, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I moved back to Toronto to be with family, and instead of hiding, I picked up my camera and started documenting everything—the ups, the downs, the realities of becoming a mom.

That pivot changed everything. My content evolved into my own version of a reality show, featuring my family, friends, and real life. People loved it because it was raw and relatable. Fast forward to today, I’m considered one of the OGs of YouTube. I’ve built multiple businesses, including my shapewear and activewear brand Leisure Forever, merch lines, and I’m currently working on an exciting new venture.

But more than the businesses and the vlogs, what means the most are the people I’ve impacted. I’ve had people tell me, “LaToya, I was about to end my life, but your videos gave me the strength to keep going,” or “Because of you, I started my YouTube channel.” That’s why I keep sharing—because I know my story has the power to inspire and uplift.

My background is Trinidadian, so family, culture, and community are at the heart of who I am. Things can get wild, but at the end of the day, we love hard. That’s also how I approach life and business—with love, resilience, and joy.

I’m still documenting my journey—the good, the bad, and everything in between—because I know someone out there needs it. And honestly, I’m just getting started.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road. When I moved to Atlanta in 2018, I was excited—it felt like Black Hollywood, and I really believed it was the place to take my brand to the next level. Not long after moving, I met Kandi Burruss at her restaurant, Old Lady Gang, and she actually encouraged me to consider joining The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Soon after, I got the opportunity to be cast on the show, which was a dream come true in many ways.

But behind the scenes, I was going through a lot. I had just given birth to my daughter, Ayah, and my marriage was falling apart. In 2020, I signed on to Real Housewives, but because of the trauma and stress I was experiencing during my divorce, I wasn’t able to fully show up as my best self. On top of that, being on such a huge platform brought a lot of public scrutiny, and even people from my past tried to bring things up to discredit me. It was a really difficult time, and it did affect my brand and my mental health.

After the show, I also went through a period of being in relationships that weren’t good for me. Some people tried to use me for clout or even publicly embarrassed me online, and those experiences took a toll. Looking back, I realize I was searching for comfort because I felt lonely, but the truth is, those relationships were not serving me.

Still, I don’t look at any of those experiences as losses—they were lessons. They forced me to grow, to heal, and to understand my worth. Today, I’m in such a better space. I’m in a healthy, loving relationship with my fiancé, we have a beautiful blended family, and I feel more grounded and confident than ever. Those challenges shaped me, but they don’t define me. They were part of my journey, and I’ve come out stronger on the other side.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a content creator, entrepreneur, and storyteller at heart. I started on YouTube over a decade ago, creating comedy skits and vlogs, and I’ve grown into one of the OGs of the platform. What I’m most known for is my realness—I’ve always been open about my life, whether it’s the highs of building businesses or the struggles of navigating relationships, motherhood, and personal growth. People connect with me because I don’t sugarcoat. I share the good, the bad, and the in-between, and I think that level of transparency is what makes my content resonate.

Outside of content, I’ve built multiple businesses. I launched Leisure Forever, a shapewear and activewear brand designed for women who want to look good and feel confident in their everyday lives. I also recently launched Hunty Club, a lifestyle merch brand created for my community—my “Hunties”—who’ve been rocking with me since the early YouTube days. Hunty Club is all about elevated essentials with personality, created for women who want to feel comfy, confident, and unapologetically themselves. I’m also working on new ventures that I’m really excited about, because I see myself not just as an influencer, but as a brand builder.

What I’m most proud of isn’t just the numbers or the partnerships—it’s the impact. I’ve had people reach out to me saying my videos kept them going during their darkest times, or that I inspired them to start their own YouTube channel. That means more to me than anything else, because it shows me that my work isn’t just entertainment, it’s life-changing for some people.

What sets me apart is that I’ve never been afraid to be myself. My bubbly, silly, fun personality mixed with my willingness to show my struggles makes me relatable in a world where social media can sometimes feel fake. I’m Caribbean—Trinidadian—and I bring that vibrant, no-filter energy everywhere I go. At the end of the day, I’m just a girl who turned on a camera to share her life, and I’ve built a career out of being unapologetically me.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Over the years, I’ve struggled with ADHD, anxiety, and even postpartum depression. Those challenges definitely affected my presence online at times because I wasn’t always as consistent as I wanted to be. But behind the scenes, it’s been a journey learning how to manage my mind while still showing up as a mom, creator, and entrepreneur. There are days when focusing feels impossible or when my anxiety gets the best of me—but those challenges have also made me creative, resilient, and more compassionate. Even in the hardest seasons, I still tried to show up and push through, and I think that’s why people connect with me—because I’m not just sharing the highlight reel, I’m sharing the reality of pushing through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/latoyaforever
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latoyaforever/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latoyaforever
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/latoyaforever
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/latoyaforever