Getting dressed up, Listening to soul-stirring podcasts, Shea butter, Designing brands and writing vision plans, Tea, Communication, Books, Trust, Taking pictures, Slow mornings, Girl talk, Exploring attachment styles and healing, Fine dining, Journaling and reflection, Luxury, Taking my bra off, Photography, Support, Being curious, Working out, Wine, Anime, Unlearning respectability, Opportunities, Dancing, Saying hi to strangers, Painting, Cats, Coffee, Smiles, Reading memoirs and theory, A bomb nail tech, Trying new things, Ethics, Creating mood boards, Foot rubs, Fine arts, Styling others, Cocoa butter, My kids, Running, Living with intention, A perfect twist-out, A purse, God, Gratitude, Target, Bubble baths, Hugs, Friendship, My bae, Cash Apps, Museums, Reclaiming softness, Love, Journaling and reflection, Taking my bra off, Poetry, Creating mood boards, Math, Good music, Dissecting culture and identity, Trust, Yoga, Human rights, Analyzing lyrics and interviews, Girl talk, The sun, Lipstick, Self-expression, Painting, Breathing deeply, Slow mornings, Journaling and reflection, Books, K-dramas, Smiles, Therapy, Hosting book clubs, Ethics, Writing, Foot rubs, Love, Luxury, Coffee, Being seen and celebrated, Cartoons, My bae, Plants, Sitting by the river, Saying hi to strangers, Hair appointments, Compliments, Dancing, Girlfriends, And a hell of a lot more.

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Getting dressed up, Listening to soul-stirring podcasts, Shea butter, Designing brands and writing vision plans, Tea, Communication, Books, Trust, Taking pictures, Slow mornings, Girl talk, Exploring attachment styles and healing, Fine dining, Journaling and reflection, Luxury, Taking my bra off, Photography, Support, Being curious, Working out, Wine, Anime, Unlearning respectability, Opportunities, Dancing, Saying hi to strangers, Painting, Cats, Coffee, Smiles, Reading memoirs and theory, A bomb nail tech, Trying new things, Ethics, Creating mood boards, Foot rubs, Fine arts, Styling others, Cocoa butter, My kids, Running, Living with intention, A perfect twist-out, A purse, God, Gratitude, Target, Bubble baths, Hugs, Friendship, My bae, Cash Apps, Museums, Reclaiming softness, Love, Journaling and reflection, Taking my bra off, Poetry, Creating mood boards, Math, Good music, Dissecting culture and identity, Trust, Yoga, Human rights, Analyzing lyrics and interviews, Girl talk, The sun, Lipstick, Self-expression, Painting, Breathing deeply, Slow mornings, Journaling and reflection, Books, K-dramas, Smiles, Therapy, Hosting book clubs, Ethics, Writing, Foot rubs, Love, Luxury, Coffee, Being seen and celebrated, Cartoons, My bae, Plants, Sitting by the river, Saying hi to strangers, Hair appointments, Compliments, Dancing, Girlfriends, And a hell of a lot more. 〰️

  • What makes me smile?

    Photography, Social Justice, Hair Care, Weight Lifting.

  • What makes me smile?

    What makes me smile?

    Plants ,the quiet, reading, liberation work.

  • What makes me smile?

    Connecting, long vacations, being on a assignment for GOD.

  • What makes me smile?

    Fashion, curating the function, dessert fanatic

  • What makes me smile?

    Fashion, curating the function, dessert fanaticWorld traveling, fact finding, all things Beyonce

My Why?

Courtney Carroll, Founder

The idea for Make a Black Girl Smile came during my own late-20s journey of self-discovery. I was in grad school, single, and had just moved back to Cincinnati without a rhythm. For the first time, I began going places alone, dating myself, and seeking out new experiences. Along the way, I learned that joy is deeply personal and that Black women’s interests and passions are far more diverse, unorthodox, and vibrant than the world often imagines.

As I asked my friends what brought them joy, I began collecting a mosaic of answers: some familiar, some unexpected, all deeply human. It became a passion to intentionally create moments that sparked that same joy in the women around me.

For me, Make a Black Girl Smile isn’t just an event—it’s an extension of my life’s work. As a mental health therapist and community connector, I understand the ways our mental, physical, and spiritual health intertwine.

Gathering Black women in spaces that celebrate joy, exploration, and authenticity is both healing and empowering. It’s also a reclamation: too often, Black women are told to smile to make others comfortable. Here, we smile because we want to—because the moment, the connection, and the experience belong to us.

This work isn’t a hobby for me—it’s the natural intersection of my profession, my passion, and my God given purpose.

It’s also a reclamation: too often, Black women are told to smile to make others comfortable. Here, we smile because we want to—because the moment, the connection, and the experience belong to us.

So the next time someone tells you to smile Black Girl, tell them “make me.”