April Showers

Activist, Connector, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Marketer, Public servant

April Showers – Founder, Visionary, and Magic Manifester April Showers is the trailblazing Founder and CEO of Afro Unicorn®, a multicultural lifestyle brand empowering women and children of color to embrace their uniqueness, divinity, and magic. What began as a simple idea to celebrate individuality has evolved into a global movement making April the first Black woman to own a licensed character brand featured in major retail chains nationwide. Afro Unicorn® products are available at Walmart, Target, CVS, JCPenney, Dollar Tree, Build-A-Bear, Five Below, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and more. With new categories expanding across toys, apparel, accessories, and publishing. Over 60% of Afro Unicorn’s revenue comes from its licensing-based retail business, proving that purpose-driven brands can also thrive at scale. April has built Afro Unicorn into a cultural symbol of representation and empowerment, inspiring millions to celebrate who they are, unapologetically. Her brand’s slogan, “We are Unique, Divine, and Magical,” echoes her life’s work of uplifting others to see themselves as enough, just as they are. Beyond her global brand, April is a speaker, mentor, and storyteller dedicated to inspiring others through authenticity and faith. Her personal platform, I Am April Showers, shines a light on her journey as a visionary entrepreneur, mother of two, and believer in divine purpose. Through Soulful Sundays, coaching programs, and her upcoming book, Never Qualified, April shares powerful lessons on resilience, manifestation, and leadership. She is also the creator and host of the Magic Makers Talk Show with April Showers, where she interviews and highlights other retail brand owners who are building impactful businesses and breaking barriers in the marketplace. The show amplifies diverse voices in entrepreneurship, offering inspiration and tangible insight to aspiring founders navigating the retail world. Her commitment to community shines through the Manifest Magic Retreat, an intimate luxury experience designed to help women rest, reflect, and realign with purpose. The retreat brings together female founders, creators, and dreamers for transformative connection — supported by corporate sponsors who believe in the power of women manifesting magic together. April is also the creator and star of "Ms. April’s Crown & Bookstore” on AfroUnicornTV, where she mentors young entrepreneurs through affirmations, storytelling, and mentorship. The show evolved into a 5-week Young CEO cohort, blending education, empowerment, and creative entrepreneurship to help the next generation of leaders rise with confidence. With her growing influence, April continues to make waves as a children’s author, cultural innovator, and thought leader. Her message resonates across audiences. From keynote stages like the Sigma Gamma Rho Northeastern Regional Conference, where she empowers young women to live their best lives, to the homes of families who see themselves reflected in Afro Unicorn’s magic. April Showers stands as a living testament that you don’t need to be “qualified” just called. Her journey from dream to legacy is a blueprint for anyone ready to believe in their magic and manifest the life they deserve.

What I’m Passionate About I am passionate about helping others. I truly believe that if I help enough people get to where they want to be, I will naturally get to where I’m meant to be. That belief is the heartbeat behind everything I do, from my Manifest Magic Retreats that create space for women to rest and realign, to the Magic Makers Talk Show, where I spotlight other retail brand owners and amplify their voices, to the Young CEO cohorts, where I mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs. Helping others discover their magic, believe in themselves, and step boldly into their purpose is what drives me every single day. My passion is people and my purpose is to help them see the light and possibility already within them.

Idea Worth Spreading: Be the Representation You Want to See My idea worth sharing is this: when you don’t feel represented, create the representation you want to see. The inspiration behind Afro Unicorn began with a simple compliment from a friend who called me a unicorn, because I was a serial entrepreneur running an insurance agency and a real estate brokerage, all while being a single mom to two incredible honor roll students. She said the way I managed it all wasn’t normal, it was unicorn behavior. At the time, I didn’t know much about unicorns, so I looked them up and learned they were described as unique, rare, and magical. That resonated with me deeply. For the first time, I saw myself that way as someone unique, divine, and capable of magic. I began using the unicorn emoji to represent that feeling until one day I realized that the emoji didn’t represent me. It was white. I was using an image that didn’t reflect the magic I felt within. So, I went searching for a unicorn that looked like me, and when I couldn’t find one, I recognized the white space, both literally and figuratively. That’s when I decided to create Afro Unicorn, a brand and movement that celebrates women and children of color for who they are: unique, divine, and magical. My idea is simple but transformative: when you don’t see yourself in the world, that’s your cue to build something that makes space for you and for others who need that reflection, too. Representation isn’t just about visibility; it’s about possibility.

My story begins with a simple moment a friend calling me a unicorn. At the time, I was a single mom of two amazing honor roll students, running my own insurance agency and real estate brokerage. My friend looked at all I was managing and said, “April, you’re a unicorn.” I laughed it off at first, but that one comment stuck with me. I didn’t even know much about unicorns, so I decided to look them up. I discovered that unicorns are described as unique, rare, and magical. That resonated with me. For the first time, I saw myself reflected in those words. I realized that I, too, was unique, a woman doing extraordinary things while trying to keep it all together with grace, faith, and grit. I started using the unicorn emoji on my phone to symbolize that energy — my magic. But one day, I looked at that emoji and realized it didn’t represent me. The unicorn was white. I was using a white image to describe a magic that came from within, one that was deeply connected to my identity as a Black woman. I searched everywhere for a unicorn that looked like me. Something that reflected my beauty, my culture, my story, and when I couldn’t find one, I recognized something powerful: the white space was my opportunity. So, I created Afro Unicorn®, a brand built to remind women and children of color that they are Unique, Divine, and Magical. What started as a simple logo on a T-shirt has grown into a global movement — and made me the first Black woman to own a licensed character brand featured in major retail stores across the country, including Walmart, Target, CVS, JCPenney, and many more. But Afro Unicorn is more than a brand. It’s a reflection of everything I stand for: representation, empowerment, and possibility. I didn’t just want to create a product — I wanted to create a mirror. Because when people see themselves represented, they begin to believe in what’s possible for them. That’s the story I want to share on the TED stage, how one small moment of recognition turned into a movement of representation. My journey hasn’t been perfect or easy. I didn’t have investors, connections, or a background in licensing. What I had was faith, purpose, and a vision bigger than my fear. I leaned on my belief that if I could help others see their magic, mine would shine naturally, too. That belief now fuels everything I do, from the Manifest Magic Retreats that give women a safe space to recharge, to my Magic Makers Talk Show, where I spotlight other brand founders chasing their dreams, to my Young CEO cohorts, where I mentor children to dream without limits. My TED story is about turning a feeling of invisibility into visibility. For myself and for millions who never saw themselves represented before. It’s about understanding that we don’t need to wait for someone to hand us permission, a platform, or validation. Sometimes, the thing we think is missing is waiting for us to create it. Afro Unicorn began because I saw what didn’t exist, and instead of complaining about it, I became it. I became the representation I wanted to see. My story isn’t just about a brand. It’s about a belief: that every single one of us has the power to transform the narrative, to take what’s missing in the world and turn it into something magical, meaningful, and lasting. That’s my TED story. That’s the power of being a unicorn.

People Don’t Know I’m Good At People often say I’m good at just about everything I do, and in many ways, that’s because I give my all to everything I touch. But one thing most people overlook is that I’m really good at being alone without feeling lonely. I genuinely enjoy my own company. I find peace and inspiration in quiet spaces where the universe can speak to me and guide my next creative ideas. I love turning on music and dancing solo, going out for a five-star dinner for one, or getting cozy in a movie theater with my popcorn and Reese’s Pieces. Those moments of solitude are where I reconnect with myself, refill my spirit, and let creativity flow. I believe being comfortable alone is a superpower, because when you can find joy within yourself, you stop seeking validation from the outside world. That’s where the real magic begins.