Local StoriesSeptember 25, 2025

Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Ugly Josh of Clayton County GA

Local Stories

Ugly Josh shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Ugly, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
I wake up early usually with prayer and devotion to center my day. I get my body moving first and then workout after I get my day organized. After that I shower, get my space straight (a clean room keeps my head clear), and map out priorities: studio time or writing, follow-ups for speaking gigs, and creating short clips or content for my social media. I spend chunks of the day on creative work!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What’s up, y’all! I go by Ugly Josh but don’t get it twisted, UGLY stands for U Gotta Love Yourself. I’m a 23-year-old speaker, host, and artist out of Atlanta, and my whole vibe is about helping people embrace who they are, even when life tries to tell you otherwise.
I mix real talk, culture, and faith in everything I do — whether I’m hyping up a crowd, speaking at schools, or dropping creative content. What makes me different is I don’t cap; I keep it authentic, fun, and relatable, while still shining a light that points people toward love, purpose, and self-worth.
Right now, I’m running the U.G.L.Y. Tour, pulling up at schools and events with high energy, crazy crowd interaction, and messages that stick with you long after the mic drops. At the end of the day, I just want people to know: loving yourself isn’t corny — it’s powerful.

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?
A hypocrite.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
The defining wounds of my life have been rejection, being underestimated, and trying to mold myself into someone I wasn’t just to fit in. I healed by giving those wounds to God and letting Him rebuild my identity. Through prayer, worship, and honesty, I learned who I truly am. I surrounded myself with people who speak truth and encouragement, and I turned my pain into purpose through my voice, my art, and my work. I also built discipline keeping my space clean, staying locked in and creating structure so my mind and spirit stay on go.
Now, the scars don’t hold me back. They remind me of what I’m here for, to help people love themselves, stand bold in who they are, and go harder.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely and I don’t want to portray anything else. Overall though I’m outside being a light.
The real me shows up behind the scenes: praying, working, and pushing people to be brave — not for applause, but because I love people!

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
Not going all in with the gifts god gave me, not betting on myself every time, and not leaving a mark big enough that people remember i was here.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
@driftingcanvas

Suggest a Story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.