Florie Walks the Red Carpet at Nelly's Black and White Ball 2024

The invitation

When the invitation to Nelly's Black and White Ball arrived, it felt like the universe saying, your time is now. It was a night I had dreamed about and spoken into existence. At the start of the year I told myself this would be the season my work and my presence would be seen and felt. There was a red carpet on my vision board. Then, there I was.

Inside the moment

The energy was undeniable. I walked in exhilarated, as if I had already lived the moment a thousand times. It felt surreal and inevitable at once. Every no, every challenge and every door that stayed closed suddenly made sense. It had all been preparing me to step into that room with grace, strength and clarity.

The look

Let's talk about the look, because I don't play when it comes to showing up. I wore a black leopard print gown that hugged me down to my calves, diamond earrings and a necklace that caught the light, and silver kitten heels to tie it together.

The real showstopper was my hair: an intricate updo I created myself, cornrows weaving into sculpted braids and finished with koroba styles at the tips. It was not just a hairstyle. It was a statement of my culture, my creativity and my identity.

What the night sparked

The night was about connection as much as glamour. I met Nelly, Ashanti, media publicists and fellow St. Louis creatives, and being in that room lit a fire in me. It made me think about the impact I have created, and the impact still to come, through Floriescence and Echoes of Africa: spaces that leave people feeling seen, heard and connected.

Dreams are built. Brick by brick. Thought by thought. Action by action.

Florie

The lesson

This moment reminded me how much it matters who I spend my time with, the spaces I choose and the words I speak over my life. Every setback was the middle of the story, not the end. I am not only creating art. I am creating a life with intention, growth and purpose, and the pen is firmly in my hand.