Conversations with Angela Rivers-Harper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Rivers-Harper.

Angela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The vision for Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend and the I Love Me Women’s Empowerment Conference came from the same place: a desire to create spaces where people felt seen, valued, celebrated, and empowered.

Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend began with a vision I could not ignore. I loved fashion, but I also recognized that many of the fashion opportunities I saw did not truly represent people who looked like me or so many others in my community. Plus-size women and men were often overlooked, underrepresented, or made to feel as though fashion was something designed for everyone except them. I knew there were talented models, designers, entrepreneurs, stylists, and creatives right here in Ohio who deserved a platform.

I wanted to change that.

I envisioned an event where plus-size fashion would not be treated as an afterthought. It would be the main attraction. I wanted curvy women and men to be able to walk into a room and see bodies that looked like theirs represented confidently on a runway. I wanted people to see fashion that was bold, beautiful, sexy, professional, sophisticated, and stylish without believing that their size determined whether they deserved to participate.

That vision eventually became Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend.

What made me believe the idea could work was that I was addressing a very real gap. The plus-size community was already purchasing fashion, supporting designers, attending events, and looking for opportunities to model and participate in the industry, but there were not enough platforms specifically designed to celebrate them. I was not trying to convince people that they wanted to be represented. They were already asking for representation.

I wanted to build the space they were looking for.

Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend became bigger than a fashion show. It became an opportunity to build confidence, support businesses, introduce designers, develop models, create partnerships, and bring people together. It also allowed me to show that inclusion in fashion should include men and women of different sizes, backgrounds, cultures, ages, and experiences.

As I continued working in the community, another need became very clear to me. Women were carrying so much. They were mothers, wives, professionals, caregivers, business owners, leaders, students, survivors, and dreamers. Many were pouring into everyone around them while receiving very little encouragement themselves.

I started thinking about what it would look like to create an environment where women could simply come and receive.

That vision became the I Love Me Women’s Empowerment Conference.

From the beginning, one thing was extremely important to me: I wanted the conference to be free.

I did not want a woman to see an event about healing, confidence, entrepreneurship, leadership, mental wellness, relationships, finances, purpose, or personal development and have to decide whether she could afford to receive the information. I wanted women to be able to walk through the doors without worrying about purchasing an expensive ticket just to hear something that could potentially change their lives.

I wanted women to leave feeling encouraged, enlightened, inspired, and reminded of their value.

The idea made sense to me because there was a need for accessible empowerment. There were many conferences available, but not everyone had the financial resources to attend them. I believed empowerment should not be limited to people who could afford a registration fee.

I also wanted the I Love Me Conference to be a place where differences did not divide us. My vision was for women of different sizes, nationalities, religions, cultures, professions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and life experiences to sit in the same room, learn from one another, support one another, and discover that we often have more in common than we realize.

That spirit of inclusion connects both of my organizations.

Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend says, “You deserve to be seen.”

The I Love Me Women’s Empowerment Conference says, “You deserve to be poured into.”

Both were created because I saw people who needed spaces that celebrated who they were instead of asking them to change who they were before they could belong.

What excited me most was never simply producing an event. It was creating an experience and building a community. I wanted people to walk into these spaces and feel something different. I wanted someone who had never modeled before to discover confidence on a runway. I wanted a small business owner to make a meaningful connection. I wanted a woman attending the conference to hear one speaker say something that encouraged her to start over, launch a business, leave fear behind, pursue education, take care of herself, or finally believe that her dream was possible.

For me, that is the true measure of success.

Both Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend and the I Love Me Women’s Empowerment Conference were built from vision, purpose, inclusion, and service. They were created because I believed people deserved platforms that reflected them, opportunities that included them, and environments where they could grow without feeling judged or excluded.

I did not simply want to organize events.

I wanted to create spaces where people could see themselves differently after they left than they did when they walked in.

That vision continues to be the heart of everything I build.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, the journey has not always been a smooth one. Being the CEO and founder of Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend and the I Love Me Women’s Empowerment Conference has come with many rewarding moments, but it has also required sacrifice, resilience, faith, and perseverance.

One of the biggest struggles has been carrying the responsibility of building a vision while also making sure that vision remains financially sustainable. Producing events requires funding, sponsorships, vendors, venues, marketing, speakers, models, designers, volunteers, and countless behind-the-scenes details. There have been seasons when resources were limited, sponsorships did not come through as expected, or I had to make difficult decisions based on the economy and what was best for the organization.

Another challenge has been learning that everyone who supports the vision in the beginning may not remain for the entire journey. Leadership has taught me how to navigate changing relationships, disappointments, misunderstandings, and moments when I had to continue moving forward even when I felt like I was carrying the vision alone. I have had to learn the importance of discernment, boundaries, and surrounding myself with people who genuinely understand the mission.

With Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend, I have worked to create a platform where plus-size individuals can feel seen, celebrated, fashionable, and confident. Building that type of platform has meant challenging stereotypes and creating opportunities in spaces where curvy men and women have not always received equal representation. Keeping that mission alive year after year has required creativity, persistence, and the ability to adjust when circumstances change.

The I Love Me Women’s Empowerment Conference has presented a different kind of responsibility. Because the conference is designed to empower women and provide an environment of encouragement, sisterhood, education, and personal growth, I have always wanted it to remain accessible. Offering an impactful experience while keeping the conference free for attendees requires tremendous planning, partnerships, sponsorships, and personal commitment.

There have also been times when I had to balance entrepreneurship with my career, education, family, community responsibilities, and my own personal growth. Sometimes the greatest challenge was simply finding the strength to keep going when I was tired.

However, every struggle has taught me something about leadership. I have learned that being a CEO is not simply about having a title. It is about serving people, making difficult decisions, accepting responsibility when things do not go as planned, celebrating your team when things go well, and remaining committed to the purpose even when the journey becomes uncomfortable.

After more than a decade of building these platforms, I can say that the road has not always been smooth, but it has been meaningful. Every setback, lesson, closed door, financial challenge, and unexpected change has helped shape me into a stronger woman, entrepreneur, and leader. Most importantly, it has reminded me that my purpose is bigger than producing events—it is about creating spaces where people can see themselves differently, believe in themselves again, and understand that they are worthy of being seen, heard, celebrated, and empowered.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is centered around empowerment, leadership, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for people to see beyond their current circumstances. I have spent more than 25 years working in workforce development and social services, while also building businesses and community platforms designed to help individuals grow personally, professionally, and financially.

Professionally, I specialize in workforce development, career readiness, leadership development, barrier removal, employer engagement, and helping individuals connect to employment, training, education, and supportive resources. I am passionate about helping people identify their strengths, overcome obstacles, and create realistic pathways toward self-sufficiency and long-term success.

As an entrepreneur, I am best known as the founder and CEO of Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend and the I Love Me Women’s Empowerment Conference. Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend was created to provide visibility, confidence, and opportunities for plus-size women and men in fashion, while challenging traditional beauty standards and creating a space where every body can be celebrated. The I Love Me Women’s Empowerment Conference was created to encourage women to embrace who they are, heal, grow, connect, and recognize their own value. For more than a decade, these platforms have allowed me to bring together women, entrepreneurs, speakers, designers, community leaders, and professionals in meaningful ways.

I am also an author and business owner. Through my books, including H.E.R. HUSTLE, Barriers to Breakthroughs, and Using Your Discernment, I share lessons about entrepreneurship, overcoming barriers, relationships, personal growth, and learning how to recognize purpose in every season of life. My businesses and programs have always been connected to one central mission: helping people become stronger, more confident, more informed, and more intentional about their future.

What I am most proud of is not simply the events I have produced, the businesses I have created, the books I have written, or the titles I have earned. I am most proud of the lives that have been impacted along the way. I am proud when someone finds employment after believing they had run out of options. I am proud when a woman walks into the I Love Me Conference carrying doubt and leaves feeling empowered. I am proud when someone walks a runway for the first time and finally sees themselves as beautiful and worthy. Those moments remind me why I continue doing this work.

What sets me apart is that I do not believe in simply talking about empowerment—I believe in creating tangible opportunities for people to experience it. My approach combines real-world experience, education, entrepreneurship, compassion, accountability, and service. I understand what it means to build something from the ground up, navigate obstacles, reinvent yourself, and continue moving forward even when circumstances change.

I have always believed that your current situation does not have to become your permanent destination. Whether I am working with a job seeker, mentoring an entrepreneur, producing an empowerment conference, developing a workforce initiative, writing a book, or creating a platform for someone else to shine, my goal remains the same: to help people recognize what is possible for their lives.

At the heart of everything I do is purpose. I want my legacy to be defined not only by what I accomplished, but by how many people I encouraged, supported, connected, and inspired along the way.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have been incredibly blessed to have so many people pour into me, encourage me, support my vision, and remind me of who I am throughout this journey. I truly believe that no one becomes successful alone, and I am grateful for every person who has played a role in helping me grow personally, professionally, and creatively.

My first mentors were my mother and my grandmother. I get so much of my sense of style from them. They taught me how to carry myself, how to be confident, and how to appreciate fashion as a form of self-expression. I definitely get my sense of humor from my grandmother too—HA! Their influence is deeply rooted in who I am today, and so much of the woman I have become started with the lessons, love, and example they gave me.

In the fashion industry, I have been fortunate to learn from two women I deeply respect: MsNickee Mack of Diva Day International and Gwen DeVoe, CEO and founder of Full Figured Fashion Week. Their leadership, experience, and impact within the plus-size fashion industry have helped inspire and guide me as I built Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend. Seeing women create spaces, open doors, and raise the standard in the fashion industry gave me confidence to continue developing my own platform and vision.

My greatest supporters and cheerleaders are my husband, William, my daughter Jshnaee’, and my grandson ZebiYah. They have supported me through the long hours, the stressful moments, the celebrations, the disappointments, and everything in between. Having a family that believes in my dreams has made an incredible difference in my journey.

I am also grateful for my “Good Goal Girlfriends” and the amazing women who continue to encourage, support, and celebrate me: Cynthia, Gwen, Janice, Gloria, Mariette, Natasha Shivers Sutton, Robin Williams, Kimberly Wharton, Monique Peek, Brinkston Kelly, and Michelle Hagans. These women have been a source of friendship, encouragement, accountability, and support through different seasons of my life.

My sister Leah and my other siblings from my father’s side of the family have also been important parts of my support system. Family has always been an important foundation for me, and I am grateful for those who continue to show up and support what I am building.

My nieces, Heaven Only, Shyenne Thomas, and Camili Watts, have played a special role in the success of my fashion events. They have assisted behind the scenes and backstage, helping make sure things came together when it mattered most. Fashion events may look glamorous from the audience, but there is so much work happening behind the curtain, and I truly appreciate the people who have helped me carry that responsibility.

I also have tremendous love and appreciation for every model who has walked the Ohio Kurvy Fashion Weekend runway. They helped bring the vision to life. Their confidence, individuality, energy, and willingness to step onto that runway are a huge part of what has made OKFW special over the years.

And I cannot forget my queens from the Northern Valley Region of RP Productions. They have been a steady force of love, encouragement, and support, and I am so grateful for the bond and sisterhood we share.

Every one of these individuals has contributed something meaningful to my journey—whether through mentorship, friendship, encouragement, family support, backstage assistance, modeling, advice, prayer, or simply believing in me when I needed it most.

I love and appreciate each one of them. I would not be where I am today without the village that has stood beside me. My name may be attached to the vision, but so many hands, hearts, prayers, and encouraging words have helped make that vision possible.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_okfwbosslady
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dranrivers
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-angela-rivers-harper-ph-d-1a96776b/