Aconda on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Aconda. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Aconda, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are structured to promote focus, discipline, and overall well-being. Man, if you have a bad morning the rest of the day is messed up. So, I start my mornings at 4:30 a.m. and begin with a strength workout. My goal is to always beat myself from the day prior. After I feed my dog and take her for a walk, which gives me a moment to reset before transitioning into the rest of my routine.

From there, I shower and get ready while listening to a motivational or educational podcast. I dedicate about 20 minutes to prayer and devotion, which helps me stay grounded, and then I spend roughly an hour reading to continue strengthening my mindset and expanding my knowledge.

I’m very intentional about protecting both my mental and physical health, so I begin each morning with 12 ounces of lemon water and a detox drink to help energize and prepare me for the day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Born in Syracuse, NY, I’m a writer, and creative visionary who has learned how to turn life’s challenges into fuel for my purpose. Growing up with chronic migraines and an invisible disability meant being homeschooled, missing out on social experiences, and being accepted into only one college. Even with those obstacles, I stayed committed to my growth. At 26, I earned my driver’s license, and by 28, I completed my IT Cybersecurity degree reminding myself that it’s never too late to redefine your path.

I’ve since built a career in commercial and lifestyle modeling, working with brands like Adidas, Snapchat, Foot Locker, Sephora, and WhatsApp. But at the core of who I am, I’ve always been a writer. Writing was the first gift my grandmother poured into me; it became my voice when speaking felt heavy.

There was a period where I stopped writing altogether while navigating depression. I lost myself and it took awhile to find me again. I felt disconnected from myself, from my creativity, and from my purpose. It wasn’t until my grandmother encouraged me reminded me of the power in my words that I picked up the pen again. That moment brought me back to life as a creator.

Today, I’m actively developing OTHARA, a TV show I wrote three years ago while battling depression one I truly believe is going to shake the world. It’s built on real experiences, real emotions, and my belief in representation across the board. I’m committed to telling authentic stories that reflect the world as it is, and as it could be.

What makes my journey unique is my mindset. I’ve never felt like I was born to fit in. My ideas have always been big and crazy so big that people started calling me “Dream,” and I learned to embrace it. Everything I do is driven by resilience, faith, and a mission to uplift voices that deserve to be heard.

My story is proof that adversity can turn into opportunity when you believe in yourself, stay rooted in purpose, and refuse to quit. Through my work, I hope to inspire others to keep going, even when the path doesn’t look like everyone else’s.

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?
As a child, I was extremely shy. I often let others speak for me or chose not to speak at all. I was afraid of my own voice and believed my path had to be straight, predictable, and contained. Growing up with an abusive father made me fearful and cautious, and I felt like I lived inside a box where I wasn’t allowed to color outside the lines.

I was the quiet kid with the overbite shy, mysterious, and hard for people to figure out. The truth is, I couldn’t figure myself out either. I didn’t think I had the strength, courage, or capability to achieve much beyond what was expected of me. However, I always knew I was supposed to be great.

But that belief no longer defines me. I’ve grown into someone who speaks up, trusts her voice, and isn’t afraid to take up space. I’m no longer the shy kid hiding in the background. Today, I know I’m capable of far more than I ever imagined, and I’ve proven it to myself time and time again. I no longer fear anything in this human world—nothing scares me more than not being the best version of myself.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I’ve always been someone who hides how I truly feel. As a kid, I prayed a lot, though sometimes I wasn’t even sure anyone was listening. I didn’t always understand my emotions or why I felt the way I did. There came a moment, though, that changed everything. I was living with my grandmother, and one day I broke every picture frame in my room. It felt like the weight of everything I was holding inside the pain, the migraines, the fear was too much to bear. There were days I could barely get out of bed, and times I was temporarily blinded by the symptoms of my migraines.

That day, I let it all go. And when my grandmother came home, she wasn’t mad she just showed up for me. Experiencing that release of tears made me realize something profound: I have to fight for what I want and I can’t let my story defeat me. That was the moment I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power. Since then, I’ve committed to turning my challenges into fuel, using my experiences to drive my creativity, my work, and my purpose.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire my mother for her character. Watching her navigate the struggles she faced while I was growing up has always inspired me. Life can be incredibly challenging, and when it knocks you down, it’s not always easy to get back up but my mother always did. She faced battles that no one knew about, yet she never gave up. Her resilience, her sacrifices, and her unwavering determination to keep going, no matter the circumstances, showed me the true meaning of strength.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I approach everything with a beast mode mentality. that’s one thing I don’t compromise on. If I commit to something, my goal is always to give it my best and aim even higher. Every day, I push to achieve and surpass my goals, and at the end of the day, I take a moment to reflect and ask myself, “Did I do enough?” More often than not, I find myself thinking, “I could’ve done even more.”

When I keep moving forward, it really keeps me out of my head and focused on progress.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @acondawilliams