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

Hi Nia, what do you attribute your success to?
One important factor behind my success that I don’t hear enough people talk about is taking action – whether I feel ready or not. I used to be someone who waited for the “perfect moment” to pursue my goals. I’d tell myself things like, “I don’t have time,” “I don’t have the money,” or “I don’t have the right equipment.” I always had an excuse.

Then one day it just clicked: the perfect time doesn’t exist. If babies overthought taking their first steps, they’d never walk. You’ll never feel 100% ready when you’re starting something new, but that’s okay. It’s through taking action that you learn. The small wins you hit along the way will help build up your confidence and keep you moving forward.

Above all, putting God first has been the single most important factor behind my success. Stepping into new territory can be scary, especially when you don’t feel prepared. However, in times of uncertainty and stress, I always find comfort in knowing that, at the end of the day, everything will unfold according to His plan.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Hi, I’m Nia Parks — a sports professional by day and fitness, fashion, and lifestyle creator in my free time.

It all started back at Howard University where I was a Human Performance major studying to become a Physical Therapist. Health and Wellness have always been a passion of mine, so throughout college, I started sharing my workouts and meals on social media. The positive feedback I received from my peers who were seeking guidance in this area led me to start my fitness page @FlexWithParx on instagram and eventually expand to TikTok as well.

Like anything, with consistency and a clear direction, you’re bound to grow. I wanted to help girls like myself who’ve struggled with body image, achieve their fitness goals through sharing my workouts, tips, and words of encouragement. I would post anywhere from 3-4 times everyday on Tik Tok which helped me reach 28k followers during its peak, before later focusing more on my career outside of social media as graduation approached.

Social media has always been a hobby for me, but as I grew and started collaborating with different brands, I was able to turn it into a side income, which was really cool especially when I was a “broke college student”.

Building a following isn’t easy. People often don’t realize how much time goes into brainstorming video ideas, filming, editing, and writing captions — it’s a lot. Especially if you’re juggling this on top of a full time job, like I am. Time management is crucial to avoid burnout, and learning to juggle both has been a challenge. But what keeps me going is remembering why I started. Receiving messages from women telling me that my content helped them, inspires me to keep pushing forward. I don’t want to let them down.

If there’s one thing I want people to take away from my story and my platform it’s the power of consistency and finding joy in the process of personal growth, rather than fixating on the end result. This past year I’ve shifted my focus to growing my community on YouTube where I can share long form content and really showcase more of my personality. I recently hit 4.2k subscribers which I’m really excited about. Though I’m still early in this journey, I’m excited about the progress I’ve made and can’t wait to see where this takes me!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Love this question! I’ve gradually become a coffee person since moving here, so we’d definitely kick off the day with coffee and breakfast! A few of my favorites: Le Bon Nosh in Buckhead, Illy in Atlantic Station, and Perc in Virginia Highlands — you have to try the Good Times Latte.

Hitting the Beltline is a must! It’s perfect for a long walk or run with great food spots along the way. If you’re into Asian street food, I’d recommend Hawkers near Krog Street. The environment is very casual and the food is amazing.

If you’re a brunch lover like me, you’d love Taverna located in Buckhead Village! It’s a super cute spot whether you’re on a date or out with friends. Plus, on the weekends they have $3 single mimosas and aperol spritz from 10am – 3pm! Once you’ve enjoyed your meal, definitely take some time to explore the Village. The location is adorable, and has somewhat of a cozy feel to it.

Lastly, if you’re up for an adventure, soak in the beauty nature has to offer by hiking the Chattahoochee! The views are stunning and it’s a nice way to relax and reset.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents – HUGE shout out to them! They made so many sacrifices to provide me with the life I had growing up. From sending me on an educational trip overseas in the 8th grade, to driving over an hour every day to a school in a different county to give me a better education, they worked tirelessly to provide me with invaluable experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today.

To my parents: I see you, I appreciate you, and I love you. Nothing you do goes unnoticed or unappreciated. The foundation you have given me is priceless and I am forever grateful.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niaparx/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NiaParx

Other: https://linktr.ee/niaparx

Image Credits
By Enoch

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