Meet Sofia Kirkman

We were lucky to catch up with Sofia Kirkman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sofia, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I started my company at the age of 19, in my dorm room, driven and determined, because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to do what I love as a girl who didn’t fit into the typical “Princess” mold.

Now, as a successful business owner for nearly half a decade, I continue to use my time and talents to open up opportunities for all performers, regardless of their dress size. Fostering an inclusive, and supportive environment has not only helped us grow, but it helps me to fulfill my purpose of making a dent in the often-unattainable beauty standards the industry pushes on young women.

And before you say, “You aren’t a real Princess!” Allow me to share that not a single child has EVER questioned me or my performers, regardless if they’re a size 2 or a size 12. Our training, professionalism, and beautiful costumes shine through in every performance!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My name is Sofia Kirkman, I’m a professional actor, entrepreneur, and CEO! I own Part of Your World Princess Co., a professional princess party and event company based in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
We recently opened our first pop-up storefront, The Storybook Boutique, and are looking forward to starting our own 501c3 nonprofit organization to bring our magic to children and families who need it most!

As an actor, I’ve been featured on many professional stages across the state of Michigan, most recently playing the title role of “Ariel” in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. When I was pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in Acting at Wayne State University, I was nationally recognized by The Kennedy Center, winning a “Distinguished Performance by and Actor” award in 2023.

Though I spend most of my days covered in glitter, answering emails, scheduling events, and occasionally singing Disney songs in a pretty dress, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

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

Three pivotal things that helped me on my entrepreneurship journey were patience, passion, and never losing sight of what truly matters.

As a 19 year old, I was starting my LLC, hiring a cast of professional performers, and planning massive events all while trying to keep up with my university homework assignments. Answering client phone calls on the way to class and steaming costumes in the evenings were just some of the ways I kept up with it all. Now, my Princess company is my full-time job, and I’m glad that I had the patience and perseverance to know that all my hard work would be worth it. Realizing that everything will get done, and that taking my time to make sure everything was exactly the way I wanted it would help set me up for success years later. We grew slowly but surely, taking the utmost care in all of our characters and the training of our cast members. I’m thankful that my younger self didn’t rush into things or cut corners while trying to make everything work.

How did I manage all of that? It was truly the passion for what I do that brought me through all of those sleepless nights and long hours of event prep. Seeing the bright-eyed look on a child’s face when they see their favorite Princess at their birthday or hearing my performers sing live at events and make every child feel special is what really drives me. Knowing that all of this hard work means something truly bigger than myself is what pushed me to do my best every single day.

Now, almost 5 years into this business, I still need to look back and remember why I started. When feelings of burnout or monotony plague me, I simply look back on my “why”. I have several photos that I reference of myself performing at parties and some incredibly kind client reviews hat keep my spirits up when I feel tired or uninspired. At the end of the day, none of these magical moments could happen without me sitting at my desk and scheduling performers, coordinating times and packages, or answering phone calls. It truly takes a village, but when I remember that these little moments are priceless childhood memories, I feel instantly recharged.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

As a Theatre major, I never thought I would be doing the same tasks as a Business or Finance major throughout my career. Yet, I find myself applying so many real-world skills hat I was never formally taught. I’ve never been a huge fan of math, but when you need to calculate profit margins and analyze your sales numbers, all of that changes!

I have found that leaning on the strengths of others around me to improve my own has not only made my business better, but has allowed me to focus more on my personal passion and overall “why”.

I have an incredible admin team, an AMAZING manager (Hi, Teresa!) and some incredible performers who make my job so much easier. It takes a village, and not a single person I know can do this alone.

Being a business owner and entrepreneur has stretched me personally, professionally, and emotionally to make sure I’m doing right by my team. By pushing me to expand on my strengths and invest in education on my weak points, it’s shaped me into a more well-rounded individual.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.partofyourworldprincessco.com
• Instagram: @sofiaakirkman @partofyourworldprincessco
• Facebook: @partofyourworldprincessco

Image Credits

Part of Your World Princess Co. LLC