This wasn’t just another festival—Grind Pretty Fest ATL 2025 was a moment, a movement, and a masterclass in magic. Held April 11–13 at the Westside Cultural Arts Center, we celebrated five years of empowering women in business, amplifying Black excellence, and showing up unapologetically bold. Sponsored by African Pride, Black Employee Network, The Consultancy Inc, and Myavana, this year's fest exceeded every expectation.
🌇 Friday: VIP Kickoff on the Rooftop
We opened the weekend with a glam rooftop soirée at Nelson Mullins, where city lights met high vibes. DJs set the mood while influencers, founders, and change-makers mingled over cocktails and conversations. It was giving: boss energy meets beautiful views—exactly how a 5-year anniversary should start!
💼 Saturday: Boss Talks, Marketplace Magic & Trina on the Mic
Saturday turned up the volume on everything we love about Grind Pretty: education, elevation, and entertainment.
Attendees enjoyed a jam-packed lineup of panels featuring experts speakers and thought leaders with topics ranging from AI in design to content creation, sales automation, raising capital, and entertainment industry secrets.
🎤 Our In Living Color-themed experience came alive thanks to African Pride's wellness panel and photo activation. Guests showed up and showed OUT in 90s-inspired fits that kept the nostalgia front and center.
💅 Over 20 female-founded vendors brought beauty, wellness, fashion, and more to our immersive marketplace.
🚀 Eight incredible women competed in our Elevator Pitch Competition, and the $5K grant—sponsored by our nonprofit arm Grind For Good—was awarded to Tiffany Ellis of G Ann’s Cold Press Juices!
🎶 Diamond Princess Day Party flowed into a dynamic evening hosted by Lauren Elise and Tie Cooper with performances by:
- Jaxs
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Pap Chanel
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Destinee Lynn
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And the baddest herself—Trina, who also received a Grind Pretty Visionary Award before shutting the stage down with an unforgettable performance.
👑 Sunday: Honoring Legacy & Living the Mission
Sunday was sacred. It began with the heartfelt “Dear Future Me” by Jai-Leta Colvard, followed by African Pride’s “Carrying the Weight” wellness panel featuring incredible voices like Aeshia Devore Branch, Mahogany Jackson, and Cheri Amor.
🌟 Then came a powerful tribute to our 2025 Visionary Honorees, shared through inspiring video moments. These women are architects of change, and their recognition was deeply felt.
This year’s honorees:
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Dr. Georgette Fraser-Moore
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Michele Lopez
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Milan Harris
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Caitlyn Davis
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Jewel Burks Solomon
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Toya Johnson-Rushing
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Dr. Charlene Ashley
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Tamika Mallory
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Tai Roberson
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Mz Shyneka
The day closed with powerful performances from Jai (Jai Vaughn) and Yvette Michelle, leaving the room in tears, chills, and total alignment with our purpose.
🗣️ A Word from Our Founder
“This event was done in purpose. We’re living in a time where DEI efforts are under attack, and creating intentional space for Black women is not just important—it’s necessary. Putting this together wasn’t easy. There were real challenges behind the scenes. But I stayed focused, and God truly showed up and showed OUT. I’m beyond grateful—to our sponsors, our team, our community, and most of all, to God. The success of this event is proof that when you move with purpose, favor follows.”
— Mimi Johnson, Founder & CEO of Grind Pretty
Head over the @grindpretty on instagram and check out the full recap videos.
