Today we’d like to introduce you to Imanni Williams.
Hi Imanni, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and that’s where my love for creativity and self-expression first began. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences in 2020, I started sharing pieces of my life online. What began as simple “day in the life” vlogs naturally expanded into beauty, skincare, fashion, and lifestyle content. In 2023, I decided to move to San Diego for a fresh start and to explore more of who I am.
Things really shifted when I launched my playful “Breaking In My So Kates” series and, more recently, my take on the Nicki Minaj “High School” trend. Almost overnight, my content started reaching millions of viewers, which opened the door to brand collaborations, modeling opportunities, and a growing presence in the content creator space.
At the same time, I’ve never let go of my passion for healthcare. With over ten years of experience as a medical scribe, TMS technician, and now a full-time CNA; I’ve built a strong foundation that I plan to carry into my ultimate goal of becoming a dermatologist. For me, dermatology is the perfect way to merge my medical background with my love for beauty and wellness.
Today, I’m at an exciting intersection of creativity and science, and I’m eager to keep building on both sides of my journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely had its challenges. Moving across the country from Cleveland to San Diego was both exciting and intimidating. I left behind family, friends, and familiarity to start completely fresh. Building community and stability in a new city took time and a lot of perseverance.
On the content creation side, the biggest challenge has been consistency. Behind every viral moment are countless late nights filming, editing, and questioning whether the work will resonate. It’s easy to compare yourself to others in this space, but I’ve learned to focus on my own voice and creativity.
Balancing my creative career with my healthcare work has also been demanding. Working full-time 12 hour overnight shifts as a CNA while preparing for medical school and posting content regularly requires discipline and sacrifice, but it’s taught me resilience and reinforced how much I value both paths.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I’m most proud of is that my content resonates because it’s authentic. I show both the fun, glamorous side of beauty and the real, relatable side of wellness. I really love bringing humor into it as well. Whether it’s a playful spin on a trend or making people laugh while wearing sky-high heels, I think that balance of lightheartedness and style is part of what keeps my content engaging. Recently, that authenticity and humor have led to opportunities I could only dream of before like creating ads for Aldo, Steve Madden, and even Project Runway.
I’m also exploring modeling and music, both of which feel like natural extensions of my creativity. DJing, for example, lets me bring people together through music while expressing myself in a completely different way.
What ties it all together is my commitment to representation. I’m proud that my work shows people that you can embrace multiple passions whether that’s influencing, modeling, music, or medicine. I want to show people that they can do this while creating a lane that’s uniquely their own.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about San Diego is the creative community and the kindness of the people. Moving here from Cleveland, I really felt how open and welcoming everyone is. San Diego is such an inspiring place to grow as a creative because there’s so much support and collaboration.
What I like least? Definitely the chilly evenings! Coming from the Midwest, I expected endless sunshine and warm nights, but I quickly learned that I still need a jacket once the sun goes down.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uwantaqua
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@uwantaqua
Image Credits
Yaz Reve
Olha Deryh
