Nakia was the kind of woman other women thrived to become. She had a successful career and a beautiful home that she bought, and she was always on point. At thirty years old, she thought she had it all figured out, but boy was she wrong. Her mama always taught her that you need to be the woman a man wants and not the woman you want to be. Every day Nakia lives to prove that theory wrong. Through her so-called weakness, she has found a strength she never knew existed. Don't ever let someone's negative opinion of you become your reality.

Chapter 1 Prologue

Prologue

Nakia was a proud black woman. She is a successful career woman in a male-dominated field. She drove the newest cars and owned her own home that was bought and paid for with the money she earned. No one else helped bring her to the place she was at. She's always looking flawless. Always had her hair and nails done. Her make-up and clothes were always on point. She was always the picture of perfection.

Her clothes always had to be the newest brands. Had to have the best of everything. Always having her hair straightened never one piece out of place. She would even set an alarm, so she could get up before her man to put on her face and look perfect for him. He had never seen the real Nakia. No one has not even herself, but all that's going to change.

She was her brand so the way she saw it she had to present herself always looking her best. Her mama would never let anyone see her or her child looking a hot mess. She instilled that in Nakia from day one, and she never went against her mama. Until now that is.

When Nakia turned 30 she had what some would call a mid-life crisis and decided to change everything. It's as if she finally woke up and decided to live her life for herself and to hell with pleasing everyone. Half the time they weren't pleased no matter how much she succeeded.

She took out her long weave and decided to cut her real hair down almost bald. She threw out all them fancy designer clothes that she never really liked any way. She tossed those shoes that no matter how many times you wore them they still killed your feet. She stopped being fake and decided to figure out just who Nakia was.

She has been the woman her mother pushed her into being. The temptress men desired her to be. The strong take charge business woman her boss demanded of her. Never once has she been the person she wanted to be. Honestly, does she even know who that person is?

Sometimes you must hit bottom before you can get up dust yourself off and truly grow. Through all of this, Nakia learns to be her best self. She learns to love herself and knows that others will follow. She starts to heal wounds she didn't even realize she had and strengthens her bond with her friends and family. You just must be true to yourself then and only then can you ever truly be happy and live your best life.

They say there are two sides to every story and this book is no different. You will get to meet NAKIA a beautiful plus-sized black woman who finally finds out just who she is, and through that becomes a strong woman who loves who she has become. You'll also meet her mother mama NOLA and hear how she grew up. You'll get to hear why she thinks the way she does and see her change thanks to her amazing daughter. It's one hell of a journey of love and forgiveness that bonds two strong women together and helps everyone to heal.