Meet Happy Akpom | Model and Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Happy Akpom and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Happy, is there something you believe many others might not?
One piece of conventional advice I completely disagree with is the idea that creatives, especially content creators need to have a niche. I hear it all the time: “Just find your niche and stick to it.” And I get why people say it as it can help with marketing or growth but for me, it feels limiting. I don’t want to be trapped in a box that forces me to only express one side of myself. Creativity is fluid, messy, and multifaceted, and I want my content to reflect that.

Right now, I’m a content creator with big dreams of becoming a model, and I’m also a dancer. My content reflects all of those sides of me. I post mostly hair and beauty content, with hints of dance and modeling. I want my brand to be authentically me, the full spectrum of who I am because I don’t want to restrict myself to just one “type” of expression. I’m passionate about inspiring Black girls who, like me, want to break certain stereotypes and embrace the “weird black girl” aesthetic. I want to create content that encourages them to be unapologetically themselves, even if they face judgment.

As a model, I see my platform as a form of art. I love the way photoshoots and films can communicate emotions, tell a story, or bring the fantasies of my imagination to life. Transforming the visions in my daydreams into something tangible always makes me happy and it’s a form of self-expression that goes beyond words. That versatility, the ability to inhabit multiple roles, styles, and moods, is what excites me most about being a creative.

To me, sticking to a single niche feels like it would mute the very thing I love most: the freedom to explore, create, and express every facet of myself. I want to show other girls that it’s possible to embrace all the sides of who you are, to create without boundaries, and to turn your passions into a platform for inspiration. Creativity should be limitless and so should the people behind it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Well, first of all, I consider myself to be my art, and I don’t think of myself as just a blank canvas, i see myself as made up of multiple canvases. Some are still blank, waiting for new experiences, emotions, and ideas to be expressed. Others are already filled with vibrant colors and images that tell the story of who I am, what I love, what I enjoy, what I dislike, and even the little things I’m only slightly interested in. My “art” is layered, constantly evolving, and never confined to one form.

I express myself in many ways: how I dress, my style of makeup, the hairstyles I pick, the characters I embody in photoshoots, the songs I choose to post to, the style of GRWMs or type of selfies I put out, and even the films or shows I repost on my story because they resonate with me. My social media is more than just a highlight reel, it’s my space to put my whole self out there, sometimes subtly, sometimes loudly. What sets me apart is that I want to create a space that feels real, one where people who are likeminded or simply appreciative of what I share can feel connected, and most importantly, I’m not afraid of rejection or judgment. I’ve learned that even if 99 out of 100 people don’t understand me, I’d still be grateful to inspire or impress just one.

What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come in terms of confidence. For a long time, I struggled with overthinking because of my OCD. It made me obsessed with perfection to the point where I felt like I had to choose between flawless execution or nothing at all. That mindset held me back from being raw and authentic, but now I’ve slowly learned to let go. It hasn’t been easy and it’s still a work in progress, but I overcome those challenges by taking it one day at a time. I remind myself to just close my eyes, leap, and trust that God will guide me where I need to be.

Along this journey, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that no one actually cares as much as you think they do. People are wrapped up in their own lives, so why hold yourself back out of fear of judgment? Life is too short. You only get one chance, and the people who spend too much energy criticizing others are usually projecting their own misery. That realization has freed me to move forward unapologetically.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is that once I start, I’m not stopping. My vision is bigger than one lane or one platform, and my presence will only continue to grow. I want to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest, to embrace every canvas that makes them who they are. In other words, prepare to be sick of me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d definitely make sure they had the best time. Starting with the OG hangout activity we’d hit Parks Mall in Arlington first for shopping, food, and there’s even ice skating. Then the next day spend the whole day at Six Flags or Hurrican Harbour riding rollercoasters and eating funnel cake or something. Midweek, I’d take them to The Brown Thumb in Denton, it’s such a cool, artsy spot with plants and good vibes, perfect for slowing down after all the excitement. Then for more fun and games, Andretti’s would be a must, I only recently went for the first time and had a blast. We’d go-kart, play VR games, and just laugh the whole night. Can’t forget a cute at home activities like baking cinnamon rolls, painting speedruns or some swimming at my apartment pool. The rest of the week would be a mix of movie marathons, exploring cute photo spots for content, thrifting, a trying new things like pottery, rock climbing or horseback riding, then ending with a chill picnic to relax and reflect before they head home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Omg I love this question ! I would love to dedicate this shoutout to my closest dearest friends. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this quiet dream of having influence, simply put, of being “famous.” But I never really allowed myself to imagine it seriously. The way I was raised, along with how my parents viewed social media, made me feel like it wasn’t a realistic or respectable path to follow. On top of that, I was naturally shy. As unbelievable as it might sound now, I struggled with stage fright, social anxiety, and often felt awkward when I had to speak up, even in front of small groups. I’ve never been the best with words, and sometimes I felt like that alone disqualified me from ever being in the spotlight.

For a long time, I quietly tucked away that dream of having influence and inspiring others. It just seemed out of the question, but everything started to shift when I got to college and met the friends I hold closest to my heart today. They saw something in me that I couldn’t fully see in myself at the time. It didn’t take much convincing from them to be honest, just their genuine belief, encouragement, and constant support to finally give myself permission to just start. They reminded me that influence doesn’t have to look like perfection, it just has to be real and authentically me and that was the turning point for me. Without their love and reassurance, I might have stayed stuck in the background, but because of them, I found the courage to step forward and begin embracing the dream I always secretly wanted.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happydotpom?igsh=ZzRjZnF5ZmVyNXN3

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chidinma-akpom-b0b6572a2?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@happydotpom?si=6MB2vuTn80Gae7lO

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@omglatbidc?_t=ZT-8zJpGx29Hv3&_r=1

Pinterest:
https://pin.it/3a7TPcH0O

Image Credits
@olathegrapher_
@bychideraikeakor
@bmoneymotionpictures
@josh_trann
@mindofpoise