Raymond Turner Jr.’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

Raymond Turner Jr. shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Raymond , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
“Recently, I found myself scrolling through my old Instagram posts, and I couldn’t help but feel proud of the resilience I’ve shown throughout my journey. Nothing ever came easy for me—there were no handouts—but I kept pushing forward. I made a habit of eliminating excuses and leaning on radical faith in my God every step of the way.”

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
In a nutshell, I’ll try to keep it brief.
I’m from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, born on June 8th, 1996, at 7:53 a.m.—a little detailed, but that’s just me. I didn’t grow up with white picket fences or perfectly manicured lawns, but I’m grateful for my upbringing because it shaped who I am today.

My childhood wasn’t easy. I had a mother who battled drug addiction and a father who wasn’t around. As chaotic and loud as life could be, it was also painfully quiet and lonely at times. I grew up fast, helping raise my sisters and navigating a world that felt like it was against us from the start. I struggled with thoughts of suicide at a young age—not because I was weak, but because I was in an environment that didn’t nurture the bright spirit I carried inside.

Music saved me.
It brought me peace, kept me grounded, and brought me closer to God. It helped me see beyond my circumstances and tested my faith in ways that built me. I started with dancing in church, but after my aunt passed away, I stepped away from dance and turned to music—which eventually led me right back to dance.

Starting a dance career right after high school, with no formal training, was a huge risk—but I took it. I saw how dance made others feel, and what it did for me, and I knew I had something special. I began with groups like Legends in the Making and Elev8n. They saw my potential, and I found family and community in them—that was the foundation I needed.

Fast forward to now—
After a few dope movie roles and working with some amazing artists, I shifted focus to social media. I still felt overlooked in the dance world, like I wasn’t fully seen. So in 2020, I took a bet on myself. I went all in—investing in my craft, my vision, and in becoming the fullest version of me.

Now, with 206K followers and counting, I get to bring people joy—whether it’s through my funny content, my dancing, or just showing up as myself. I’m here to lift others up with the light God placed in me.

I don’t have it all figured out, and I don’t always know what the journey will look like. But I know God has a divine mission for me. So I’m staying the course—marinating, preparing, and trusting that I’m being shaped for a purpose far bigger than me.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
One thing I used to believe as a kid that I no longer believe is that I wasn’t enough.
Growing up, I struggled deeply with abandonment issues. I felt like everyone would eventually leave, and that nothing good in my life would last. I believed I wasn’t worthy of anything good. I felt ugly, weird, and out of place. Being naturally kind in an environment that praised toughness made me feel weak—like I didn’t fit in.

But over time, I realized I carried something far greater.
I discovered I had a voice. I began to understand that I was a product of my environment, but not defined by it. My differences—the very things that made me feel odd—were actually signs that I was chosen. Standing out in my family wasn’t a curse; it was God’s way of showing me I was meant for more than what I could see in front of me.

I used to think I was being overlooked. But now I know I was being protected.
God had plans for me—plans that required isolation, growth, and a lot of pruning. He wanted me to walk so closely with Him that His presence would be undeniable in my life. So when people see me, they don’t just see me—they see His power and grace at work.

It took a lot of storms, a lot of tower moments, to break and rebuild me.
But every one of those moments was a lesson—preparing me, shaping me, and molding me into the man I pray every day to become.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
This is such a great question.
What did suffering teach me that success never could? I’d have to say resilience and faith—on a groundbreaking level.

When you don’t have much—or anything that validates your comfort or safety—it demands a different kind of faith. One that isn’t based on what you see, but on what you believe. Every day, you have to choose better, even when your reality is trying to convince you otherwise.

Chasing a dream like mine—something my family viewed as just that, a dream—was hard. Because even in the midst of suffering, I had to choose hope. I had to choose vision. I had to believe in a future I couldn’t yet see, even when nothing around me promised it would come.

Suffering taught me how to appreciate, but more importantly, how to understand.
It gave me a heart that sees beyond the moment. A heart that believes in miracles. A heart that recognizes God’s hand at work, even in the darkest seasons.

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?
The public version of me is now fully the real me.
That wasn’t always the case, but after going through some major tower moments—moments where I lost it all—I came out of my shell. I reached a point where I decided I wasn’t going to hide anymore. I choose to live out loud, rooted in love and joy.

I’d even say the public version of me is better now—not because it’s fake, but because it’s intentional. I believe in putting positive energy into the world to create more healing and more light. I want people to leave my presence feeling better than they came, just by being in my space.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I ever retired, I think my supporters would really miss my bright, joyful energy.
I feel like I’m that favorite cousin everyone loves—the one who just wants to make people laugh and enjoy the presence of good vibes and genuine connection.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raymondturnerjr?igsh=MXdkZG9nNDE4b3dsbw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://tr.ee/Sxnl-bkbde
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@raymondturnerjr?si=NyvFmawvdlsofwZQ
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@raystepz?_t=ZT-8yqvXGCVNHC&_r=1