An Inspired Chat with Shan McFarland of Atlanta

We recently had the chance to connect with Shan McFarland and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shan, 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 is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that’s been bringing me real joy lately is starting my podcast, Plates & Perspectives. As a young woman in Atlanta, I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider. I’ve never been into the typical club scene, hookah, or that whole lane. I gravitate more toward experiences like candle-making classes, paint and sips, rage rooms, wine tastings, and perfume-making. I started realizing I couldn’t be the only person in my age range who felt that way, so I created a space for people like me.

Through the podcast, I get to explore the hidden gems of Atlanta that exist outside of the usual narrative and interview business owners who took a leap of faith to build something meaningful. Some of them are my age and already expanding, franchising, and teaching others, which is incredibly inspiring to witness up close. One of the biggest sources of joy for me has been highlighting Black-owned businesses and helping bring visibility to their work. It feels like purpose and joy meeting at the same time.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Shanteiria McFarland, but everyone calls me Shan. Most people on social media know me as Big Dawg Shan. I’m an Atlanta-based content creator, entrepreneur, and owner of my own photo booth company. My journey into content creation actually started by accident. I was working as a security supervisor for a government building and the 911 call center when I made a funny video just to stay awake during a late shift. I never expected it to go anywhere, but overnight it reached over one million views and completely changed my life. That moment showed me I was meant for more than a traditional nine-to-five.

Since then, I’ve worked with major brands like Kaleidoscope Hair Products, Dunkin’, Qure, and Glo Melanin, and content creation has opened doors I never imagined possible. It also allowed me to start my photo booth business with no loans, which I’m extremely proud of. As the oldest of eight children, my ultimate mission is to become the first millionaire in my family and build generational wealth. After losing my brother Joshua, who had big dreams of his own, that mission means even more to me now.

At my core, I’m a storyteller and a comedian. I love making people laugh, and acting has always been a dream of mine. Over the past year, I stepped out of my comfort zone and performed my first stand-up comedy show at The Laughing Skull in Atlanta, and I’ve since done three showcases with more planned. I don’t want to be known as just another influencer. I’m simply a funny girl from Atlanta who took a leap of faith, trusted her gifts, and is excited to see where God continues to take her.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of truly feeling powerful was on September 26, 2023. At 26 years old, I finally found the courage to shave my head. I’ve struggled with alopecia since elementary school, and growing up with it was extremely difficult. I didn’t understand why I was the only one in my family dealing with it, and I faced bullying for years because of something I had no control over. It deeply affected my confidence and how I saw myself.

For a long time, I tried everything to “fix” it, hoping one day my hair would just grow back. But through prayer, healing, and self-discovery, I eventually made peace with the fact that alopecia is part of my story, not my weakness. Shaving my head felt like reclaiming my power. When I looked in the mirror afterward, I cried tears of joy. I didn’t see fear anymore. I saw freedom.

Since that moment, my confidence has completely transformed. I’ve received countless messages from women suffering in silence who now feel seen and inspired to embrace themselves, too. I realized that when I stopped caring about outside opinions, life became so much lighter. I remembered who I really am. I’m smart. I’m beautiful. I’m funny. I’m talented. I’m ambitious. I’m that girl.

One of my biggest dreams now is to one day grace the cover of a major magazine as an alopecia model. There’s so little representation, and I want to help change that for the next generation of girls who look like me.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self that she is extremely beautiful and carries a light that naturally illuminates every room she steps into. I would remind her that her worth was never tied to how she looked, what she lacked, or what anyone else thought of her. I wish I had known back then that I was already enough, already powerful, and already deserving of love, confidence, and big dreams. I would tell her to stop shrinking herself to make others comfortable and to trust that everything she is becoming is already within her.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is very much the real me. That’s honestly why so many people connect with me and choose to follow my journey. I don’t really fit into one specific niche. I post what’s on my heart, what makes me laugh, what I’m going through in real time. I think people are drawn to me because they can see themselves in me. I’m not pretending to be anyone else, and I’m not trying to live or sell a lifestyle that I can’t maintain.

I share my struggles, my heartbreaks, my wins, my happy moments, and even my confusing seasons. That level of transparency is what makes me relatable. I may be a little more extroverted online and slightly more introverted in person, but personality-wise, I am the exact same person on and off the screen. Social media takes some of the pressure off, so it allows me to express myself more freely, but if you talk to me in real life, you’ll still get that same energy. I may start off reserved, but once I’m comfortable, my personality lights up just like it does online.

At the end of the day, what people see is real. No acting. No filters on my life. Just me.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will one day say that I did it anyway. Despite my shortcomings. Despite depression. Despite suicidal thoughts. Despite losses, heartbreak, rejection, and disappointment, I kept going and I kept my faith. What most people don’t realize is that many of my content videos were recorded after I’d already wiped my tears. I struggle just like everyone else. I fall short sometimes. But I always find my way back to God in prayer, asking Him to pull me through my darkest moments. And He always does.

I hope people see my resilience. I hope they see how ambitious I am and how I never gave up, even when things failed. I’ve never been afraid to step back, rebrand, and start again. I truly believe you can’t fail if you never stop trying. People say social media is saturated, but I’ve never believed that about myself. I know I bring something different, just like we all do.

I want people to know I kept God first. I prayed when things got hard. I didn’t complain, I kept my head high and my best foot forward. I overcame the naysayers, the haters, the doubt, and even the people who tried to dim my light before I fully saw it myself. Once I realized my worth and how talented I truly am, nothing could stop me.

More than anything, I hope people remember that I was never afraid to be my authentic self. I shared my story, my struggles, and my truth, and in doing so, I helped give others the courage to do the same.

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