An Inspired Chat with Theresa Faleti

Theresa Faleti shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Theresa, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
One of the biggest misconceptions is that what I do is just about dance, or that it’s only a dance class. In reality, dance is the vehicle I use to help women step into their power. It’s about feeling confident in their bodies, trusting their movements, and being inspired to show up authentically in their lives.

For many women, dance becomes the doorway to realizing that who they want to become is already within them — it just needs permission to be released. My work creates that space of permission, where self-expression, joy, and confidence can flourish.

This isn’t simply a class; it’s a movement of sisterhood, of radical joy, and of empowerment. It’s about women reclaiming their worth, embracing their uniqueness, and remembering that they are already enough.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Theresa, and I’m the founder of Afrofeteness, a movement-based brand that inspires and empowers women through dance and self-expression. What makes Afrofeteness unique is that it isn’t just about dance — it’s about helping women reconnect with their worth, move authentically on the dance floor and in life, and celebrate themselves without apology.

At its core, Afrofeteness is a radical movement of sisterhood, joy, and empowerment. It challenges the pressures society places on us to constantly prove ourselves, seek approval, or compete with one another. Instead, we focus on embracing imperfection, releasing people-pleasing, and honoring our individual journeys. Women come into this space not to be perfect, but to be celebrated for exactly who they are.

My own story deeply informs this work. Growing up, I was teased for nearly everything — my appearance, my personality, even my dancing. What started as me trying to prove my worth through dance eventually became a journey of embracing my uniqueness, authenticity, and light. I shifted from self-hate to self-love, and I realized that by showing up fully as myself, I would attract my true tribe and repel what wasn’t aligned.

Now, I use dance as a vehicle to help other women make that same shift — from doubt and disconnection to confidence, self-worth, and radiant joy. Afrofeteness is about remembering that we are not defined by our past, our circumstances, or society’s standards, but by the light within us that deserves to shine.

Currently, I’m working on upcoming retreats that weave together dance, sisterhood, feminine energy, and inner healing. These retreats give women the space to celebrate themselves, reconnect with their sensuality, and embrace radical self-love and acceptance.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is my relationship with The Most High. Growing up, my parents instilled confidence in me, but that confidence was shattered during middle and high school by ridicule and judgment from others. At the same time, my parents had very high expectations, which led me into a cycle of people-pleasing and perfectionism, constantly seeking approval.

Over time, as I deepened my relationship with the Most High, I realized I didn’t need to be perfect to be worthy. I could show up bruised, flawed, and imperfect — and still be deeply loved. That shift taught me that my worth isn’t something I have to earn, it’s something I already have.

There were also moments in my life when I felt completely meaningless, and yet I was placed in situations where, by all accounts, I shouldn’t still be here. Surviving those moments reminded me that my life has purpose, and that there are people tied to me living out my assignment.

Now, much of my identity and self-esteem comes from that relationship. I strive to live with integrity and embody the fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness etc. And I hold onto scriptures that remind me that I was created in His image, that I am the light of the world, and that my light is not meant to be hidden.

That’s why I call my community Radiant Souls — because we are light. We are reflections of the Most High, luminous women created to shine, not to dim ourselves.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me that everything truly happens for a reason, and that there’s always a bigger picture at work. It prepared me for the future by shaping my perspective and giving me the grace to handle challenges differently than I could before.

In life, suffering is inevitable — but we always have a choice. It can either make us the villain in our story or the hero. Looking back, the pain I endured — the moments when I didn’t want to live because of how I was treated or how I didn’t fit in — became the very experiences that shaped me into who I am today. That suffering gave me resilience, compassion, and empathy. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of women around the world.

Success is beautiful, but it doesn’t test you the way suffering does. Suffering reminds us that life isn’t a straight, easy path — it’s full of ups and downs. Yet, every time we make it through, we realize we’ve already survived some of our toughest days. That realization builds a deeper gratitude for the good times and a strength to keep moving forward through whatever comes next.

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?
Absolutely, 100% yes. I think that’s why my following has grown so much in the past couple of years — because people can feel when you’re being real. In the beginning, I tried to present myself in a certain way, to prove my worth. But over time I let that go and started showing up authentically — mistakes, struggles, imperfections and all.

Social media often shows only the highlights, but I’ve found that sharing the raw, unpolished moments is what truly connects us. Sometimes I post without makeup, in a bonnet, with a face mask, or even clips of me failing or falling. That vulnerability makes me relatable and gives other women permission to be real, too.

When people call me “perfect,” it actually feels uncomfortable, because I’m not. I’ve struggled with my body, my dancing, my self-esteem — but choosing to embrace my flaws instead of hiding them is what makes my light magnetic. And when criticism comes, whether it’s about my teeth, my body, or anything else, I don’t let it shake me. I know that not fitting the mold is exactly what allows me to build a tribe of women who value authenticity over perfection.

For me, being the real me is radical. It’s saying, “I’m enough as I am” — and in doing that, I give other women permission to believe the same.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I was a woman who lived with love, compassion, and radical joy. That I did what I could to empower and uplift others, and that I valued good people and good energy. I want to be remembered as the type of woman who fixed another woman’s crown, and who left people feeling seen, special, and valued after every encounter.

I hope people remember the ways I cared about others across all walks of life — whether it was working with nonprofits, supporting children with disabilities and those in foster care, serving in juvenile detention centers, volunteering in other countries, or giving whenever I could to friends, family, and those in need.

And ultimately, I hope they say I dedicated my life to inspiring and empowering women to see themselves in a better light — so that they could carry that light forward and shine it on others. More than anything, I hope the story people tell about me is that I made a difference, that I spread joy, and that I left this world brighter than I found it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Afrofeteness.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/afrofeteness?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ByB7zbQ7y/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/Afrofeteness

Image Credits
Dominique Keller