Meet Iyana Willis-gray

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Iyana Willis-gray a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Iyana, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I really love this question because confidence and self-esteem are things I’ve struggled with since I was a little girl. As I got older, especially in middle and high school, it became even harder to feel confident when I didn’t always feel accepted for who I was. But over time, I realized that I didn’t need acceptance from others—I needed to accept myself.
We are all made uniquely, and no one else in the world has your DNA. That means we each have something special to offer, and embracing who we truly are serves a purpose—not just in our own lives but in the lives of those we encounter.
For me, building confidence came from investing in the things that genuinely make me happy—whether that’s the people I surround myself with, my personal style, or my hobbies. I had to take the time to figure out what truly brings me joy and pour my energy into those things.
I believe confidence isn’t just one thing; it’s a combination of different aspects of your life coming together. If you’re struggling with self-esteem, I encourage you to take the time to explore yourself—discover what makes you happy and fully embrace it. When you do, you’ll find confidence naturally growing from within.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. I am 24 my name is Iyana, but most people know me as Yani.
My journey began in high school—specifically during my senior year when the future felt both exciting and overwhelming. Like many students, I wasn’t sure what career path to take. I knew I wanted to do something that involved healing and helping others, and I was passionate about holistic skincare, beauty, and fashion. I even started making and selling my own body butters, which I absolutely loved.
One day, I spoke with my Aunt Whitney, and she introduced me to the field of esthetics. I had never heard of it before, but as she explained what estheticians do, something clicked. I knew this was the path for me. For those unfamiliar, estheticians are state-licensed skincare professionals trained to perform treatments that promote skin health and beauty, such as facials, chemical peels, body treatments, and waxing.
After graduating high school in 2019, I enrolled at the Aveda Institute of Maryland, which takes a holistic approach to esthetics. I completed my training in 2020, took my state board exams, and became a licensed esthetician in Maryland. Soon after, I started my own at-home esthetics practice, providing facials for clients. I loved what I was doing, but over time, self-doubt crept in, and I lost confidence in myself. Eventually, I stopped my practice and started exploring other ventures.
Through many ups and downs, one thing remained constant—I never lost my passion for esthetics. Now, I’m rebuilding my career in the field and working toward opening my own esthetics practice. At the same time, I wanted to create a space where I could express my love for lifestyle, beauty, fashion, and personal development. That’s when I decided to start my YouTube channel, Yaniibynature.
I’ve always been a quiet person, rarely expressing myself growing up, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve challenged myself to break out of my comfort zone. My channel is a reflection of that journey—I create lifestyle, beauty, and fashion content to share my inner world with others. If you’d like to follow along, you can check out my YouTube channel Yaniibynature and follow me on Instagram at @yani_africanflower for more content!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey—and the journey I’m still on—I’ve found that consistency, discipline, and passion have been the most impactful qualities in my growth. No matter what path you choose, these three qualities will support you. And when one falters, you can lean on the others to keep moving forward.
Passion is what keeps me curious and motivated—it’s the fire that pushes me toward my goals. My passion lies in helping others and personal development, but I’m also deeply drawn to beauty, fashion, art, and interior design. Discipline has allowed me to turn my passions into action, creating tangible steps to bring my ideas to life. And consistency is key because there will be days when you feel unmotivated, tired, or uncertain. That’s okay—what matters is showing up and trying, even if it’s just for five minutes. Progress isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence.
Looking back, I realize there were times when I wasn’t fully incorporating all three of these qualities. I’d lean on one but find reasons to give up when things got hard. If I could offer any advice, it would be this: don’t give up on yourself. Even if things don’t go as planned, at least you can say you gave it your all.
Right now, I’m choosing to go all in and fully commit to my dreams. And I encourage anyone at the beginning of their journey to do the same—stay passionate, stay disciplined, and stay consistent. You never know what’s possible until you give yourself the chance to find out.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Are you familiar with the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”? I truly believe in that. While I was primarily raised by my parents, they had me at a young age—22 and 23—which meant they needed support. Because of that, I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with my aunts and both of my grandmothers.
I come from a hardworking family that is deeply rooted in faith. Seeing how my family has persevered and excelled despite the odds has been a huge source of motivation for me. It reminds me that if they can overcome challenges, I can too.
My family and friends have always kept me grounded. In fact, there have been times when they believed in me more than I believed in myself. Their encouragement and unwavering support have played a huge role in shaping who I am today. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without them.
Having good people around you—people who uplift, inspire, and support you—is so important. I’m beyond grateful for everyone in my life who has poured into me. Community is everything, and when we support one another, we create a better future for all of us.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney 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.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your